The sun., 1908-06-14

aOh, dear, no. che replied with nervous
little laugh that had q threat TO II an IL now
she had whipped stiletto from her bodice;
far vashs %9ss ntass b S and PeTscna So than S tns.
General
Ny dear General did see quite enough
for himself through his great. goggles 10
cause him TO fold the fan and profser it
back.
Il should advise that It be kept in the
family vault he said, the dinginess OF his
old face growing grayer and graver.
oh, It's for the living. not the dead"
declared Mrs. Hamill with the menace Of
pass II along We furnlsh entertainment
for man and beast
The tossed fan began to circulate from
one TO another along the opposite side Of
the table, its progress watched eagerly by
gazing 90 sdiSess ss asss ol aS
other end, and marked by manifestations,
polite or blunt covering the whole gamut
Of the emotions. certainly feared that
Jimmie Saphedde, who faced mo. already
mine atoms from the oonvulsions Of sup
pressed ohuckles as he read the writings
with which the fan was covered and then
passed it on.
At length the fan. amid the intense In
terest of all but the two who ignored it.
confirmed, indeed q communicating spin
ster who sat one seat removed from Mrs
Burleson She read tho writings carefully
once, twice, and looked doubtfully on that
escorted her. Then pruden tly eliminating
any risk, she passed the fan behind his
back to Mrs. Burleson,
Mrs. Burleson raised her face with its set
smile and turned her faded eyes. Then,
for once acting spontaneously and naturally.
she screamed and tainted. while Hamili.
bending over her to see what was the row,
swore in no uncertain terms.
"Saphedde, Saphedde." called across tho
table, tell me. tell me, what'is on that
FAM"
Every damn love letter that Hamill
was ever fool enough to write to the widow
he wheezed. as he too did not stand on the
Ant And t then en- realized what had already
suspected vaguely, that Hamill had been
women, thereby letting revenge have its
perfect work
III
There was a scandal, Of course, during
which some unpleasant things were printed
in the papers; but in ten days It had dwin-
died to an occasional shoulder shrug and
a whispered Il told you So" Mrs. Hamin
went home TO her mother; Mr.. Hamll took
up quarters at his club, but Mrs. Burleson
remained, slightly blurred perhaps In the
sight Of the few. yet to the many still the
finest woman in the Tawdrey House.
But with difference. Whore she had
once swum like a swan Mrs. Burleson now
paced like a nun. Her smile remained az
artificial as ever. but now II was pensive
instead Of genial. And in place Of artificial
laughter there were artificial tears to be
detected in her tones.
"A most cruelty wronged marty to
principle so her defenders stoutly pro-
nounced her.
As has been said, they were many, for.
more selfish than ever, Mrs. Burleson now
spent on others what she had formerly spent
on herself. II IL hard to believe evil OF a
Lady Bountiful. SO long as she continues TO
be bountiful.
Its tho men that counts nowadays.' re-
fected Bllikins. "and that. you know,
Sniffen, is as sure as the eternal hills
This remark was made about tho 10th
of the month. just after Mrs. Burieson
had made a good sized draft on tho drawer.
It came back to me significantly the I'd
Of the next month when as I was at the
desk Mrs. Burleson came up.
mo sign Of my poor little letter!' she
asked.
-Not smit Of sign" answered Billikins
briefly.
-How provoking; they must have made q
mistake"
Accidentally on purpose2'
"Of course not; how can you say such q
thing even in jest. I'll write 70 them at
once and then you'll see how promptly
A. Y .h>t -. A.
trouble you--'
turned away, but not before detected |
the reluctance with which Billikins counted |
out the money Mrs. Burleson had re- |
quested.
Shones, Bripley Co. must have answered |
promptly at all events I or the very next |
morning M going up int in the eel elevator ~ tor Mr..
1t must have been the way her hand was
trembling that caused me to glance quickly |
from the business address on the envelope |
to her face, and there I read the news abe
eaten swey'hy the acid of despair.
But as IL to make assurance doubly sure
she In her wretched absorption drew tho
letter from the envelope and then dropped
1t on the floor Of the car. As picked up
the letter saw 1t was in her own hand
commercial script 30 bold that he who
squinted might reed were tho words, Trust
account closed
There were natural tears In her tones
as she thanked me- and az she passed down
her corridor her natural pace was that OF
nun about to be immured alive.
know enough now to make every detail
Of the ignoble little tragedy that ensued
visible and vital to me- What at first was
an idle, helpless, luxurious woman without
or friends, with purchased
and a gilded reputation,
already heavily in debt, to do when sud
ienly deprived OF her income except take
the easiest course-hope fellaciously and
realize on what assets she had In handy
Long before the management became
lware Of It knew the business Of the
,warthy faced men and the hook nosed
women who went so frequently to Mrs.
Burlesou's rooms, leaving with bulginR
pockets and puffy bundles.
Long before her aoquaintancee had
,eased to express vague regret that Mrs
3urleson was 30 nervously overwrought
hat she was taking the rest cure in her
'ooms I knew that she was striving to
ave on meals, theatres, carriages and
he Thousand and one accustomed fripperies
# dress, not yet realizing that In order
% save one must have something to save
ust as / knew that when creditors arc
ienied a personal interview they resort
o sterner measures.
And yet the time must have seemed
,ruelly short to the poor woman before she
vas fairly besieged in her rooms, starved
Ial vutk has 81 \