Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-10-15
CHAPTER Y.

report in desperation. Upon the sec
oBd night after, casting aside all
scruples. be 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, ID. c." 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
satsied?' 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 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.
Her white face was frozen into an inn
penetrabfe 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 a child.
These reservations he mentally classed
| as irrelevant
1t 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 a 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, during
which time she stood rigidly looking
down on her son, William, the butler,
appeared.
go to DR.. Brodnar immediately -
she said, land tell him to come to me;
that Miss Frances is desperately ILL.,
"Motheri"
, She waved the servant away and
turned upon her son with unrestrained
anger. DO you think that l fear him :?
Do you think that shall sit quietly by
and let him introduce people into this
house-into my stepd aughter's room
, in the night and entangle us in his
plots? Oh, that l were a mani" She
was now a Gagged tigress, and giving
freedom to long-suppressed fury. "It
would be nothing less than the cow,
hidel"
lou forget Frances" ----.-
Il forget nothingi i realize. on the
contrary, sir, that both Frances and
her doctor are at my mercy now. He
dare not betray herl And this comes
of your shameful dallying with that
woman-youl-my soni-the puppet
the plaything, the slave of "a"
Wait, motherl You forget your
self, at least-and me. am not a child
little more, and / shall leave thi:
house not TO enter it again. Be care
1uI 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 OIL
& ahection 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.
mond played his part well: You shall
!. not denounce me for one infamy only
y to link me to another"
4, IF you had shown such spirit with
. Brodnar." she said, bitterly.
IF i had! Words-blows-a dueIl
: Then the truth would have come out
To accept the responsibilities of the
:. will afterwards would be contempt.
. ible. No, mother, you women see but
one side of such matter. What would
T.. become of US should Louise m axe her.
self known? Start the police upon
this matter, and they will ferret heI
out"
why have you not taken her away:
, You have been imprudent in delaying
that
I Nervous prostration. l have a
n nurse with her. Tomorrow. if she
may travel, shall get her out of the
: city. For Gods sake give me time to
4 do that. You have no idea what you
are risking."
d Doctor out, ma'am," said William
r returning at this moment. Young
q doctor say he will SEN i'm roun' des
E soon as he come back-dere now! front
e do bell ringin' dis minute like some
S body tryin' TO pull it tru' de do OATS
de doctor, ev'ytime."
! stand behind the portiere in nv
v dressing-room," said the mother to her
e son, who was preparing to depart
: land under no circumstances let YOUR
. self be scent" Almost immedia tely
: DIR. Brodnar entered the room.
e You sent for me, madam" he began.
; where is Frances?"
Asleep, / suppose. 1 have been
d guilty of fiction, but my intentions
are good. DIR. Brodnar, who was the
!, man you took from my house wounded
and for what purpose was he here? ]
| Rrna ND sncf