National Republican., 1888-04-29
HER SCHEME DIDN'T WORK.
An Ex-senator Deity Escapes from
tho wiies ora Desperate Biaol<mailer.
New York Mail aud Express.l

tho Wiles ofa Desperate Blackmailer.
New York Mail aud Express.l
A handsome woman, stylishly attirel, at
tracted the attention Of an ex-United States
senator who was talking with a reporter in
front of the Fifth Avenue Hotel this morn
ing.
at has been number Of years since I've
seen Sallie,h lie remarked, as she passed
down Twenty-third street and out of sight.
"Sallic whoy'
''Sallic Van Dam, the woman we just
saw.n
THAT is not her name now, or at least
that is not the name she had when saw her
at Niblo's Garden last year."
"Very likely But that was her name
when ] knew her ten years ago. was rep.
rcsentng my state in the Senate then. |
met her first in Washington. She wanted
a place in the Treasury Department. She
as pretticr even than she Is now, and was
/ VIZ of the most fascinating women ever
onN got her the place. About a
saw later | met her again. This
month"; was in this hotel l had
time II IN for conference with some
come doN did not ret back to the hotel
until nearl room half an hour when heard
been In nv. door, ] opened 1t and saw
A tap at nivSy that was astonished would
Sallie. 10 s.. my amazemcnt.
NOT do instice f,-, 18th me, at once
"Come to my room w. ''en' ana
she said. She was grea
trembed like leaf. -s
ii protested that 1t would not be pfOpg
and advised her to go TO bed. -n"h- 6 n.
| see her in the morning.
"'No,' she persisted, come this very
| minute, 1t Is II matter of life aud death
with me. My room is only four doors from
| yours. There is a man there and | want
| you to put him out. II call an officer the
scandal will ruin me. ] am an unprotected
woman, and you are the only friend have
| in the world At this she burst into tears.
"What could | doy What could any
man dol went with her. The moment
| we reached her room she locked the door
behind us, put the key In her bosom, threw
| off her dressing gown and stood before me
| clad only in her night dress.
"'Now,' she said, give me 81 900 this
minute or will alarm the house, | will
| say that you forced your way into my room.
You are known in Washington rs my
friend, and will say that You followed me
days and You only came this evening.
at took only moment for Inc to realize
| that had fallen into the hands of desper-
ate blaCkmailer, but, fortunately, kept my
|, head. ] was candidate for reelection, and
Il scandal would have ruined my prospects,
| ! could not afford to defy hcr-iust then.
Z" j have no money with me- said.
Where Is II ?'
" In my room. III go and get it,
" No you won't You would never come
back
ii promised by all that was holy that |
would. pleaded with her and begged her
| to spare my reputation. | promised any
thing she might ask. ] appealed TO her
| gratitude, Finally she proposed to go with
me. That was just what wanted, but was
| shrewd enough to hide IL from her. So | at
first refused to entertain her suggestion.
But she insisted, and reattlring herself she
| went with me to my room. The moment
| we were In the room | walked to the bell
knob.
"'What are you going to doY' she asked.
" j am going 10 ring this bell, send for
the detective, and have you put out of this
| room. What business have Won In my room
at this hour of the nghtY / certainly did
not force you to come IN here. II you are
| found here you will be turned out of the
| house as u thief, or worse. Now, you can
| tell whatever story you please. NoQne will
believe you The evidence is all on my side,
Aud II you ever speak to me after this or
write letter to me on this subject, shall
have you arrested as u blackmailer Now ]
am going to ring the bell.
"The womPn looked at me second.
Them le cursed me. second later she
| OPEN the door and was gone, Just as
her own door closed behind her the bell boy
came.
/" Bring me a pitcher of ice water" !
said.
"1he next morning when | got down to
breakfast ] learned that she had left the
house. She never resumed her place in
Washington, and havenot seen her since
until today