Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-25

Rubbish. Besides. that's got nothing
to do with your knowing his secrets
Why, Mr.. Gardiner these rich people
threats"
This nettled the man, as was intended.
and he answered angrily: Don't you
fear. Dorrison wouldn't laugh at me- you
bet He daren't Why" He stopped
and looked at her cunningly. Are YOU
trying to have me on?"
"Tll go in now replied Sadie, as
though taking offense.
mo, don't go yet. This is all leading
to something. Don't you see?" His tone
was one of eagerness. Were off tomor-
dow and not coming down again for a
fortnight. That's why I've spoken SO
soon. I couldn't go without. somehow.
Shall chuck him? You've only cote to
say the word
at is nothing to me, surely"
He accepted this as coquetry, and
laughed with complacent confidence. "Oh,
yes, it is. though-everything. And tonne,
too I've got enough now to take a nice
boarding house, and with what I can
make Dorrison stump up we should be
quite comforta BILE"
Are you serious. Mr. Gardiner"
Serious? or course I am. James is
my name"
''Do you mean you are asking me to
marry yOu?"
"Of course I am. What do you sup
pose?' %
ION the strength of what you can force
out of your master as the price of your
silence about what he has dOne?"
PLENTY Of others have done 1t, I sup
a 40 a
touch of sulkiness. II know you've got
head on your shoulders; I saw that at
glance. And we should hit it all right
I'm easy to get on with"
1.-The head on these shoulders would
want to know a great deal more. about
your chances of getting this money than
it knows at present, thank yOu,' replied
Sadie, with a laugh.
This answer suited him and he laughed
in response. "You trust me for that" he
chuckled
mo, indeed, wouldn't. I've got on by
trusting myself and my own Judgment,
thank you, all the same. I really must go
in now"
mo, no, stay bit. I'll tell you if you
like-and if you're in earnest"
II don't wish to hear anything, Mr..
Gardiner
Didn't 1 tell you my name is James,"
well, James. then. l don't want to
hear anything"
L
you are!" he said, good-humoredly.
What If tell you he's got his lordship
here under his thumb, chr
Nonsense! Besides, he wouldn't pay
Gosh. but you're smart! But sup
posing he's made a fool of himself, too,
in a false name. and goes in fear of
his life from the girls friends because
he's given her the chuck? HoWs that,
sb9'
.arhof,e MT wary, ro,,cb aithnr Cuch
things can be settled"
And suppose he's up to his neck in
debts. and has some plant on-something
down here that I'm on the track of and
mean to ferret out. as I've ferreted out
other things-something on the crook.
that's going to get him some thousands
of pounds-what then?"
Sadie affected to think. then shook her
head and laughed. Seems to me you're
counting a nestful of added eggs rs
chickens. Mr. Gardiner. that's ALL
MIR. Gardiner again eh?'' he answered
Grossly.
Yes, Mr.. Gardiner-and always will be,
unless your chickens hatch out
You're a cool hand, and no error.
Will you think it over?"
mo. 1 sha'n't think any more about
your offer; and shouldn't accept it if all
your eggs were turkeys
you've led me on. though. And I'm
threaten a lady Find some one with a
keener taste for blackmail than 1 have.
And don't poster me any more, Or l
shall tell your master what you've told
me-" And with that Sadie turned on her
heel and left him.
He stared blankly and angrily after her
for moment and muttered anathemas
against all women in general, and Mar
he chuckled and swore od-humoredly.
Hanged If I don't like her pluck and
she's as artful as CARLOAD of monkeys.
She's worth winning, and no mistake,
and I'll bring her round yet
AS soon as Jack Petherby had gone,
Sadie saw great deal of Eva.
Lord Broadstone left the Towers the
day after Dorrison. and the two women
had the great place to themselves. Eva
yielded more and more to Sadie's strong
will, and when they had been a week
together they were much more like
friends than mistress and companion.
Eva was so glad to have some one
always at hand on whom she could rely.
she took Sadie almost entirely into her
1t was the happiest week
she had spent since her marriage she
declared once. and came very near to
telling all about her old love story.
That was on the day before Jack was
to come again. Sadie had been reading
aloud, and the talk had drifted from the
CONFERENCE.-The love and lovers
IN general, anu the parting Oh lovers IN
particular, with pointed reference to
faith in absence. Presently Eva burst
out impulsively: II have something l
should like to tell you, Margaret, some
day"
Better, perhaps. when you have known
me longer" was Sadie's answer.
ut isn't that ! don't trust you-but
you know that. You can see 1 do. Oh.
l am so thankful you came to me. l
wish 1 could think of some way of bind
ing you to me for always. Something,
you know, that isn't mere money. 1 do
puzzle over that. It's so hateful to me
to think you are only here because you
are paid so much. Oh, this wretched
money tie!'
IF 1t had been possible I would have
come to you in any other way"
why? Possible? Did you know OF
me before?' she asked, as If perplexed;
then laughed. How silly of me! or
course, you must have money to dress
on-even soberly as that quaint gray
costume of yours"
II have enough money for that-more
than enough; but l thought 1t was more
maid than companion you wanted"
Then you came to me for myself On
Margaret! and she clapped her hands in
glee, like a happy child Then. of
course, you won't ever want to go away
Oh, that will be lovely,''
Then a servant brought letter for Eva
Lady Broadstone,'' she said, reading
her name ut sounds so grand, and it Is
just for poor, insignificant little me-" She
read the letter, and her face ciouded
From my husband. He's coming home
tomorrow and tells me that some friends