The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-06

be heard. That which the men in the gray frock-coats were telling each other in whispers was being told also by the mob in stentorian tones. 'tThe horse was pulled off his feet" said the knowing ones. they ought to warn the whole crowd off"
 Anna heard these cries and began dim ly to understand them. She knew that Willy Forrest had done this in return for the slight she had put upon him at Hen ley He had named his own jockey for the race and chosen one who had little reputation to lose. Between them they would have reason to remember the Royal Hunt Cup for many a day. Their gains could have been little short of thirty thousand pounds--and of this sum, Anna owed them nearly five thousand. She heard the peoples cries and the sounds affrighted her. Not an English woman, none the less she had a good sense of personal honor, and her pride was wounded, not only because of this affront. but that a strange people should put 1t upon her Had it been any indl- vidual accusation. she would have faced it gladly-but this intangi judgment of the multitude. the whispering all about her, the sidelong glances of the men and the open contempt of the women, these she could not meet
 Let us go back to the bungalow to
 
 1t were but a whlm of the moment, this place makes my head ache Let us start now and avoid the crush. Don't you think 1t would be great idea, Alban2" He said that 1t would be-but cnancfng f to look at her while she spoke he per ceaved the tears gathering in her eyes and knew that she had suffered great misfortune.
 Richard Gessner knew nothing of An
 
 friend who made 1t his business to be- tray them. The day was rare when he made an inquiry concerning her amuse- ments or the manner of them. Women were in his eyes just so many agreeable decorations for the tables at which men dned. Of their mental capacity he had no opinion whatever and it was a com mon jest for him to declare their brain power consistently inferior to that of the male animal
 There has been no woman financial genius since the world began" he would observe, and if those who contradicted him named the arts he waved them aside. What is art when finance Is before us?' That Anna should amuse herself was well and proper. He wished her to marry well that he might have spoken of my daughter, Lady Anna''-not with pride as most men would speak, but ironically, as one far above such petty titles and able from his high place to deride them.
 Of her daily life, it must be confessed that he knew very little. A succession of worthy if incompetent dependents acted the chaperones part for him and saris- fled his conscience upon that score. He heard of her at this social function or at that, and was glad that she should go. Men would say, There's a catch for you old Gessners daughter; he must be worth q million if he's worth a penny" Her cudpable predsposition toward that pleasant and smooth-tongued rascal. VII ly Forrest, annoyed him for the time being, but soon forgotten. He be- lleved that the man would not dare to carry pursuit farther, and if he did, the remedy must be drastic.
 T will buy up his debts and send him through the court Gessner said. "If that does not do, we must find out his past and see where we can have him. My daughter may not marry as l wish. but if she marries jockey, I have done with her" And this at hazard. though he had not the remotest idea who Forrest was and had not taken the trouble to find out. When the man ceased to visit Five Ga bles" he forgot him immediately. He was the very last person in all London whom he suspected when Anna, upon tho day following his return from Paris, asked that they might have little talk together and named the half-hour imme- diately before dinner for that purpose He received her in his study, whither Eel lows had already carried him glass of sherry and bitters. and being in the best of good humor. he frankly confessed his pleasure that she should appeal to him.
 Come in, Anna, come In. my dear. Whats the matter now--been getting into mischief? Oh, you girls-always the samo story. a man or millner and the poor old father to get you out of 1t. What is 1t this time-Paquin or Worth? Don't mind me, Anna I can always live in d cottage on a pound a week. The doctor says l should be the better for 1t. Per haps I should. Half the complaints we suffer from are just too much Think that over and add 1t up. You look very pale, my girl. You're not ill., are your"
 The sudden change of tone occurred as Anna advanced into the light and seated herself In the bow window overlooking the rose-garden She wore delicate skirt of pink satin below a superb gown of chiffon and real lace. A single pink rose decorated her fine black hair which she had coiled upon her neck to betray q shapely contour of dazzling white skin beneath it. Her jewels were few, but re- marlSable. The pearls about her neck had been called bronze in tint and were perfect in their shape. She carried a dia- mond bracelet upon her right arm, and US Rutter ndSneu aDOut ner us IL Tdulanl spirit of the riches whose embierns she wore. The pallor of her face was m keeping with tho picture, The wild black eyes seemed alight with all the fires of tragedy unconfessed.
 "I am not Ill, father" she said, but there is something about which I must speak to you'
 Yes, yes, Anna-of course. And this is neither Paquin nor Worth, 1t appears. Oh you little rogue. To come to me like this-to como to your poor old father and bring him a son-in-law for dinner. Ha, ha,-Tll remember that-a son-in-law to dinner We'll I shan't eat him, Anna, if he's all right. It wouldn't be Alban Kennedy now?"
 He became serious In an instant, put ting the question as though his favor de- pended upon her answer in the negative. Anna, however, quite ignored the sugges- ton when she replied:
 'I came to speak to you about Ascot, father"
 About Ascot-who's Ascot7"
 ''The races at Ascot. ran a horse there and lost five thousand pounds"
 "What-you lost-come, Anna, my dear child-you lost-think of 1t again-you lost fifty pounds7 And who the devil took you there, I want to know-whos been playing the fool? I don't agree with young girls betting. I'll have none of that sort of thing in this house. Just tell him so-whoever he Is. I'll have mono of 1t, and if It's that
 He broke off at the words, arrested in his banter by the sudden memory of name. As in a flash he perceived the truth The man Forrest was at the bot