Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-13

| HEEJSSsy from the vague terror that Beatrice
Sssssssses9 mad noticed all along. Beatrice could
not repress shudder as she looked at
that scowling face. To be with that
man always to share his home and his companv.
seemed to her a most impossible thing. She had
lost her father; the future was black and hone.
less before her. but she felt strength and cour-
age now' That she had been stranger to for
long time
| Give me that telegram" Richford said hoarse.
~. Hand 1t over to me at once"
| He advanced in a manner that was dist;nctlv
threatening. Certainly he would not have stop
ped at violence if violence would serve his end.
But Beatrice not afraid
Richford grasped the girl by the wrist and drew
her to him. He forced something in the SEM
blance of smile to his lips
Don t let us discuss this question like two sillv
children he said. "You have fairly caught me
out. l did go to your father this morning-there
was an urgent reason why should see him. We
need not go into that now for it was purely on
matters of business. If you ask me how I got
into that room when the door was locked. 7 will
tell you. Before I thought of marrying YOU and
setting up house of my own, I had that suite of
rooms"
is all this material to discussion?" Beat.
rice asked coldly.
| 1S0 piliih so' Az any rate L never
the suite OF rooms, and the keys are still in nv
possession. That is how T got in to 500 ,,o,r
father without anybody being the wiser. T was
going to show him the very telegram which has
| fallen into your hands, But / found that Sir
Charles was dead, and it a great shock to
me. l must have dropped that telegram in nv
agitation and forgotten it. So far you follow me,
do you not?"
II follow you," Beatrice said bitterly 81 quite
understand; [ admire your restraint and vour
cunning. You reasoned it all out in n fash If
you raised the alarm everybody would have
| known the truth in few minutes And that
being so, there would have been no marriage
You took all the risks, and fortune favored the
bold as fortune always does Nothing happened
until it was too late, and | was married tn Won
But there is one thing you failed to reckon unon-
that my father is no longer pawn in the game"
Beatrice was speaking quietly and steadily
enough; she felt that the victory was in her
hands now.
my fathers death leaves me free" the GIRL
went HE is dead and nobody can touch him.
/ If he had died yesterday the match would have
been broken off, as you know. I was prepared
| to take my chance. If this vile thing had not
happened, then l should have respected nv we'd
ding and made you as good wife as !
| could. / should have hated and loathed it, Int I
should have become accustomed to it in time. But
this action of yours makes all the difference.
When you and part after this painful converse.
ton, we part for good. We shall be talked about
there will be lot of idle gossip, but | care Meth
ing for that And if you raise hand if you try
to use the law on your side produce that tele-
gram and tell my story"
| Again the look of mingled rage and terror came
into Richford's eyes,
"You talk like fool" he said hoarsely.
'What can you possibly do to get living? You
are my wife; you can never marry anybody SO
long as am alive You are very pretty, but you
have been brought up to be utterly useless
II have strength and courage Beatrice replied,
'and they are worth good deal. l can. 60 into
a shop if the worst comes to the worst. My rela-
tves, the Marlborough
Lady Marlborough will turn her back on you
! if you do this. She will be furious"
"Well, then, must depend upon myself But
you are not going to say anything--for some rea-
son YOU are too frightened to say anything"
"And all the wedding presents, the diamonds
and the lke?" Richford asked feebly.
"The wedding presents will go hack to the send,
ers There is plain clothes policeman keeping
guard over them now-your diamonds are amongst
| the lot | will that they safely sent to
ycu And do not know tnat ] need say any
more"
Beatrice had reached tn, corridor by this time.
She was passing Richford with her head in the
air It came to him suddenly that he had lost
everything, that he was bafnad and beaten.
In sudden spasm of rage he caught the girl by
the shoulders in a savage grip. She gave little
moan of pain as she looked around for assistance
1t came quite unexectedly
At the same moment Mark Ventmore was com
ing from his room. He took in the situation at a
glance. With one bound he was by Richfords
side. and he had wrenched his hands away. With
a snarl Richford turned upon the man and aimed
a blow at him. Then Marks fist shot out, and
Richford crashed to the ground with livid red
spot on his forehead Sick and dizzy he scram'
bled to his feet,
''You are more than match for me that way"
he panted ''But there are other ways, my
friend, Of wiping that blow out. Look to your
self"
TO BIZ CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY