The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-18
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The Beautiful White Devil.

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CHAPTER <.
RETR1BUTIoN.
had seen nothing Of Allie since / |
had said good night to her the previous
evening, nor did receive an invitation
to visit her until breakfast had been
over some time. Then Walworth enter
ed my cabin.
.'Her ladyship,' he said, taking a
seat on my locker, has sent me to say
that she would be glad to see you aft, if
you could spare few moments Before
you 60 want to explain the situation to
you. The matter on hand, as you may
guess, is the case Of that scoundrel Eb-
bington, and as he will be present she
thinks it best that little precaution
should be observed.
In what way do you mean?" an
swered. "Of course I am ready to do
anything she may wish, but I'd like to
have my instructions clearly explained
to me first.
Well, have been commissioned to
inform you that she thinks it would be
better in case Of accident that Ebbing-
ton should suppose she has abducted
you as we'll as himself. That is to say,
instead of being her guest on board the
schooner you are her prisoner. Do you
understand
Perfectly. She is afraid lest any
harm should occur to me, when leave
her yacht, by reason Of my association
with her. 1t is like her thoughtfulness. !"
Shall we go?"
/ signifed my assent, and we set off.
When we reached Allies cabin, we
found her reclining on couch at the
farther end, the bulldog as usual at her
feet She held packet Of papers in her
hand, which previous to our arrival it
was evident she had been perusing. AT
the other end, near the companion lad
der, but on the starboard side, between
two sailors stood the prisoner, Ebbing-
ton. He looked, as we'll he might, hope
lessly miserable. He opened his eyes in
establishment when he saw me enter. !,
however, crossed the cabin with Wal
worth and stood on the port side with
out letting him see that recognized
him. Then solemn silence fell upon us
all for nearly minute. While it lasted
Allie sat with her chin on her hand,
staring steadfastly at Ebbington. Under
her gaze he lowered his eyes, and when
I noticed that his fingers twined con-
vulsively over and round each other /
could imagine the state of his mind.
The fellow was plainly as frightened as
itw possible for him to be. Then Allie
lifted her head and spoke in a voice as
soft as Kittens purr.
"Mr. Ebbington. she said, do you
know me?''
He did not answer, but I saw the first
finger and thumb of his right hand
clutch at his trousers leg and hold it
tight. That action was more significant
than any words Again she spoke:
-- - - 17ii>hinotnn.n she said, "my
honorable agent, I ask you again do you
know me?'
Once more he refused to answer.
You seem undecided Well, then,
let me trespass upon your time and tell
you little story, which will perhaps
help you to remember. You may listen,
Dr. De Normanville, if you please. You
must know, Mr.. Ebbington, that once
upon a time there was woman who
for no fault of her own, found herself al
enmity with the world. She had neces.
sarily to be continually moving from
place to place and to be always on hel
guard against betrayal. The better,
therefore, to conduct her business she
engaged a man to reside in certain
place and to supply her from time tc
time with certain important informa.
ton. The man was poor she made him
rich. He had nothing; she gave him
everything. He was despised she made
him honored. He was in trouble; she
saved him, not once, but twice, and
made him happy.
"You, Mr.. Ebbington, who are such
an honorable man, would think that
that man would have been grateful
wouldn't you? Well, he pretended tt
be, and perhaps for little time he
really was. But his feelings soon un
derwent a change toward his benefac
tress. When he had money, he wanted
more. He knew his employers secret,
and at last, as a brilliant finale, he re.
solved to trade upon it. Then what idea
do you think came into that faithful
servants mind? You will never guess.
Why, neither more nor less than the be.
trayal of his benefactress to her enc.
mics. And for what reward, think you.
Millions? A million? For half mil.
lion? A quarter? No, mol For the mis-.
cradle sum Of So, 600. 1t seems incredible
that man could be SO foolish and SC
base, doesn't it? But nevertheless, it il
true. Perhaps he thought the woman,
having escaped SO often, must ineyita-
bly, be caught before long, and being a
business man he remembered the old
adage that "a bird in the hand is worth
two in the bush. At any rate, he went
to the authorities noble, trust
worthy, grateful man-and, like Judas,
proffered his perfdy for price. But he
was bargaining without his host-o1
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