The Washington times., 1903-02-08

ITS rather late TO do that now; out
III promise you shall have an oppor-
tunity to do what there is to be done.
1t is only fair to tell you. though. that
there isn't a ghost Of chance for M.
It's just as / told you last night; il this
woman chooses 10 speak she can hang
me-"
Bently was sobered again Immediately.
and he stopped in front Of Lloyd. Tom,
if it's that bad, why don't you just lock
that door and run for it?''
Lloyd shook his head. You don't
understand. Harry. I'm not afraid Of
anything but the disgrace, and I can't
run away from that. I'm not sure that
I'd care to live after the thing comes
out
We'll, rejoined BentIy, with his hand
on the latch Of the door. 7 suppose it's
your own funeral. and you will do rs
you please about it. Send up to the
ofiee If you want me
When he was gone Lloyd lighted
cigar and leaned back in his chair TO
walt. He tried to think of business. and
went over the details again in his mind
to see II he had taken every precaution
necessary. There seemed to be nothing
forgotten and his thoughts wandered to
other things
What would become Of Grace and the
children Would she take them back
to the old home in New England. and
would she try to have them grow up in
ignorance Of their fathers ignominy2 1t
would be best so. and he would suggest
it when the time came; the laws delay
would give sufficient opportunity for
this and for all the other things he
would wish to say to her. He knew well
enough she would never leave Colorado
while he was alive, though he could not
help thinking that 1t would be better for
her to be spared the misertes Of waiting
and sharing with him the bitterness of
the interval
Dwelling upon this phase OF the
wretehed affair. his resolution to dety
his aecuser began to weaken. In justice
to his wife and children. would it not
be wiser to temporize, even though by so
doing he could only hope to postpone
the evil day But then. if it were ven
geance and not money-Benuy's sugges-
ton came again with overpowering en-
phasis. Who would question it if he saw
fiji TO take his wife and children on a
hurried Journey Or, if the hue and cry
we're raised. what difference could it
make so IonE as he was safe aud with
those whom God has given him?
The details suggested themselves Of !
their own accord. 4 westbound train /
would leave at / O'Clock There vas /
lime enough for hasty preparation The |
better part OF his savings was either in
ready none. or in paper that could be |
Immediately discounted at any bank /
Since his business frequently called him
away at short notice. Grace would not
question the hurried departure. ana /
here would be plenty Of time afterward
for such explanation as he might think
It best to make.
The argument was dangerously subtle. /
and in seIf-defense Lloyd took a half
finished report on the Bald Eagle mine
out Of it's pigeonhole and plunged into
it's mathematical intricacies. The effect
Of the mental bath was good, Hour after
hour he pored over the columns Of
figures in his notebook. transferring the
concrete results to the pages of the re-
port. and when the work was finally
completed, he was surprised TO find that
it was 3 O'Clock. and that ne had qaite
forgotten to so out to luncheon a. the
usual hour.
When the report was finished. there
was nothing else TO do, and the tide of
perplexing thoughts surged back upoa
him like pack of ravening wolves For
a few moments he tried to beat them OF.
lighting with all his strength for self
possession and patience When he saw
that the effort was useless, he shut his (
desk and left the office. Five minutes
later he was handing his card TO thv
clerk al the Markham.
send that up to Mrs. Pearl Lloyd" /
he said. and then he walked the tile ,
floor of the rotunda until the boy can.o +
back with the empty salver.
The lady says for you 10 come up tc /
the parloE."
Lloyd turned upon his heel and ran
rapidly up the broad flight Of steps. The /
parIor was empty, and he went to a win
dow and stood looking down into the
busy street Would she never come Or +
was this delay only another barb TO The /
arrow Of her vengeance?
Just then truck horse slipped IN the
pavement and fell. and Lloyd watched
the curious crowd gather around the
PROSTATE animal Everyone had a sug-
ges+ion IN offer and each nov axrediant