The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-05-20

| uO gOu klOW lhdl Tue
haven't been paid for three months? ?"
ooh. for heavens sake" he expostu-
lated. don't begin that sort of thing.
| get enough of that at home. l get it
every time | show my noser'
Il only mentioned it," she said care
lessly You had an opportunity to
make Howard pay you back. What
are you going to do?"
"DoT
"Of course You are going to do
something, l suppose. You haven't yet
told me how you intend to make How
ard return the money you lost through
his juggling with your stock"
II don't exactly know myself" adj
mitted Mortimer, still overflushed. Il
mean to put it to him squarely as a
debt of honor that he owes. asked
him whether to invest. He never
warned me not to. He is morally re-
sponsible."
She nodded.
"I'll tell him so, too" clustered Nor
timer, shaking himself into an upright
posture and laying a pudgy clinched
|
himl He'll find that out too. know
enough to stagger him. Not that
mean to use It. I'm not going to have
him think that my demands on him
for my own property resemble extor-
ton. I've half a mind to shake that
money out of him in one way or an
other"
He struck the table and looked at
her for further sign Of approval.
I'm not afraid of him." he repeated.
81 wish to God he were here, and I'd
tell him So"
She said coolly, II was wishing that
too"
For awhile they sat silent, preoccu.
pied, avoiding each others direct gaze.
! When she rose he started, watching
her In a dazed way as she walked to
the telephone.
"Shall II" she asked quietly, turning
to him, her hand on the receiver.
wait. W-what are you going to
do?" he stammered.
"Call him up. Shall IT'
A dull throb of fright pulsed through
him.
"You say you are not afraid Of him,
Leroy"
"Nov he said. with an oath. 81 am
not Go ahead!'
She unlocked the receiver. After
second or two her low, even voice
sounded. There came a pause. She
rested one elbow on the walnut shelf,
the receiver tight to her car. Then:
"NIr. Quarter, please. Yes, MIR.
Howard Quarter. No, no name. Say
1t is on business of immediate impOr-
lance. Very well, then; you may say
that Miss Vyse insists on speaking to
him. Yes, I'll hold the wire"
She turned the receiver at her ear,
and looked narrowly at Mortimer.
won't he speak to your he de
manded.
"Im going to find out. Hush mo-
ment," and in the same calm, almost
childish voice: "Oh, Howard, is that
you? Yes. | know l promised not to
do this. but that was before things
| happened. Well, what am l to do when
it is necessary to talk to you? Yes, it
is necessary. l tell you it is necessary.
| am sorry il is not convenient for you
to talk to me, but l really must ask
| you to listen. No, l shall not write. |
want to .alk to you tonight-nOw.
Yes, you may come here II you care
| to. l think you had better come, How
ard, because l am liable to continue
ringing your telephone until you are
willing to listen. No, there is nobody
here. l am alone. What time? Very
well; shall expect you. Goodby."
She hung up the receiver and turned
to Mortimer:
Hes coming up at once. Did l say
anything to scare him particularly"
zone things sure as preaching" said
Mortimer. Hes a coward, and I'm
glad of It," he added naively, relight-
ing his cigar, which had gone out.
'If he comes up in his motor he'll be
here In a few minutes" she said.
Suppose you take your hat and go out.
don't want him to think what he
will think If he walks into the room
and finds you waiting. You have your
key, Leroy. Walk down the block, and
when you see him come in give him
Ave minutes"
Her voice had become a little breath
less, and her color was high. Morti-
mer, too, seemed apprehensive. Things
had suddenly begun to work them
selves out too swiftly.
do you think that's bestT' he fall
tered, looking about for his hat. "Tell
Merkle that nobody has been here II
Quarter should ask him. Do you
think we're doing 1t in the best way,
Lydia7 BY GodI 1t smells OF a put up
Job to me. But guess it's all right.
It's better for me to just happen in,
isn't TT Don't forget to put Merkle
WISE"
he descended the stairs hastily. Mer-
kie, the butler, held his hat and gloves
and opened the door for him.
Once on the street his impulse was