Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-01-07
; lane Cable
GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON.
Author Of Beverly Of Graustark." Ek.
\ COPYRIGHT. 1905. DoDD. e. COMPANY
GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON

Author Of Beverly Of Graustark."

"Tll not mince matters" he said
harshly. "You and / must understand
each other. To be perfectly frank,
everything rests with you. Call me a
beast II you like. AS beast I can
destroy you, and / will"
you forget that can go to my hus-
band and tell him everything he will
hate me, but he will believe me-" she
said, facing him once more.
"The world will believe me-" he
scoffed.
mot after l tell the world that you
tried to blackmail me; that you have
demanded $4,000"
But l haven't made such a de-
mand."
Il can swear that you have" she
cried triumphantly. He glared at her
for a moment, his past coming up
from behind with a rush that left him
nothing to stand on.
81 am willing to run the risk of
scandal If you are, my DEAR" he said
after a moment, his hands clinched
behind him. at will be very costly.
You nave much TO lose"
81 think" she said shrewdly, guess
ing his weakness even as be saw it.
"that we can talk sensibly of the stu
alton from now on. / am not afraid of
you"
He looked at her steadily for a mo-
ment, reading her thoughts, seeing her
trembling heart. Then he said dryly:
"I'll do nothing for a week, and then
you'll send for me-"
The door in the vestibule opened
suddenly and some one-aye, more
than one-came in from the outside.
Mrs. Gable started to her feet and
turned toward the library door. Ban
semer was standing close by her side.
He turned to move away as David
Gable stepped to the door to look in.
Cables coat collar was about his ears,
and he was removing his gloves. For
q moment he stood motionless, gazing
upon the occupants of the room.
Then for the first time there flashed
before him the sharp point of steel
which was to pierce his brain later
on with deadly suspicion and doubt.
There was no mistaking the confusion
Of Mrs. Gable and her visitor. 1t was
manifest that they had not expected
him to appear so Unexpectedly. He
remembered now that on two other &C.
casions he had found Bansemer at his
house and alone with Mrs. Gable, but
he had not regarded it as extraor-
binary. But there was a startled look
in her eyes tonight, an indecision in
her greeting that caused him to knit
his brows and lift his hand uncon-
sciously to his temple before speaking.
He heard Bansemer say that he was
just going. but that he would stay for
a short chat about the banquet. Mrs.
Cable turned to stir the fire with the
poker. an unusual act on her part he
was not slow to observe. The seed
was sown.
II brought Bobby over from the club
With me-and a friend. Frances" he
said. after asking Bansemer to sit
down for awhile. His keen eyes noted
that her hand shook as she put the
poker back into its place. AS he
walked into the hall to throw aside
his coat Frances Gable turned to Ban
semer with a significant look, shaking
her head in mute appeal for silence.
Bobby Rigby came into the room,
followed by tall stranger, whom he
presented to Mrs. Gable. Bansemer,
standing near the library table, caught
glimpse of the strangers face as he
took Mrs. Cables hand. He started
violently, unable at first to believe his
eyes. A chill ran through his frame,
and his expression changed from won
der to CONSERVATION.
'Mr. Bansemer, my friend. Mr.. Har-
bert"
IT have met Mr.. Bansemer," said
Harbert, with cold stare straight
into the others eyes. They were on
opposite sides Of the table.
I'm New York" said Bansemer firm
ly. his eyes unfiinching in their return.