The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-02-11


says that Royce and his friend are
downstairs and he Is taking fhoir
cards to Miss Elliott but Blake gives
him a ten dollar note and tells him
to forget the cards and go up 70 the |
attic and play dead, and sends Watts
downstairs to hold Royce. Then he
goes across the hall and knocks on
Mrs. Babbitt's door and when that
lady shws herself he grabs her and
brings her into his room. She wants
to know If he is trying to kidnap her.
but he answers that he wants to talk
to her and talk hard.
Blake--"You'd do anything for
Beth, wouldn't your"
Mrs. B.---'Yes, but my CAD, draw
the line at bein' compromised.
Blake tells her he must see Beth
before Royce and Drury get to her
and though she protests she will have
nothing to do with him, and has
heard Beths story he flnally gets her
to listen and asks If she has always
thought Royce on the level. you
bet he amt" Mrs. Babbitt answers.
Then Blake tries to explain how he
ad endeavored to work I'm Beth's in
terest and asks how she thinks he
got the Information IL someone hadn't
given the snap away. She never
thought of that, she says, and Blake
goes on to explain how Royce had
talked and about the poker game. and
says he only beat Royce in his little
game and that he did not buy Beth's
land but paid the taxes and shows
the receipt as proof.
Mrs. B.-"Good Heavens, man.
why didn't you tell her?'
Blake-"I didn't nave the chance.
didn't dare--don't you understand? ?
When / dropped to the fact that she
had accepted their offer, couldn't
tell her before them had only paid
her taxes II they had known she
owned the land they would have CIV
en- her the check for $1,000. Then
and there the deal would have been
closed"
When Mrs. Babbitt is won over the
rest easy. He asks her to give Beth
the receipt--that she might not listen
to him. and to hurry. Julius APP
pears and says Royce and Drury have
gone He watched from the attic
window Mrs. Babbitt goes to tell
Beth what she has heard and pres
emily Beth herself comes in. "Why
didn't you tell me- she asks. why
did you let me say those things to
you?"
Blake-"They had you rattled-you
didn't know hat you were saying.
You thought 1 had robbed you OF
your land"
Beth-"Oh, no, II wasn't that |
thought you had robbed me of my
land, but of my faith in you. How
can you forgive me?'
Mrs. Babbitt reminds them that
there is plenty of time for that kind
of talk, and wants to know how Beth
Is going to get out of it-she has CIV
en- her word OF honor to Drury. Blake
tells her she needn't split hairs about
honor in dealing with sharks and to
refuse to take the check.
Beth-"But Eve accepted It,"
Mrs. b. and Blake-"What!"
Beth-"Yes. Mr.. Royce Just a few
minutes ago, while Mrs. Babbitt was
here sent me the check by the clerk
1 took II and signed receipt"
Blake--'That's why they left
they've beaten u.s."
Mrs. Babbitt declares that Is what |
happens to unprotected females-if |
she had had husband they could |
have whistled for their land, as no
married woman in the state can ex-
ecute a deed without her husbands
signature. Blake kisses Mrs. Bah |
bitt so suddenly, II takes her breath |
away and he leads her to the door |
Returning to Beth, ne says. "Wen,
it's all right"
Beth-"But l don't SEQ
Blake-"You heard Sister Babbitt. |
All you have to have IS husband"
Beth--"But l haven't one"
Blake-"We can fix that. Are you
game?"
Beth-"Yes, ] am game" she an