The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-09-09
-OuDie or oOing So
Author Of Beverly
Of Craustark." Etc.


It's for Jane and David. can only
offer to buy your silence. nothing
MORE" she said with hurried words.
II own shares In the railroad. They're
worth $4,000 VIII you take them?'
my dear" he said, leaning quite
close to her. II am not seeking to
blackmail you as you seem to imagine.
I have only tried to tell you that love
you"
"Ohw she exclaimed. with a shudder
Of disgust. His face was quite close to
hers. She could feel his warm breath
on her cheek, and she drew, away
quickly. His hand lowered close TO
hers as 1t lay In her lap.
There was an eyewitness to this sin
gle picture In the brief scene. Jane
had started downstairs. From the
upper steps she could look into the
drawing room below. She could not
help seeing Bansemer's fervent atti-
tude. She heard nothing that he said.
The girl paused I'm surprise. A feeling
as Of dread-she could not explain
crept over her chill struck into her
heart.
It was as II she had awakened from
a sweet sleep to look out upon a bleak.
h0rrld morning.
Involuntarily she shrank back, quite
beyond the actual vision. but not free
from 1t. She stood straight and tense
and silent at the top Of the stairs, her
hand clasping the rail. She could hear
her heart throbs plainly. There was no
mistaking the picture as It had burst
upon her unsuspecting eyes. A great
fear, a dark uncertainty, welled up In
her heart.
1t was not until the butler admitted
other callers that she found the cour-
age to turn her eyes toward the draw
Ing room. Although she succeeded 10
hiding the fact, 1t was difficult to ap-
pr0ach and greet James Bansemer With
the naturalness Of the. unsuspecting.
His manner was beyond reproach. and
yet for the frst time she saw the real
light In his black eyes. She talked to
him as II nothing had happened to
make her dlstrustful, but no self con-
troll In the world could have checked
the growth of that remOrseless thing
called suspicion. For her own sake.
for her mothers. for Graydon's. she
tried to put 1t down. Instead 1t grew
greater and stronger rs she looked into
his eyes. for In them she saw the light
that heretofore had escaped her notice
And this was the father OF the man
whom she was to marry. the one whom
she loved with all her heart and soul!
This the man who would degrade her
own mother! Her mother-she looked
at her with new question In her eyes
Half dozen people came and went
James Bansemer was the last to leave
He met the girls tense. inquiring look
from time to time. but he could moi
have felt Its meaning There was
nothing In her voice which might have
warned him, although It sounded strain
cd and without warmth on her owl
ears. In spite Of herself she wondered
how he would act In saying goodby tC
her mother. Although she tried with
all the might Of her will tV look away
she could not take her eyes from thu
pair as Bansemer arose to depart.
His manner was most circumspect
The hand clasp was brief, even formal
and there was no look In his eyes t
indicate the presence Of anything bu
the most casual emotions. After hi!
departure Mrs. Gable turned to Jan,
and complained Of frightful headach,
and went to her room to lie down TO
awhile before dinner. James gaze fol
lowed her steadily as she assembled tn,
stairs. Then she walked to the win
dow and looked out upon the street, I
hundred perplexltles In her mind.
Her father was standing In the mid
die of the sidewalk. looking down tn
darkening street. His cab was turn
ing the corner below, showing that h
had been standing there for ionge
than a minute. She watched him wit
interest. What had happened In tn
street to hold his interest SO closely
It was Jane who opened the door an
let him In. As she kissed his col
cheek she noticed the frown ON hi
brow and caught the strange CLEAN 1
his eyes. His greeting was less war;
than usual, and. no went to his ROOF
upstairs without removing his hat O
{ coat below. But not before he sent
quick, keen glance about the DRAWN
, room to find II James Bansemer ha
, been the single visitor Of the aftel
] noon.
where Is your motherW he aske
. from the stairs. without looking back
! "She has just gone to her room,
Q Jane replied, chill shooting throug
! her veins. Some strange. unnatur,
] impulse compelled her to add, as
a the explanation were Just and nece
$ sary. 1--WE have had lot of people
t drinking tea, and mother has heat
= ache"
0 She watched him ascend the steI
and turn into his smoking room. III
: door closed sharply. and wave Of Il
+ applicable relief rushed over her. HI
hands Were cold. She went to the fir
b place ana held them out to the blaz
Her ears were alert for sounds fro
:. above-alert with strange fear whic
l. choked her with Its persistence. 81
J. dreaded the opening of her father
Q door and his footsteps Us they crosse