Evening journal., 1907-02-18
cspyIIsll. ,gos. y TAona. II. MsKss.

IN It, Rose you might come time.
You know that have important engage
Chase did not rise from the low chair
by the fire he spoke; and his pale,
nervous face stamped with the extraordinary net
work Of dark wrinkles that frownng brought to It.
The woman, tall and graceful IN her simple dark
frock stood looking down at him as she drew on her
gloves with curious little smile half speculation half
Nerves again?" she asked
mo am sick of the dirty business, and -
Easy enough to get out OF the dirty business II
III Wv want to AS if wouldn't give everything
have in the world never to have begun It,
The frown twisted his eyebrows closer over his eyes,
lrs hands closed riaidy over the of the chair.
"Ah bahw she returned, pushing her veil back over
her small hat and taking off her Jacket You have
ono of your bad DAYS that's ALL You'll cheer up after
Hold your toneuew He shouted the words in one
Of his sudden RACES and rising advanced toward her
thrcatcnney as If about to strike her She looked
quietly down at him. for she was the taller meeting
las angry eyes with her calm ones
You didn't sleep at an. did your she asked, ap-
rarcnty unconscious of his anger, and without word
he stumbled back 20 his chair and crouched there tear
ing at his nails WITH his sharp discoored teeth.
And then happened the extraordinary thing that oc-
currcd at each of their meetings.
The man had sunk very low, but he was still enough
of gentleman 10 he dcsncratclv ashamed of the bond
between tins and himself Their secret was an
extraordinarily profitable and apparently safe one but
unscrupuous he had always been his very health
suffering under the shame he ie for what he was
doing.
Yet she took roll OF papers from a locked
leather box the table before her and began 70 read
aloud, Chase mp straigner, the rown faded from
his face, which seemed to younger as he listened
and when at last, her dark mobile lace broke INTO
smile of delight and amusement he too laughed aloud
"a laugh Of shy pride IN an achievement
1T is splendid. Mr. Chase" She cried the best OF
lie nodded sYes. it is good All the papers are
talking about them now. Even the Star says the style
Rose Butler laughed "T am not very long on stye.''
she returned with touch OF the slang that curiousy
enough, lent her certain well-bred arr but the ma
erial is certainly spendidy worked up have nothing
10 suggest Shall ! get 70 work on the tcktckl
"Yes You arc absolutely sure OF your tactsf he
went on. usual. nervousy doubtful of her part Of
the work, that his pride as to his own was salts
Perfectly" she returned seating herself before the
typewriter and switching on the electric light u saw
her myself As | told you of my sisters married
the hall-porter there. and saw her myself-twice"
But you said she closely veiled-and It was
late afternoon" he persisted feeby, lighting cigarette
with hands that shook. you might have been mis-
taken, and II it a mistake the charm is broken,
MY mean 70 say or prestige lowered. Our abso-
lutte accuracy has been
She wheeled round and looked at him, her handsome
face in the glare of light full of unkndy
"Now don't YOU get nervous she said Il am per
feety sure, tell you md II you so on like this you'll
q know. I know Go on working. II am tired
but that's al"
For the next half hour he walked restlessly up ant
down the long room listening the deliberate click OF
The typewriter and smoking one cigarette after The
other. II a curious alliance, that Of Lady Bar
ringtons maid and James Chase. II had lasted nov
for tour months and as has been said. had paid we'll
Begun at Mutton the place of Chases elder brother
where the Barringtons visiting through SOM
hazard Of meeting. 1t had been purely of profit
Rose Butler had persuasive tongue, a quick ey
and a retentivc memory. Chase had a curious gift @
words. an easy flow Of graceful language in writing
that sharply IN 70 his meager, erhy sty
Of conversation. Il was in fact real literary gii
that the had discovered in himself toward hi
hftieth year and which with all his baseness, It bitter
" hurt him to put 10 the foul uses TO which he ha
prostituted it.
So the cleaning from many undergroun
sources the nucleus of somebody's secret some hdde
scandal the used the opportunities his social PC
sitior gave him for observation and confirmation an
combining her and his using his ears and his eye
10 follow up the scent and run the secret quarry
earth he moulded the whole mass of truth suppos
iion and SANDER into biting well constructed chrof
ir the hairs breath Of reserve that kept the nuhli,i
Of The Social lYord safe from The clutches Of Il