The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-30
By
o~0 oHI0 George Barr
q NAAA~ /OAO4~ McCutcheon
Author
BY Mead Grausark Etc

Il have been looking forward with
pleasure to this opportunity, Mr.. Ban
semer," she said in courteously acid
ulated way. 1T has been so long in
coming
Better late than never" he returned,
with marked emphasis. Fortunately
for her the challenging significance OF
his words was quickly nullif1ed by the
smile with which she was almost in
stantly favored. Twenty years, I be-
lieve-it certainly came very near be
ing never" he went on, abruptly
changing from harsh to the sweetest of
tones. mo one could believe that you
you're simply wonderful and added
pointedly. But your daughter is even
more beautiful, If such is possible,
than her-her mother"
Apparently the innuendo passed un-
noticed. In reality, it required all her
courage to appear calm.
How very nice of you," she said
softly. And looking him full in the
face, Her mother thanks you for the
compliment"
1t was a brave little speech. Such
bravery would have softened a man of
another mold-changed his purpose.
Not so with Bansemer. A sinister
CLEAN came into his eyes, and his at
tack became more brutally direct.
But the husband-has he never mis-
trustedT'
given with ripping laughter and for
the benefit of any chance listeners.
For shame, Mr. Bansemer" she
cried lightly. After fiattering me so
delightfully."- you're surely not going TO
spoil it allT
Despite his growing annoyance. al
mira ton shone clearly from Banse~
mer's eyes. His memory carried him
back some twenty years to the scene
in his office. Was it possible, he was
thinking, that the charming woman
before him exercising SO cleverly all
the arts Of society, as IL born to the
purple, and the light hearted, frivolous
little wife Of the Centra's engineer
were one and the same person? The
metamorphosis seemed incredible.
Unwittingly his manner lost some of
its aggressiveness, and the woman, per-
ceiving the altered conditions, quick
to take advantage, resolved to learn If
possible his intentions. Presently, 60
ing right to the point, she asked:
us that extraordinary looking crea-
ture you had in your office still with
you. Mr.. Bansemer"
Extra ordinary" He laughed loud
L.
Indeed. the English language does not
supply us with an adjective that ade-
quately describes the man."
The people nearest to them by this
time had moved away to another part
of the large drawing room. Practically
the couple were by themselves. She
had been thinking for a moment, rea-
soning with a woman's logic that 1t
was always well to know Ones enemy.
When she next spoke it was almost in
a whisper.
How much does that horrible man
know"
He is not supposed to Snow any
thing" and then, with an enigmatical
smile, promptly admitted, However,
I'm afraid that he does"
You have told him? And yet you
promised nobody should know. How
could
My dear Mrs. Gable. he was not
told. If he has found out / could not
prevent his discovering the truth
through his own efforts" he interrupt
ed in tone more assuaglng than con-
vincing to her, and then, hitching his
chair closer and lowering his voice a
note, he continued: The papers had
to be taken out. But you must not
worry about him. You can depend on
me-"
Promise me that you will make him
L am so fearful of that awful she
broke off abruptly. Her fears were
proving too much for her, and she was
in imminent danger of complete
breakdown. All the veneer with which
she had bravely commenced the inter
view had disappeared.
Bansemer endea vored to soothe her
with promises, but the poor woman
saw only his teeth in the reassuring
smile that he presented to her, togeth-
er with the warnings that they were
likely to be observed. With the hard
est kind of an effort she succeeded in
pulling herself together sufficiently to
bid good night to her hostess
When Mrs. Gable reached home that
night it was with full realization
that she was irrevocably committed
into the custody of these cold blooded
men.
They met again and again at the
homes of mutual friends. and she had
come to loathe the pressure Of his hand
when it clasped hers. One night he
held her hand long and firmly In his
and while she shrank helplessly before
him be even tenderiy asked why sh'
had not invited him into her home.
was what she had expected and feared
Her cup Of bitterness was filing rap
1dly-too rapidly. His Invitation t.
dinner a fortnight later followed.
Jane Gable was radiant as she en-
tered the drawing rom shortly afte