El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-22
The Herald's
Daily Short Story

, will Wait there-someone is coming.
had heard the sclape of key in the
lock of the front door. / slid the writ
ing table drawer. with its mutilated
lock, back into its place
"Ah, my boy; so you've waited up.
That's kind of YOU You haven't a
drink. Why didn't you"
L didn't want one,'' I said Mr.
Henty, when you asked me to stay Ii.c
weekend with you didn't guess II
would be so eventful Like fool and
cad i offered YOU a sum Of money TO
effect an Introduction between myself
and a very beautiful very innocent,
very wrongsd young lady I'm ashamed
of that
NV dear Sir Peter. you aren't back
ing out? I've seen Lord Lavant; he's
delighted about the idea of the
match"
And the ending of blackmail." ]
cried roughly. You told me nothing Of
that, 1 asked for no plot. was only
in love, and because I'm rich. and a fool
IL thought 1 could buy my way lit
tie closer to the heart of Lady Helen.
Now learn there's been blackmail-"
When did you see .him2''
Henty's face was suffused with blood,
and passionately working.
Hes i'll; / haven't seen him. Henty,
I've one deal I'll do with you. the very
last. Hand that check-that old check
over to me now. and you shall have
your five thousand
He swung around spluttering. by
Heaven he shouted, mo man shall
speak to me in that fashion. I'm nc
blackmailer, -Blackmail-" he added
with a feeble attempt at popularity. MY
dear Sir Peter. you must have been
MY offers open. If it isn't accepted
within a quarter of an hour I'll take
that check by force"
went to the bell. keeping my fin
ger on it till at last after a long ST.
lence, a ha1f-clad and very scared foot
man came to the door.
Wake my man." 1 ordered. Tell him
to pack and get the car round in as few
minutes as he's able
yes, sir"
The man withdrew, and 1 glanced al
my watch. Henty was leaning against
the mantelpiece. staring at the floor
Then he sprang at me, his long arms
round me, his lean fingers clutching al
my throat. his weight bearing me back
wards He had taken me by surprise
and his extra weight and the unexpect-
edness of the assault gave him an ini-
Then, as we crashed against the wall
/ heard Lady Helen's quiet tones. had
forgotten her presence, and they star
tied me almost as much as they aston
ished Henty.
stop Stop!' she cried twice.
The revolver was hardly a yard from
his flushed face. He stood back from
me gasping, holding out his trembling
hands.
THE check she said. ''Now-or
fire I swear-I fire"
He stumbled to his writing table. die
thrust hand and arm into the drawer
pulling some secret trigger. A small
flap at the back of the table shot up
1 picked up an envelope which lay
there. glanced at its contents. and
handed it to Lady Helen.
From the garden 1 heard the sound
of my car as it whirred up to the door
I went to the window. opened 1t, and
called out:
John, here please
Then, as he came in, Drive this lady
to the address she will give you. You're
answerable for her safety" I said.
Then 1 turned to Lady Helen. The
check was in her hand, and her fingers
were fumbling at a box of matches; the
revolver she still grasped in her other
hand.
She struck a light, ignited corner OF
the check. droppina the flaming sheet