The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-11-16

q Ieeling that she had not heard the
worst yet, and when he turned back
to her from the other end OF the room
there was something so haggard, SC
harassed, so fairly guilty about him
that II she had ever thought OF tell
ing him the truth Of how she came by
the ring she put II away from her
now.
But beneath his distress she recog
nized a desperate earnestness. There
was something he wanted at any cost
but he was going to be gentle with
her. She had felt before the poten.
TALLY OF his gentleness, and she
doubted her power to resist it. She
tanned up all the flame of anger that
had swept her into the room. She re-
minded herself that the greatest gen.
tleness might only be blind; that
there was nothing stronger than want
ing something very much, and that
the protection of the jewel was very
thin. But when he stood beside her
she realized he held stronger
weapon against her than his gentle.
ness, something apart from his inten
tion.
He was speaking, almost coaxingly
as IL to child. 81 understand" he
was saying. "I know all about 1t. It's
mistake. But surely you don't ex
pect to keep 1t now. It will only be
an annoyance to you"
She turned on him. What could II
be to your"
Kerr, planted before her, with his
head dropped, looked, looked, looked
as II he gave silence leave to answer
for him what 1t would. It answered
with hundred echoes ringing up to
her from long corridors of conjecture
half-articulated words breathing OF
how extraordinary the answer must
be that he did not dare to make.
What will you take for it?" he said
at last.
She was silent. With a sick. dis
trust 1t came to her that 1t was the
very worst thing he could have said
after that speaking silence.
She stepped away from him. "This
thing is not for sale"
He stared at her with amazement;
then threw back his head and laughed
as II something had amused him
above all tragedy.
"You are an extraordinary crea
ture," he said, "but really I must
have 1t. I can't explain the why of it (;
only give the sapphire to me, and
you'll never be sorry for having done
that for me. Whatever happens, you
may be sure I won't talk. Even II
the thing comes out, you shan't be
mixed up In It," He had come near
her again, and the point of his long
forefinger rested on her arm. She
was motionless, overwhelmed with
pure terror, with despair.
why not give 1t to me now," he
urged, Since, of course, you can't
keep It? could have 1t now in spite
of you"
Everything in her sprang up in
antagonism to meet him. "T know
what you are" she cried, "but you
shan't have 1t. You have no more
right to 1t than I. You can't get II
away from me, and l shant give 1t to
you"
He had grown suddenly paler: his
eyes were dancing, fastened upon her
breast. His long hands closed and
opened. She looked down, arrested
at the sight Of her hand clenched just
where her breath was shortest, over
the sapphire's hiding-place.
He smiled. How easily she had be.
trayed herself! But she abated not q
jot Of her defiance, challenging him
now he knew its hidding.place, to
take the sapphire II he could. But he
did not move. And 1t came to her
then that she had been ridiculous to
think for an instant that this man
would take anything from her by
force. What she had to fear was his
will at work upon hers, his persuasion,
his ingenuity. She thought of the pur.
pie irises. and how he had drawn
them toward him in the crook of his
cane-and her dread was lest he
meant to overcome her with some
subtlety she could not combat.
The click of moving latch brought
his eyes from hers to the door.
Some one is coming in," he said in
a guarded voice. 1t warned her that
her face showed too much, but she
could not hope to recover her COM
posure. She hardly wanted to. She
was in state to fancy that a secret
could be kept by main force; and she
turned without abatement Of her reck-
less mood and took her hand from
where she had held 1t clenched upon
her breast and stretched it out to
Mrs. Herrick.
The lady had stood in the doorway
a moment-a long-featured, whitish.
modelled face, draped in dull green
veil, tall figure whose flowing skirts
of black melted away into the back
ground of the hall-before she came
forward and met her hostess hand
with a clasp firm and ready.
I'm so glad to find you here" she