The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-09-09


- Dreom's description Of
the lady certainly did not correspond
to what his memory recalled. Investi-
cation. however, assured him that the
Gables In the mansion near the lake
were the people he had known in New
York. Bansemer took no one into his
confidence, not even broom. Once con-
WINGED that the erstwhile fireman was
now the rich and powerful magnate, he
set to work upon the machinery which
was to extract personal gain from the
secret in his possession. He soon
learned that the child was young wo-
man Of considerable standing in socie-
ty, but there was no way for him TO
ascertain whether Frances Cable had
told the truth to her husband in those
dreary far west days.
Bansemer was rich enough, but
avarice had become habit. The flight
from New York had deprived him of
but little in worldly goods. His i'll got
ten gains came with him, and invest
ments were just as easy and just as
safe in Chicago as in New York. Now
he saw a chance to wiring a handsome
sum from the rich woman whose only
possession had been love when he first
knew her. If the secret Of James
origin still remained locked up in her
heart the effort would be an easy one.
He learned enough Of David Gable,
however TO know that If he shared the
secret the plan would be proftless and
dangerous
1t was this uncertainty that kept him
from calling at the Gable home; like
wise from writing a note which might
prove a most disastrous folly. Time
and circumstance could be his only
friends, and he was accustomed to the
whims of both. He read of the dinners
and entertainments given by the Ca
bles and smiled grimly. Time had
worked wonders for them. Scandal,
be knew, could undo all that ambition
and pride had wrought He could well
AFFORD 20 wait
However, he did not have long to
wait, for his opportunity came one
night in Hooley's theater. Graydon
and he occupied seats in the orchestra
near the stage and not far from the
lower right hand boxes. 1t was during
the busy Christmas holidays, but the
star" was of sufficient consequence to
pack the house. The audience was no
end Of a fashionable one. Time and
again some strange influence drew his
gaze to the gay party in one of the
lower boxes. The face Of the woman
nearest to him was not visible but the
two girls who sat forward turned Oc-
casionally to look over the audience,
and be saw that they were pretty, one
exceptionally so. One Of the men was
gray haired and strong featured; the
others were quite too insignificant to
be of interest to him. The woman
whose back he could see did not look
tut over the audience. Her indiffer-
tnce was 50 marked that it seemed de-
uberate.
At last he felt that her eyes were
npon him. He turned quickly. True
enough for with lips slightly parted,
her whole attitude suggestive of in
tense restraint. Mrs. Gable was staring
helplessly into the eyes of the man
who could destroy her with word.
The one thing that flashed through
Bansemer's brain was the realization
that she was far more beautiful than
be had expected her to be. There was
a truly aristocratic lOveliness in the
rather piquaut face. and she undenia
bly, possessed manner" Maturity had
improved her vastly he confessed,
with strange exultatiOn; age had been
kinder than youth. He forgot the play,
seldom taking his eyes from the back
which again had been turned to him.
Calculating, HI reached the conclusion
that she was not more than forty years
of age. More than once he made some
remark to his son, only to surprise that
young man glancing surreptitiOusly at
the face of the more beautiful of the
two girls. Even i'm this early stage
James Bansemer began to gIoat over
the beauty Of this new found old ac-
quaintance.
In the lobby of the theater as they
were leaving he deliberately dotted his
hat and extended a pleasant hand to
the wife of David Gable. She turned
deathly pale, and there was startled,
piteous look in her eyes that convinced
him beyond all shadow of a doubt
There was nothing for her to do but
introduce him to her husband. Two
minutes later Graydon Bansemer and
Jane Gable, strangers until then, were
asking each other how they liked tho
play, and Fate was at work.
A few weeks after this scene at the
theater young Mr.. Bansemer dashed
across the hall from the elevator and
entered his fathers Office just as Elias
broom was closing up.
where's the governor, Mr.. Droomr'
he asked, deliberately brushing past
the old clerk In the outer office.
left some time ago." replied broom
somewhat ungracioHslx. his blue eyes