Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09

Os .OOOs
frightened him almost-was the possible
connection of the charming and fascinating
Mrs. de Lara with this barefaced attempt at
blackmail. But no; he could not he would
not, believe It'll He recalled her pretty ways,
her frankness. her engaging manner. her
good humor, her clever, wayward talk, her
Kindness toward himself; and he could not
bring himself to think that all the time she
had been planning a paltry and despicable
conspiracy to extort money, or even that
she would lend herself to such scheme at
the instigatlon of her scapegrace husband.
However, his speculations on these points
were now interrupted by the arrival of the
dinner hour; and he went below to the table
d'hote.
During dinner he thought that q little
later on in the evening he would go along
to Lexington avenue and call on a lawyer
whose acquaintance he had made on former
visit to New York. He might by chance be
at home and disengaged, and an apology
could be made for disturbing him at such
an unusual hour. And this, accordingly,
Vincent did; found that Mr.. Griswold was
in the house; was shown into the study, and
presently the lawyer-a tall, thin man,
with cadaverous and deeply-lined face and
cold gray eves-came in and received his un-
expected visitor politely enough.
''De Lara?" said he, when Vincent had
told his story. "Well, yes, I know some
thing of De Lara. and very disagree
able fellow he is to have any dealings with. "
"But I don't want to have any dealings
with him." Vincent protested, "and don't
see how there should be any necessity. The
whole thing is preposterous attempt at ex-
tortion. If only he were to put down on
paper what he said to me this evening, I
would show him something-or at least I
should do so if he and were in England" "
"He is not so foolish" the lawyer said.
"Well what do you propose to do?-com-
promise for the sake of peace and quiet
ness?"
Certainly not, was the instant reply.
"He's a mischievous DEVIL" said Mr..
Griswold, doubtiully. "And of course you
don't want to have things said about you in
newspapers, however secure. Might get
sent over to England. Yes, he's mischiev-
Gus devil-an unscrupulous devil when he
turns ugly. What do you say now?-for
the sake of peace and quietness-a little
matter of couple OF hundred dollars-and
nobody need know anything about it
'Give couple of hundred dollars to that
Internal scoundrei? Neverl' said Vincent
with decision that was unmistakable.
l0ere Is no reason WHY gOu ouOuiu SlNc
him a cent-not the slightest, the lawyer
went on, But some people do, to save trouble.
However, YOU will not be remaining
long in this city; 1 see it announced that
you are going on a tour through the United
States and Canada"
'The fact is, Mr.. Griswold, said Vincent
81 came along-at this unholy hour, fol
which hope you will forgive me-not tc
ask YOU what I should do about that fel
lows threats-I don't value them pin'i
point-but merely to see if you knew any
thing about those two"
''The De Laras?"
"Yes; what does he do, to begin with
What's his occupation-his business?"
"Nominally," said Mr.. Griswold, she be
longs to my own profession; but fancy he j
more mixed up with some low-class news
papers. 1 have heard, indeed, that one o
his sources of income is levying blackmai
on actresses. The poor girls lose nerve, vol
understand; they won't fight; they woul'
rather see him, as the phrase is, than incu
his enmity.'
"Well, then, what want to know still
more particularly" the young man proceed
ed, sis this-is Mrs. De Lara supposed t
take part in these pretty little plans for oh
tanning money!"
The lawyer smiled.
"You ought to know her better than I dc
in fact, don't know her at all"
Vincent was silent for second.
mo; 1 should not have imagined it q
her. 1t seems incredible. But if you don
know her personally, perhaps you kno1
what is thought of her? What is her genera
reputation?"
"Her reputation? 1 can hardly answe
that question. I should say" Mr.. Girls
| uold went op in his slow and deliherat
manner, "that there is a kind ola kind o
impression-that, so long as the money wa
forthcoming, Mrs. de Lara would not be to
| anxious to inquire where it came FROM"
"She was at the Captains tablet Vincen
exclaimed.
"Ship captains don't know much abou
what is going on on shore, was the reply
"Besides, if Mrs de Lara wanted to sit q
the Captains table, it's at the Captain
table you would find her, and that withou
delayl But why are you so anxious to fin
out about Mrs. de Lara's peculiarities-
apart from her being very pretty woman?
"Oh," said Vincent, as he rose to apolC
gize once more for this intrusion, and to sa
| goodnight, zone is always meeting wit
new experiences. Another lesson in th
ways of the world, I suppose.
But ali the same, as he walked alon
] these thoroughfares to his hotel. he kep
! saying to himself that he would rather nc
believe that Mrs. de Lara had betrayed hir
and was an accomplice in this shameful al
tempt to make money out of him. Nay, b
said to himself that he would refuse to be
| lieye until he was forced to believe: thong
he did not 60 step further, and ask him
self the why and wherefore of this curiou
reluctance.
| ITO be continued ne1t Sunddv)