ied Gladys wearily, "well now Helen
the question I want you to settle is this; what am I to write and tell
Mother, and when am I to expect Lawrence?

"Well my dear, as regards the latter question I am quite ignorant" said
Helen "your brother may turn up today for all I know."

"How jolly if he does" replied Gladys "it will be very awkward if James
is at home, because if ever a man knew how to make himself disagreable
James is that person."

"Is he really?" exclaimed Helen "well I hope Lawrence will come today if
that is the case, but now Gladys to business, you must write to your
mother you know, and have you decided what you will say?"

"Yes I have" said Gladys bravely "I will write at once and say that my
suspicions are none the less keen, and on no plea whatever will I marry
James."

"Gladys, you are good!" cried Helen, while her friend's lips trembled
and her eyes filled with tears, "but never mind dear" she added "you
will be well rewarded one day, when you find yourself the happy wife of
a good man, he may be rich too, because it is not always the bad that
are rich."

"I know" answered Gladys "and now Helen there is just time before lunch
for me to write my letter."

Arranging her writing table, Gladys sat down and wrote the following
letter:

8, Down Terrace,
Richmond.
Oct. 17th.

MY DEAREST MOTHER,

No words can express how sorry I am that my letter
should have caused you and father so much trouble.
My suspicions however have in no way diminished.
James is as bad as ever. He has a horrible
sneaking way of coming upstairs and he dreams too
and shouts out "oh why did I do it; murder!
robbery." So tonight I shall tell him that I have
found him out and could not possibly marry him. Of
course he will have nothing to do with me and I
shall be penniless, but as _you_ will have no more
to say to me, I suppose I am welcome to fall back
upon the kindness of my dearly beloved friend
Helen Winston. Now dear Mother, as this is the
last letter I shall ever write you, I beg that
you will give my very best love to dear Father and
all the rest, Remember me very kindly to all my
friends especially Lor