The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-09-19

MIN X a helpless, wounded thing.
the full force Of his threat rushing in
upon her.
~You-yOu couldn't do that" she
whispered TREMENDOUSLY.
Il could. but 1 don't see why
should. he said, leaning closer to her
shrinking figure.
"You know it isn't true" family.
II only know that l am trying TO
save you from calamity"
~Oh, what a beast you aret' she
cried. springing to her feet. Col L
defy you! Do and say what you Will
Only gor'
BE Isl calmly, a satisfied smile on
his face.
II shall of course first Of all forbid
my son TO marry the young woman.
1t win be necessary for me to explain
the reason to Mr.. Cable. | am sorry to
have distressed you. Really l had ex-
pected quite a different evening after
your invitation. You can't blame me
for misunderstanding your motive in
asking me to come here when you ex-
pected to be utterly alone" His laugh
was a sneer.
"Poor-poor little janet" murmured
the harassed woman. clasping her
hands over her eyes. Then suddenly
she cried out. what a devil you are
to barter with your sons happiness!"
I'll not mince matters" he said
harshly. "You and l must understand
each other. To be perfectly frank.
everything rests with you. Call me a
beast if you like. AS a beast / can
destroy you, and | will"
"You forget that l can go to my hus-
band and tell him everything. He will
hate me, but he will believe me-" she
said, facing him once more.
''The world win believe me-" he
scoffed.
"Not after / tell the world that you
tried to blackmail me; that you have
demanded $4,000"
but / haven't made such a de-
mand."
II can swear that you have" she
cried triumphantly. He glared at her
for a moment, bis past coming up
from behind with a rush that left him
nothing to stand on.
II am willing to run the risk of
scandal If you are, my dear" be said
after n moment. his hands elinchea
behind him. ut will be very costly.
You have much to lose.'
II think" she said shrewdly, guess
ing his weakness even as he saw it,
that we can talk sensibly Of the stu
alton from now On. l am not afraid of
you"
He looked at her steadily for a mo-
ment, reading her thoughts. seeing hei
trembling heart. Then be said dryly:
I'm do nothing for a week, and then
you'll send for me-"
suddenly and some one-aye, more
than one-came in from the outside
Mrs. Gable started to her feet and
turned toward the library door. Ban
semer vas standing close by her side
He turned to move away as David
Gable stepped to the door to look in
Cables coat collar was about his ears
and he vas removing his gloves. Fol
a moment he stood m~otionless, gazing
upon the occupants Of the room.
Then for the first time there flashed
before him the sharp point of stee
which was TO pierce his brain Later
on with deadly suspicion and doubt
There was no mistaking the confusion
of Mrs. Gable and her visitor. 1t was
manifest that they had not expected
him to appear s. unexpectedly. He
remembered now that OF two other oc
casions he had found Bansemer at his
house and alone with Mrs. Gable, but
he had not regarded it as extraor
binary. But there was a startled look
in her eyes tonight, in lndecision ir
her greeting that caused him to knit
his brows and lift his hand uncon.
sciously to his temple before speaking
He heard Bansemer say that he was
just going, but that he would stay fol
a short chat about the banquet. Mrs
Gable turned to stir the fire with the
poker, an unusual act on her part he
was not slow to observe. The seeC
was sown.
IL brought Bobby over from the clut
with me-and a friend, Frances" he
said, after asking Bansemer to sit
down for awhile. His keen eyes noted
that her hand shook as she put the
poker back into it's place. AS he
walked into the hall TO throw aside
his coat Frances Cable turned to Ban.
semer with a significant look. shaking
her head in mute appeal for silence.
Bobby Rigby came into the room
followed by a tall stranger, whom he
presented to Mrs. Cable. Bansemer
standing ear the library table, caught
a glimpse Of the strangers face as he
took Mrs. Cables hand. He started
violently, unable at first to believe hi:
eyes. A chill ran through his frame
and his expression changed from won.
der to CONSERVATION.
'Mr- Bansemer, my friend, MT. Har
bert.
~ have met Dir. Bansemer," sait
Harbert, with a cold stare straight
j 49,