Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-26
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Copyright. 1Ss0. by J. B. Lippincott Com,
 pauy. All ri~hts reserved.
CHAPTER x.

NOpyI18nts 1bSUs Dy J. B. A1pD1ncotI CouSp
 pany. All ri~hts reserved.
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 CHAPTER X.
 Holbin received the negro woman's report in desperation. Upon the sec oad night after, casting aside all scruples, he went to his mothers room. She had not retired. but was busy with her correspondence, which she put aside as her son entered the door. Without seeking to read them he saw ''Washington, D. G." upon several : sealed letters, fact that he recalled later. The smile of pleasure which lit up her severe countenance disappeared when she noted the look of anger and distress on his face.
 "Well,' she said, "are you still dis satisfied?'' It was their first meeting alone since the death of John Brookin.
 Do not congratulate yourself too soon, mother. The game is but half played out, and we may find that strong cards are held against us."
 What do you mean by that?"
 He walked the room, pausing at times before her as she sat in her arm- chair. Her black eyes followed him.
  penetrable mask. He descri bed the occurrences of the last few days, and made a clean breast of it all, reserving only certain facts in connection with his experience with Louise, among which was the existence of child. These reservations he mentally classed as irrelevant.
 It is not likely that Raymond's con- fessions greatly surprised his mother. She was, in fact, already familiar with most of his history. The disturbing elements of his statement were the dangerous character of Louise and the astounding circumstances of the shooting. Yet these drew from Mrs. Brookin no comment, no evidence of excitement or dismay. She regarded her son silently and sternly for few moments. then dropped into a chair. A flush at length overspread her white face. Raymond knew that it was the advance wave of tide of anger and hesitated when she ordered him to ring the bell. She arose calmly, and cross ing the room pulled the bell cord as deliberately as though to summon her carriage. A few minutes after, durin g which time she stood rigidly looking down on her son, William, the butler, appeared.
 "Go to Dr. Brodnar immediately ,'' she said, land ten him to come to me; that Miss Frances is desperately ill.,"
 ''Mother!"
 She waved the servant away and turned upon her son with unrestrained anger. ''Do you think that fear him Do you think that I shall sit quietly by and let him introduce people into this house-into my stepdaughter's room in the night and entangle us in his plots? Oh, that I were man!" She was now a caged tigress, and giving freedom to g-suppressed fury. ''It would be nothing less than the cow hide!"
 You forget Frances"
 "1 forget nothing! I realize, on the contrary, sir, that both Frances and her doctor are at my mercy now. He dare not betray her! Ana ta1s comes of your shameful dallying with that woman-you!-my son!-the puppet, the plaything, the slave of a-' Wait, mother! You forget your self, at least-and me. am not child. A little more, and I shall leave this house not to enter it again. Be care full what you say-and be careful of Frances. Prove her guilty of any crime and you defeat your own plans" No amount of pleading, no love or affection on the part of her boy, could have swayed the tempestuous woman as quickly as open defiance. In such mo- ments he resembled the one human be- ing whose fiery temper and relentless brutality had ever awed her. Ray Tond played his part well: You shall not deaounce me for one :nfamy only to link me to anothec."
 "If you had shown such spirit with 1 Brodnar," she said, bitterly. | 'If l had! Words-blows-a duel! Then the truth would have come out. To accept the responsi abilities of the will afterwards would be contempt ible. No, mother, you women see but one side of such matter. What would 1 become of us should Louise make her. self known? Start the police upon this matter, and they will ferret her out"
 'Why have you not taken her away? You have been imprude ent in delaying that"
 Nervous prostration. I have a nurse with her. Tomorrow, if she may travel, shall get her out of the city. For Gods sake give me time to do that. You have no idea what you are risking."
 "Doctor out, ma'am," said William, returning at this moment. ''Young doctor say he will sem i'm roun' des soon as he come back-dere now! front do bell ringin' dis minute like some. body tryin' to pull it tru' de dol. Oats de doctor, ev'ytime."
 Stand behind the portiere in my dressing-room," said the mother to he1 son, who was preparing to depart ''and under no circumstances let your. self be seen!" Almost immediately pr. Brodnar entered the room.
 You sent form madam" he began "Where is Frances?"
 Asleep, suppose. have beer guilty of fiction, but my intentions