The sun., 1908-10-11
d .srvant,s raIse and .tead. and .hrouah


old servants gnIse and stead. and through
her 10 administer the poison.
The fend inoarnate!' cried Bergen.
"why would he do 20 cruel and cowardly
a deed?s
what Is the root Of all evilf' replied
Cronkite. He may be In sore and urgent
nesa Of the fortune Gertrude has inher-
tied, He may have feared that she might
change her mind. he may have feared
exposure. To-.
But rather, but better as believe,
II may have been the ceaselees sting OF
eovetousness. driving him on and on.
not suffering him to wait. All this, how
ever. Is a matter Of casu istry,. which the
events which we must precipitate may
make manifest. 80. 4.
This is the night OF the week which 1t
10 Rhodes's habit to give over to busi-
meas. This young woman. his TOOL, her
work done, must now be superhuous'
annoying aud dangerous to him.
"f he has been avoiding or deceiying
her she is likely to seek him ,.3Inns out wnen zen
the weakest part 10 his plot. II they be.
come strained. if they break. the plot
may be revealed.
take then this note TO Judge Mar
oellus. On reading II he will summon Miss
Gertrude and 60 with you and'her 80 near
to Rhodes's Office as to be on hand shonlo
I need you.
Meanwhile will try to prove to Rhodes
passions, using and discarding love. is
trifing with two edged sword.
Away then went Howard Defeen,
again light hearted despite the gravity
Of the stu alton in the thou ght and hope
q meeting Gertrude and becoming rec
onciled with her.
Cronkite proceeded to the building
where Rhodes had his Offices on the sec,
ond floor. the janitor OF. which he had
once saved from a false accusation.
Through the fidelity Of this man he now
Of Rhodes's main Office, and by him.
as soon as he had seen how Rhodes was
engaged, he sent an urgent message 10
the Judge.
This done, and with the assurance
that the Judge and Gertrude might
arrive any moment, Cronkite softly re-
turned and resumed his espionage.
A plump and pleasing young woman
In a gown excessively tight and hat
incredibly large, was unconven tionaily
swinging to and fro on the hgn stool by
Rhodess desk, an anxious look on her
back thousand times intensified as
Rhodes turned around and seid.
Now, won't have il, Estelle; once
for all, I won't have you coming here.
You must be patient and trust just as
soon as can will keep my word and
marry you
stiff by what you have done, by what
/ have done,- Estelle retorted. Il didn I
mind taking a chance for friend, and
it seemed lark when you wanted me TO
put harmless dope in that poor old man.
pitcher so that you could prig, some
papers he was holding over you; but he
are going to marry his daughter"
Its a lie,- began Rhodes; the whole
story is an infern--
Then he stopped. appalled,, as the voice
OF Gertrude Vail rang out from the hall
i tell you Judge; ] must t, see him at
.Damnationl- growled Rhodes. Here,
girl ,setin there at onoean hold your breath
unless you want me to cut IL OH forever,
and he bundled Fstelle. in a whirl OF
agitation into the little file room.
Strong arms caught Estelle as the door
closed on the darkness; a great hand
settled softly. firmly oyer her mouth.
Whispered a kindly voice. I'm your
true friend; wouldn't harm you for the
world. Many's the time I've seen you or
the boards, and a topnotcher. too, II
you'll only stick to the profesh and give
that murderous old geezer the go-by;,
Come, pipe the lay with me and see
for yourself. Don't you know that you
will be the next to go' Why, Mr.. Vail LETT
cvery cent to his daughter--" And in
an instant Estelle Tossing. breathing hard,
was kneeling bv the detective, listening,
watching intently. A. -,
opened and Gertrude Vail entered. fol-
lowed by Judge Marcellus.
Miss Vair Judge Marcellusl' stam-
mered Rhodes. deathly white.
| Miss vail7- repeated Gertrude. 'Ah,
than il is true. this vile report that YOU
have been living a double life with an
actress named Estelle Tossing
| Hush. for Gods sake, hush. noaned
the wretched man. I'VE are not alone
And is that any. reason why you
shouldn't speak freely and honorably
with your affanced wife?' demanded the
judge.
trude devotedly.-
Again Rhodes stopped appalled, as
Estelle swept tumultuously and all ahame
from the file room screaming Don't listen
10 him; don't have anything to do with
him. lady. He plotted to kill your father
I'll tell everything There"
He saw the gray horror on Gertrud. g
face. as her hand on her heart, she stag-
gered as il for air toward the door. + e
eaw the door open. He saw Bergen, half
supporting her. lead the girl away. He
read inexorable doom in the Judges
steady gaze. Then he collapsed. chatter;
ing, as Cronkite's arms closed around
him. tN
RED rs HiN'S COLOR.