The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-04-05
CHAPTER X.

ond night after, casting aside oil
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 10 read them he saw
washington, d. Co." 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
satisfed?" 1t 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 u.s."
"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.
Her white face was frozen into an i'm
penetrable mask. He described the
occurrences of the last few days, and
made 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.
1t is not likely that Raym0nd'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 a tide of anger and
hesitateG 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 during
which time she stood rigidly looking
down on her son, William the butler
appeared.
$50 to DR.. Brodnar Immediately"
she said "and tell 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 shall sit quietly by
and let him introduce people into this
house-into my pdaughter's rsom-
in the night and entangle us in his
plots? Oh, that l were a mani" She
was now Gagged tigress, and giving
freedom to long-suppressed fury. at
would be nothing less than the cow
hide!"
You forget Frances"
II forget nothing! l realize, on the
contrary, sir, that both Frances and
her doctor are at my mercy now. He
dare not betray her! And this 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 | shall leave thi!
house not to enter it again. Be care
full what you say-and be careful O.
Frances. Prove her guilty of an,
crime and you defeat your own plans.
No amount of pleading, no love o.
affection on the part of her boy, coulC
have swayed the tempestuous woman
S quickly as open defiance. In such mo
ments he resembled the one human be
ing whose fiery temper and relentles
brutality had ever awed her. Ray
mond played his part we'll: "You shaI
not denounce me for one infamy onl,
10 link me to another"
IF you had shown such spirit wit
Brodnar," she said bitterly.
If l had! Words-bows-a duel
Then the truth would have come out
To accept the responsibilities of tn
will afterwards would be contempt
ible. No, mother. you women see bu
one side of such matter. What woul
become of us should Louise make hel
self known? Start the police upo
this matter, and they will ferret he
out"
why have you not taken her away
You have been imprudent in delayin
that"
Nervous pr5stration. have
nurse with her. Tomorrow, if 81
may travel shall get her out of ii
city. For Gods sake give me time I
do that. You have no idea what yo
are risking."
Doctor out, ma'am." said William
returning at this moment. "Nour
doctor say he will sen i'm roun' q
soon as he come baek-dere low, froI
DO bell riugin' dis minute Ike som
body tryin' TO pull il tru' de do. Dat
de doctor, ev'ytime."
"Stand behind the portiere in n
dressing-room.' said the mother to h
son, who was preparing 10 dePai
"aud under no circumstances let YOU
self be scent" Almost immediate
DIR. Brodnar entered the room.
"You sent for me. madam" he begs
"Where is Frances2"