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"Forgiveis one on which I find it difficult to holdyou, I know that suicide is not, would never be, the way out to one of your disposition"

Anstice moved restlessly

"Odd you should use that expression," he said quickly "Others have employed it in connection with this miserable story of mine No, suicide is not the way out--nor is another expedient to which I have had recourse But"--suddenly his face lost its quietness and grew keen, alert--"this slander has got to be stopped You see this is not the first tiue"

"You refer to the unhappy circumstances connected with my predecessor's wife?"

"Yes You know the story, of course?"

"Yes I ahtly--with Mrs Carstairs"

"Then you know a ned woman," said Anstice "And it is in order to save her from further unhappiness that I intend to sift this hted to hear you say so," said Carey earnestly "And if I can help you in any way my services are yours First of all, how do you propose starting on the sifting process?"

"I have already ood offices of Sir Richard Wayne, who has also been pestered with a letter, I have discovered that the writing of those communications and of those earlier ones you mentioned just now is in ht with interest

"Really? You think the writer of both is the same?"

"Yes Of course until I have studied the two letters in my possession a little more closely I can't be positively certain on the point; but I intend to submit them both to an expert at the first opportunity"

"I can help you there," said Carey quite eagerly "I ive you the naland"

"Can you?" Anstice's notebook was out in a second "Thanks very much--I rite to him to-morrow But in my own mind I have not a shadow of doubt that the same person wrote them both"

"By the way"--Carey spoke slowly--"how many people about here would be likely to know the story you have told ht be soic episode But it's a far cry from Alostan to Littlefield"