, 1910-06-02

dainty demi-tasse of black coffee-un-
tasted. There were glasses and de-
canters of whisky and cordial, but
the stimulants did not tempt him.
He wondered If Alicia would ignore
his letter or If she would come to
him. Surely she could not be so heart
less as to brow him over at such a
moment. Crushed in his left hand
was a copy OF h New York Herald
containing an elaborate account of the
brilliant reception and musicale given
the previous evening at her home.
With an exclamation of impatience he
rose from his seat, threw he paper
from him. and began to pace the floor.
Was his the end of everything?
Had he reached the end of his rope?
He must pay the reckoning, if not to-
day, tomorrow AS his eyes a
dered around the room and he took
mental inventory of each costly OBJ
ject. he experienced a sudde o
as he recalled the things that were
missing. How could he explain their
absence? The art dealers were al
ready suspicious. They were not to
be put off any longer with excuses.
Any moment they might insist either
on the immediate return OF their prop
erty or on payment in full. He was
in the position to do neither. The
articles had been sold and the money
lost gambling. Curse the luck! Every
thing had gone against him of late.
The dealers would begin criminal pro-
ceedings, disgrace and prison stripes
...tJ fo1l~ur Thnra uyoS M yUnV nnt
of It. He had no m to whom he
could turn in this crisis.
And now even Alicia had deserted
him. This was the last straw. While
he was still able to boast of the
friendship and patronage of the arts
t~ocratic Mrs. Howard Jeffries he
could still hold his head high in the
world. No one would dare question
his integrity. but now she had aban'
doned him to his fate, people would be
gin to talk. There was no use keep
ing up a hopeless fght-suicide was
the only way out!
He stopped in front of a mirror
startled at what he saw there. 1t
was the face of a man not yet 80, but
apparently much older. The features
were drawn and haggard, and his dark
hair was plentifully streaked with
gray. He looked like a man who had
lived two lives in one. Tonight his
face frightened him. His eyes had q
fixed stare like those of a man he
had once seen in a madhouse. HI
wondered II men looked like that wher
they were about to be executed. Wa
NIT btu nwn hpur rlnGn-at hnn6o Hf
wondered why the clock was so noisy
it seemed to him that the ticks were
louder than usual. He started sud
denly and looked around fearfully. He
thought he had heard n sound outside
He s%huddered as he glared toward the
little drawer on the right-hand side Of
his desk. in which he knew there wal
a loaded revolver.
II Alicia would only relent escap,
might yet be possible. II he did no
heal from her ii must be for tonight
One slight little pressure on the trig
ger and all would be ove
Suddenly the bell of the telephon,
connecting the apartment with thu
main hall downstairs rang violently
Interrupted thus abruptly in the
midst of his reflections, Underwood
jumped forward, startled. His nerve.
we're so unstrung that he was evel
spprehensive of danger. With a trem
ulous hand, he took hold of the re
ceiver and placed 1t to his ear. AS h,
listened, his already pallid face turned
winter and the lines about his moutl
frightened. He hesitated a moment be
fnra raplyinU Thnn with an afNrt
he said:
Send him up"
Dropping the receiver, he began tt
walk n~ervously up and down tn,
room. The crisis had come sooner thai
ne expected-eXposure was at hand
This man Bennington was the man
ager of the firm of dealers who's,
goods he disposed of. He could no
make restitution. Prosecution was in
evitable. Disgrace and prison would
follow. He could not stand it; h,
would rather kill himself. Trouble wa,
very close at hand, that was certain
How could he get u of it? PACING
the floor, he bit his lips till the bloot
anne
There was a sharp ring at the from
door. Underwood opened it. As h,
recognized his visitor on the thrssh
old. he exclaimed:
why. Bennington, this is q eur
prise!"
The manager entered awkwardly
He had the constrained air OF a mar
who has come on an unpleasant OF
rand. but wants to be as amiable al
the circumstances will permit.
you didn't expect me-, did your" h<
began.
Shutting the front door. Underwood
led the way back into the sitting room
and making an effort to control his
nerves, said:
sit down, won't your"
But Mr.. Bennington merely bowed
stiffiy. 1t Was evident that he did moi