The Washington herald., 1908-06-23

In a well-appointeG. but not luxurious,
library, two men stood staring at each
other The younger. white faced and
startled, leaned with one hand on a ma
hogany table The other. older and more
calm. smiled with conscious pride and
triumph.
"Orvile westoni'' gasped the younger
man. you here
You seem scarcely pleased 20 see me,
Mcrsden." replied the visitor cOolly, as he
took a chair. Il just-arrived. OF course.
you understand"
Mono. What do you want2"
Il have Just learned OF your remark
ably good fortune. II is not every fellow
who escapes state prison 10 be made Gus
todian OF a yoUng girls wealth"
Hush, She is in the house. You know
was innocent OF that crime"
"Innocent?' sneered Weston. "Of
course. every fellow IS innocent until he
is proven guilty The crime vas commit
ted"
Young Marsden almost reeled. He
glanced nervously toward the library
door 1t was nearing midnight.
I know" said Weston. She is with
your uncle and aunt at the theater. But
before they reach home we VIII have q
talk. I'm broke. NIarsden."
so am l."
mitted 10 the bar can't be expected TO
have made a pile. But you've got Sylvia
Fords fortune in your keeping"
Marsden, who was not the hardened
man Of the world his unwelcome visitor
was. turned stil whittier. and glanced ap-
prehensively toward small safe.
Weston laughed.
You give yourself away so plainly. So
It is there is Il? What IS It? Cash?
Bonds? Something negotiable? Sit down.
I want to talk TO YOU"
Feeling himself weak and powerless In
the hands OF this man he hated and fear
cd. Marsden sank into a chair.
Remember old Whitaker asked
Weston. IN a soft, reminiscent voice, as
he eyed his companion with a gaze Of
a hypnotist What a fad there was that
summer at the lake for the signatures OF
celebrities? And Whitaker had Just
brought out a book. He was all the rage
there then, and you had the fever, as well
as the women. You had an autograph
book-a slngularly convenient one. Re
member Whitaker put his signature on
a page-perllously near the bottom-re-
member
Marsden's breath was coming fast and
painfully
And remember a month after that a
a.rrsr t-f1 cd frrr
Whitaker. and although he swore he
never gave 1t. his name was attached
land he had 70 admit the SIGNATURE
1.-THE book was stolen whispered
Nsrsden You know who took II"
oh no; I knew nothing about It But
the book with the missing page torn
out. could easily have been identified as
your own. You know that"
1t was never found"
"Oh. yes. Il was found. II IS in ex-
/ istence to-day And the detectives are
not through with the case yet. I know
where the book is. Marsden."
But 1 am innocent. 1 did not use the
page"
But who would believe you? You
owned the book You asked Whitaker
/ to sign his name You said you wantSd
| him on q page all by himself. He neg
\
blank except for his name You needed
money. You had money after the draft
10 bearer was cashed. Remember"
/ My uncle gave me that"
"Who would believe Il? Don't you
know, Fred Marsden. that the production
| Of that book now. the fitting of the page
where It was torn out, your name on the
cover. would be evidence difficult to re-
| fute?"
MY God. yes"
! And you. just starting out on your
career. in love with the most beautiful
/ girl in your set. with the world before
/ you, would probably be sent TO prison
would surely be sent 10 prison. Do you
think OF thaJ?"
You dare not! You cannotw
I dare, can, and will if YOU do not
/ obey me- Listen. I know that you are
/ co-trustee with your uncle of Sylvia
/ Ford's fortune. and I know from your
| Wild look toward the safe that some OF
It is there. I want money. I will have
money one way or another. You have
the investing of the money. You can
give me what you have here-you will
never be suspected. You will rise, you
Will marry Sylvia. and IN time can make
IL good. You viii not be harmed-no-
I body viii be harmed. On the other hand.
( prison FOR $1,000 OF Whittaker's good
cash, disgrace. and the loss OF Sylvia"
A wild look came into Marsden's face.
! He was young. He had had no warning
of the arrival of this man he suspected
Of having stolen his autograph book. a
fad Of college days. The persplration
poured from him. 1t was almost enough
10 condemn him 70 be seen with Weston.
He drew vivid pictures of his uncie's
suspicion. And he knew that what Wes-
ton said was true. He did have 800
Of SYLVIA Ford's money in the safe. He
had intended 10 invest II safely for her
the next day. He loved her. The thought
Of having her suspect him Of using Whit
takers name maddened him. She was
so pure, so lofty in sentiment. that he
feared even though the guilt could not
legally be fastened on him. the doubt
would turn her from him And there
was the cool master Of the situation with
hfc Nold rfffInce ayac haus ~, "a vofsN q,