Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-02-09
| "a Il. Wire, Secret.
\ 3 OR A BITTER RECKONING
N4R(I#M BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEMR
CHAPTER XIII.
By CHARLOTTE M. BRARME

ChAE 41h ALL.
Pauline made an effort to look unlike
herself; but hers was an individuality
not easily hidden under a large plaid
travelling wrap and a plain black bonnet
and veil. At any rate, Mr.. DAVIS was
not deceived by them, and guessed who
his visitor was the moment she was
shown into his dusty little private office.
He remained standing silent and mo-
tionless, with his bright, beadlike eyes
watching her from under his heavy brows
until she felt almost hysterical.
II have come with reference to an adj
vertisement in this mornings Times" she
began. II believe you inserted itT'
mo" She looked incredulous for
moment, then said: "Then, if you did not,
you know who did and you will favor
me with their address,"
what for?'
II wish to see them"
"WhyT'
"Whyw Pauline drew herself up
proudly, for she was getting irritted, as
she answered. II think that is my busi-
ness"
"Not at all! 1t is ours"
.'You will surely not refuse to let me
have the address of the person who put
that notice in this mornings Times, when
tell you that / came on Sir Geoffrey's
behalf. am. in fact, relative of his
1t says it is for Sir Geoffrey's decided
advantage" But howT'
That's my clients business. Lawyers
never reveal their clients affairs"
"But, if you will neither tell me your
self nor give me your clients address,
how can / find out for Sir Godfrey what
the advantage isY'
"Send him here himself"
HE can't come. He is very H. she
told the lawyer.
"Then we must wait until he's WELL"
you will absolutely tell nobody but
himself what this wonderful advantage
isY
mo one"
Pauline rose from her chair, and they
looked steadily at each other for few
seconds. She gathered her energies for
her last effort She placed her hand on
the table between them, and leaned for
ward slightly.
"What is your price for the address
/ wantY
DAVIS eyes glittered. Two thoughts
passed through his mind before he an
swered: you have shown your fear by
the offer of a bride; and heaven save
the Frenchwoman if / betray her, for
you will certainly murder her! Then
he spoke:
THE information you ask for is price
less"
Il can give more than you think, per
haps One hundred poundsp' A pause
Two hundred-three hundred-fOul
hundred-fvew [~ n
II have answered; it is priceless"
She looked for one instant as if sh,
would spring on him and tear the secre
from him; then there came the sulleI
look of one beaten and baiiled, and sht
turned without another word wen
down the rickety stairs, and re-entereC
the cab which had been waiting for her
Pauline had counted confidently oil
making a bargain with Messrs. DAVIS {
Raven. She believed that some unknown
person had accidentally found out Ger
tain facts of her past life which she ha,
pressing reasons for keeping secret, ant
she thought she had only to offer then
good price for their silence and tn
matter would end there. Now that sh
was once more in her own room, wrap
ped in a warm dressing gown. and wit
leisure to think, she began to see tina
there was something more than the mer
greed of gain prompting her unknown ad
Versary.
This fighting in the dark was alarming
If she only knew from what quartz
to expect the attack she might be able I
make some sort of resistance; as 1t wal
there was nothing to be done but s
down and calmly await the onslaught.
On one point only could she make u
her mind-she must hurry on her ma
riRge. Let her once be Jacks wife, AM
no matter what phantoms should ris
from the past to threaten her, she woul
at least be sure of his love; for sh
would love him so dearly, she would /
so gentle, so winning, that he would n,
be able to withhold his love from he
even though he should grieve to find h'
other than he had thought.
And so that evening she got Jack
consent that they should be married
fortnight hence, on the 18th of Septen
her, the day after she reached her twel
ty-fifth year,