Evening journal., 1907-03-27
sriiee came nom me-
why did you do itr she demanded

'why did you do itT" she demanded
hotly.
you're not used to making your own
way-of course you miss things. And.
then. knew your father. and wanted
to help you for his sake"
She stared half lncredulously.
'You knew papa7 When7 Where"
"In San Francisco-last winter. We
met in a business way and got to be
friendly. He liked 70 talk about you,
and once he showed me your picture.
SO you seemed like an old friend from
the first"
Betty's eyes had been opened, but
the look Of annoyance did not leave
her face.
Il can supply my own wants. Please
do not send anything more" she said
and. with her head held high, went
back to her post
Henderson glanced up inquiringly
his face revealing half a dozen Inn
pulses IN as many seconds. Suddenly
he rose, took q step nearer and began
speaking rapidly IN a husky whisper.
Miss vandevere, listenl I'm going
to tell you secret 1 have fallen
heir to a fortune. take the midnight
train for Canada to claim the legacy.
No one is TO know Of this until after
I'm gone-not even Sterling. VIII you
come, too-away from this hateful life7
You know love you. Decide at oncel
There's no time for dallying. Say
you'll GOMEZ
The startled girl trembled in the hot
breath OF his passion. Every veshge
Of color left her face.
1T is-so- sudden" she faltered. Il
must think il over. Give me time"
"I'n call at your boarding house at
10 O'Clock. BE on the watch, And re-
member how much there is at stake.
But l know / can trust you"
Betty's voice seemed to have drop
ped down into her throat. There was
no response A silence fell in which
she could hear the mufIled beating Of
her own heart
That night Henderson was the FIRST
70 leave Sterling was in the room,
and he could only give Betty a glance
OF mute appeal as he went out
She crouched over her desk with
blurred eyes. For a time there was no
sound save the rustic Of the paper
Sterling pretended to read. At length,
throwing It down. he crossed 20 her
side.
"Still at work, Miss VandevereT he
said. new note in his big voice.
"I'l soon finish now" she answered
without lifting her eyes. Don't wait,
please I'll lock up"
Betty heard him sigh as he went out.
/ Hastily locking the door on the inside,
she withdrew the key and returned to
her seat.
An hour dragged by Now there
were shadows everywhere. The cor.
ners were black with them. She felt
a suffocatlng terror as If the walls
were contracting and might shut to
gether and crush her.
Suddenly a key clicked in the lock
She had barely time to drop behind q
chair before man tlptoed into th'
Office. As he passed by her hiding
place the light from the street strucl
across his face For minute shl
ceased TO breathe He went hurrledll
on 70 tho inner room. and after littl
while a gentle clicking told her that h
was working the combination OF thu
safe
Now was her chancel Quaking viii
fright. she crept to the door opening OF
the landing, One quick step and She
was outside. Then the unexpected
happened A flood Of light suddenly Il
lumined the darkness; she saw tha
the passage was fun OF policemen
And she had rushed straight into Ton
Sterling's armsl
"You Oh. I'm so glad." she gaspe'
Historically "Quick. The safel Yol
are being robbed. Henderson,
But the men in blue had alread,
= dashed past into the office. There wa
the sound OF a struggle. then a voic
shreking dreadful curses - the sam
voice she had once thought so culture
and refined
Il overheard-this afternoon" Stel
ling said quietly Il had grown SUI
picious before II you really love hiI
; he shall 90 free"
/ "Love him? oh. no. nor Betty erie
Z with her face hidden on the big man
shoulder. Il didn't know until III
afternoon whom loved, but l Z
Z nOwr'