The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-06
 OF LONDON OR LODESTAR
Copyright 1907 by Max Pemberton all rights reserved
 

I Anna, this isn't dealing very fair with me. I have never denied you any pleas ure-you know I haven't. If you wanted to play this game, why couldn't you have come to me and told me so? l wouldn have denied you-but five thousand; you're not serious about that-you don't mean to say that you lost five thousand pounds?"
 1T lost five thousand pounds, father and I must pay the money. They will call me a cheat if I do not. It must be paid on Monday-Willy says so-"
 He turned upon her with a shout that was almost a roar. She i.new in an in stant how foolish she had been.
 willy Forrest-did you lose the money to him? Come, speak out. I shall get at the truth somehow-did you lose the money to hm?"
 T lost 1t through him--he made the bets for me"
 "Then I will not pay a penny of 1t if 1t sends you to prison. Not penny as I'm a living man."
 She heard him calmly and delivered her answer as calmly.
 T shall marry him If you do not she said. her face closely. It had grown hard and cold, the face of a woman who has taken a resolution and will not be turned from it.
 You will marry Forrest7' he asked quietly.
 "I shall marry him and he will pay my debts."
 "He-he hasn't got two brass pieces to rub together He's a needy out-at-elbow sdventurer Do you want to know who William Forrest is-well, my detectives shall tell me In the morning. I'll find out all about him for you. And you'd marry himl Well, my lady, there you'll do as 1, you please. I've done with a daughter who tells me that to my face. Go and marry him. Live in a kennel. But don't come to me for bone; don't think I'm to be talked over, because that's not my habit. If you choose such a man as that"
 'I do not choose him. There are few would not sooner marry. I am think ing of my good name-of our goed name If I marry Willy Forrest. they will say that 1 helped to cheat the public. Do you not know that 1t is being said al ready? The horse was pulled-I believe that am not to be allowed to race again. Poor MT. Farrier Is terribly upset. They say that we were all cheats together. What can I do, father7 If I pay the money and they know that we lost 1t. that is a good answer to them. If I do not, Willy is probably the one man who can put matters straight and I shall mar ry him"
 She rose as though this was the end of the argument. Her words, lightly spoken, were so transparently honest that the shrewd man of business summed up the whole situation in an instant. The mere possibility that his name would be mixed up with a racing scandal staggered him by It's dangers and its absurdity. Anger against his daughter became in some measure compassion. Of course she was but woman and a clever charlatan had entrapped her.
 "Sit down-sit down." he said bluffly, motioning her back to her seat. Tt Is perfectly clear that this William Forrest of yours is a rogue, and as q rogue VIC must treat him. I am astonished at what you tell me. It is piece of nonsense, women's sense as ridiculous as the silly business which is responsible for 1t. Of course you must pay them the money. I will do the rest. Anna I have friends who will quickly put that matter straight and If your rogue finds his way to a race course again he is a very lucky man. Now sit down and let mo speak to you in my turn, Anna. I want you to speak about Afban--I want to hear how you like him. He has now been with us long enough for to know something about him. Let us see if your opinion agrees with mine"
 His keen scrutiny detected flush upon her face while he asked the question and he understood that all he had suspected had been nothing but the truth. Anna had come to love this open-minded lad who had been forced upon them by such an odd train of circumstances; her threats concerning Willy Forrest were the merest bravado. Gessner would have trembled at the knowledge a week ago. but tonight 1t found him singularly complacent. He listened to Annas response with tho air of a light-hearted judge who condemned Q guilty prisoner out of her own mouth.
 "Alban Kennedy has many good quail ities," she said. 'I think he Is very worthy of your generosity"
 'Ah, you like him, perceive. Let us suppose Anna, that my intentions to- ward him were to go beyond anything I had imagined-suppose being no longer under any compulsion in the matter, tho compulsion of an imaginary obligation which does not exist, were still to con- slider him as my own son. Would you be surprised then at my conduct?" Tt would not surprise me- she said. You have always wished for a son. AL ban s the most original boy of his age have ever met. IIe Is clever and ab- surdly honest I don't think you would regret any kindness you may show to him.
 And you yourself?"
 What have to do with 1t. father?"
 'Tt might concern you very closely. Anna"
 Tn what way. father? 'In tho only way which would concern a woman. Suppose that thought of him as your husband?' She flushed crimson Have you spoken to him on the mat ter?"