The Washington herald., 1908-03-27
CHAPTER XXI.
"His Naneg,


the matter quietly
There is nothing to discuss" she ex-
claimed resentfully. looking straight into
the old mans gray face. You have
threatened 70 divulge the secret OF my
visit TO you tonight if-if I refuse to be-
tray my friend. Is such an action hon
orable? Does such a threat against a
defenseless woman do you credit?" she
asked
you misunderstood me-" he FASTENED
TO assure her, realizing the mistake he
had made.
Il understand that you ask me a ques-
tion," she said. 'You wish me to re-
peat what was told 20 me in confidence
the secret Impaired TO me by the girl
who was my best frieRdr'
Yes; / wish TO know what Maud Pet
rovitch told YOU" he answered, standing
with HIS thin hands behind his back
Then regret that / am unable to
satisfy your curiosity was her firm re-
sponse. Il now realize your motive In
inviting me here at this hour 10 see you
in secret. You meant me to compromise
myself-to remain away from Cunning
tons and be punished for my absence
the punishment of dismissal" she went
on, her fine eyes flashing In anger at
his dastardly tactics. You know quite
WELL Mr.. Statham. that the world is only
too ready 10 think i'll OF a woman, You
anticipate that I will betray my friend,
in order TO save myself from calumny
and dismissal from the service OF the
firm. But in that you are mistaken. No
word shall pass my lips. and / wish you
goodnight" she added with severe
hauteur, moving toward the door.
''No. Miss Rolfe! he cried, quickly in
tercepting her. Surely 1t is unnecessary
20 create this scene. hate scenes. Life
is really not worth them. You have de-
nounced what you are pleased 10 call my
ungentlemanly tactics. Well. 1 can only
say in my defense that Samuel Stat
ham, although he is not all that he might
be, has never acted the blacksuard 20
ward a woman, and more especially to-
ward the daughter OF his dear friend"
You have told me that YOU Will refuse
TO assist me fuTtheri" she said. In 9TH
er words. you decline TO preserve the
secret of my visit here, although you
made a promise that my absence tonight
from Cunnington's should not be noted.
Il have given you a promise, Miss
Rolfe and shall keep it," was his quiet
and serious response.
You have asked me a question, Mr.
Statham-one to which am not permit
ted to reply" she said.
why not?"
'Because-well. because l have made
vow 10 regard what was told me as
strictly in confidence
Sam Statham pursed hts lips. Few
were the secrets he could not learn when
he set his mind upon learning them. In
every capital in Europe he had his
agents, who. at orders from him, set
about to discover what he wished 10
know, whether IL be d carefully guarded
diplomatic secret. OF whether il concern
ed the love affair OF some royal prince
to whom he was making a loan He
knew as much of the internal affairs Of
various countries as their finance min
isters did themselves. and with the pri-
yate affairs of some of his clients he was
as well acquainted as were their own
Wallets
To the possession OF sound but secret
information much of the old mans sue
cess was due. The mysterious men and
women who so often came 10 and went
from that house all poured into his ear
facts they had gathered-facts which he
afterward duly noted in the locked green
covered book which he kept in the Sc
curity OF his safe.
Surely the contents OF that book would,
II published, have created a huge sensa-
ton; for there were noted there many
ugly incidents in the lives OF the men who
were most prominent in Europe, together.
be Il said, with facts concerning them
that were highly creditable and some
times counterbalanced the black pages
in their history.
And this man Of many secrets stood
Oh hxrr hi IL
He regarded her coldly with express
sionless eyes. His gaze caused her 10
shudder. She withdrew from him with in
stinctiYe dislike. About this man of mil
lions. whose touch turned everything TO
gold, there seemed TO her something su-
perhuman, something indescribably fear
some. His very gaze seemed TO fasci-
nate her. and yet at the same time she
regarded him with distrust and horror.
She was a fool she told herself. ever 10
have listened TO his appeal She ought
TO have had sense enough to know that
in bringing her there at that hour he
had some sinister motive
His motive was to wiring from her the
words of Maud Petroviteh.
Suddenly he altered his tactics. and,
drawing her chair forward again, said
Let us sit down and talk of some
thing else. You look pale. May l offer
you something?"
mo. thank you" she replied. II was
true that his threatening words a few
moments ago had upset her, therefore
she was glad to be seated again. He evil
denty did not intend that she should
leave yet
Having reseated himself near his writ
ing-table, ne said:
AS l explained, l want you, II you will.
on q =
awaiting you round in Deanery street"
"A journey? Is it far2"
That all depends-if you are prepared
10 render me this service" he replied.
1 am prepared TO render you any serV-
ice, Mr.. Statham, that is within nv
power, and my conscience permits me-"
she said in a firm voice.
'Ah. now, that's better. Were begin
ming TO be friends. When you know me.
you viii not acuse me Of ungentlemanly
conduct-especially toward a woman.
But" he added with e laugh. I'm a
woman hater. 1 daresay you've heard
that about me-eh?'
She smiled also.
'Well-yes. I've heard that you are
not exactly a ladies' man. But surely
you are not alone in the world in that
If all men were like me, Miss Rolfe,''
he said, there wouldn't be much work
for the persons in the matter of marry
ing"
You've been unfortunate, perhaps, in
your female acquaintances, she ventured
70 suggest. His manner toward her had
altered. therefore she was again per-
fectly at her ease.
WHERE TO DINE.