, 1910-07-07
/AoO q HMARAT0VE Og
~S MNEUrAOPOl0UAN l0GEI
1hIRD DEGPEE
%CHARLES KLEIN
g AND
ARTHUR HORNBLOW Y
TIJSTRAIlONS BY A WALTERS

my name has chosen his own path in
life. am grieved to a that his con.
duct at college, his marriage, has
completely separated him from his
FAMILY, n l have quite made up my
mind that In no way or name can
his family become identified with any
steps he may take to escape the pen
atty of his mad act. l am his father,
and l suppose, under the circum-
stances, ] ought to say something. But
have decided not to. I don't wish
to give h American public any ex.
cuse to think that I am palliating or
condoning his crime. Gentlemen, |
wish you good-day."
Annie, who had been listening in.
tently, at once saw her opportunity.
MIR. Jenries had taken no notice OF
her presence, believing her to be a
newspaper writer like the others. AS
the reporters took their departure
and filed out of the room, she re-
NAMED behind. AS the last one disap-
peared she turned to the banker and
said:
May l speak to you a moment?"
He turned quickly and looked at hNr
IN surprise. For the first time he
was conscious of her presence. Bow
Ing courteously, he shook his head:
Il am afraid l can do nothing for
o madam-as I've Just explained to
your confreres of the press"
Annie looked up at him, and said
boldly:
II am not a reporter, Mr.. Jenries.
am your sons wife"
The banker started back in amaze
ment. This woman, whom he had
k for a newspaper reporter, was
an interloper. an imposter, the very
last woman in the world whom he
would have permitted to be admitted
to his house. He considered that she,
as much as anybody else, had con-
tributed to his sons ruin. Yet what
could he do? h was there, and he
was too much of a gentleman to have
her turned out bodily. Wondering at
his silence. she repeated softly:
I'm your SON wife, Mr.. Jeffries."
The banker looked at her a mo-
ment, as If taking her in from head to
foot. Then he said coldly:
Madam, | have no SON." He hest
tated. n added:
81 don't recognize"
h looked at him pleadingly.
But want to speak to you, SIR"
Mr.. Jeffries shook his head, and
moved toward the door.
81 repeat, / have nothing to say"
Annie planted herself directly in his
path. He could not reach the door
unless he removed her forcibly.
sAfu T~H.~. Il. -
"please don't refuse to hear me
please"
He halted. looking as II he would
like to escape, but there vas no way
of egress. This determinedLlooking
young woman had him at a disad-
vantage.
Il do not think" he said icily, that
there is any subject which can be of
mutual interest,"
"Oh, yes, there is" she replied Gag
erly. She was quick to take advan-
tage of this entering wedge into the
man mantle of cold reserve.
Flesh and blood" she went on
earnestly. lis of mutual interest. Your
son is yours whether you cast him OF
or not. You've got to hear me- l am
not asking anything for myself. It's
for him, % son. He's in trouble.
Don't desert him at a moment like
this. Whatever he may have dom to
deserve your anger-don't-don't deal
him such Il blow. You cannot realize
what it mean in such a critical situa-
ton. Even If you only pretend to be
friendly with him-you don't need to
really be friends with him. But don't
you see what the effect will be II you.
mis- father, publicly withdraw from his
support? Everybody will say he's no
good, hat he amt be any good or his
father wouldn't go back on him. You
know what the world is. People will
condemn him because you condemn
him They won't even give him a
hearing. For Gods sake, don't go
back or him now!"
Mr.. Jeffries turned and walked to-
ward the window, and stood there ga
zing on the trees on the lawn. She
did not see his face, out by the ner-
vous twitching of his hands behind
his back, she saw that her words had
not been without effect. She waited
in silence for him to say something.
Presently he turned around, and she
saw that his face had changed. The
look of naughty pride had gene. She
had touched the chords of the Ia
Tiers heart. Gravely he said:
"Of course you realize that you,
above all others, are responsible for
his present position"
She was about to demur, but she
checked herself. What did she care
what they thought of her? She was
fighting to save her husband, not to
make the Jeffries family think better
of her. Quickly she answered:
well, all right-Im responsible
but don't punish him because of me-"
Mr.. Jeffries looked at her.
Who was this young woman who
| chamninned go warmly his own son