Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-25

Il don exactly KNOW Myself. uu~
United Mortimer, still overflushed. Il
mean to put it to him squarely as
debt of honor that he owes. l asked
him whether to invest. He never
warned me not to. He is morally re-
sponsible"
! She nodded.
an tell him so, too" clustered Nor
timer, shaking himself into an upright
posture and laying pudgy clinched
| fist on the table. I'm not afraid Of
him! He'll find that out too. | know
enough to stagger him. Not that !
mean to use 1t. I'm not going to have
him think that my demands on him
for my own property resemble eXtor-
ton. I've half 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.
u wish to God he were here, and I'd
tell him So
She said coolly, Il 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 IL" 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 To-
A dull throb of fright pulsed through
him.
You say you are not afraid of him,
Leroy"
NO" he said, with an oath. 81 am
not. Go ahead"
She unlocked the receiver. After a
second or two her low, even voice
sounded. There came pause. She
rested one elbow on the walnut shelf,
the receiver tight to her ear. Then:
Mr. Quarter, please. Yes. Mr..
Howard Quarter. No. no name. Say
it 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 you:'' he de-
manded.
/. I'm going to find out, Hush mo-
| mentl" and in the same calm, almost
childish voice: ''Oh, Howard, is that
you? Yes, | know | promised not to
do this. but that was before things
happened Well, what am to do when
it is necessary to talk to you? Yes, it
Is necessary. l tell you it is necessary.
am sorry it is not convenient for you
to talk to me, but l really must ask
YOU to listen. No. l shall not write.
want to talk to you tonight-now
Yes. YOU may come here if you care
to. l think you had better come, How
ard. because | am liable to continue
ringing your telephone until you are
willing to listen. No, there is nobody
here. am alone. What time? Very
well; l shall expect you. Goodby."
She hung up the receiver and turned
to Mortimer:
Hes coming up at once. Did | say
anything to scare him particularly?
lone things sure as preaching" said
Mortimer. He's 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 II 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
FIVE 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 best?" he fal
tered. looking about for his hat. Tel
Merkle that nobody has been here il
Quarter should ask him. Do you
think we're doing it in the best way
Lydia? By God. 1t smells of put up
job TO me. But l guess it's all right
It's better for me to just happen in
isn't it? Don't forget to put Merkle
wise"
He descended the stairs hastily. Mer
kle. the butler. held his hat and gloves
and opened the door for him.
Once on the street his impulse was
TO fee-get out, get away from the
whole business. A sullen shame was
pumping the hot blood up into his neck
and cheeks. An electric hanson few
nOiselessly past him. lie shrank bach
into tine shadow OF a porte cOchere
The hanson halted before the lime
stone basement house. 4 tall figure
left il. stood moment in the middle
OF the sidewalk. then walked quickly
TO the front door. It opened and the
man vanished.
The hanson still waited at the door
Mortimer. his hands shaking. looked
at his watch by the light Of the e!ec
tric bulbs banking the gateway under
which he stood.
There was not much time in which
TO make up his mind. yet his fright
was increasing to 4 pitch which hegaI
to enrage him with that towards cOur
age which # is impossible TO reckon
with
Plumbing with his latchkey. but witt
sense enough left to make no noise. b.