Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-01-20

matter AS 1t was he WINGED. There
was underneath Mrs. Woods humor
II faint suspicion of ridicule. He tried
to excuse himself but only got tangled
in his own excuses.
Don't you think" said the lady to
the others. THAT Sir Bradford owes
me some reparation?"
All banteringly agreed that he did
well. this Is the last night OF our
visit here. Let him intrust me with
the key of his safe till tomorro y morn
ing"
All declared that such an act would
not necessarily be showing any con-
fdence whatever. But the widow in
sisted that it would satisfy her. and
she smilngly held out her hand for
the key.
The thought flashed through Sir
Bradford's head that the safe. being
in his own room. would be under his
control through the night. There was
a pretty woman smiling ut him. daring
him-a woman with whom be was
fascinated and whom he thought 1t
advantageous TO marry. Nevertheless
he did not consent. Then suddenly
there came IL flash from the womGn's
eyes. "A naughty look as If she deemed
such denial of confidence insulting.
Sir Bradford put his hand in his pocket
and tossed the key on the table be-
fore her
Amid burst of laughter she seized
1t and placed it in her corsage.
The diplomat had no sooner yielded
to an Impulse than he regretted his
act. \ man under a womans spell Is
liable to rush from one extreme to an
other. One moment he trusts her i'm
plicit?y: the next he fears that he has
fallen into the tolls of devil Al any
rate, such was the fear of Sir Brad
ford. Never for moment during the
, evening did he leave the side Of the
woman who possessed the Key of his
safe-the safe where was deposited
that which if il passed into The pos
session of another would ruin him. IL
he turned away from her for a mo-
ment it was that she should not see
! the expression on his face when he
cursed himself for Il fool.
The widow rallied him continually.
AlGu Soh S'lliS " 6iNC lLIC OiS hAN-
ment aloneW BE comforted. | am
not in the habit of visiting any but
my own room when | visit" viii
J you sleep with revolver under Jour
/ pillow tonight?" These were some of
| the banterngs she gave him, much to
| the amusement of the guests. At mid
night, when the party broke up, she
| had made no move. She rose with
! the others and went up to her room.
The moment Sir Bradford heard her
door close he went up to his own
| apartment. With his eyes fixed on his
safe he gave himself up to tumultuous
musing. 1t contained his possible ruin.
and the key was in the possession of
woman he had known but a few
days.
pooh. pooh. What an ass! She
| only did 1t to bedevil me. Nonsense.
have revolver under my pillow.
and il any one should come In here
tonight More nonsense! Who's to
Gomez" Thus he tried to dismiss the
matter from his mind. But. oh, If he
only had the key!
He went to bed and tried 10 sleep
Slumber would not come. Fancying
he heard a movement III. his room. he
arose and struck a light lie was
ashamed of himself for doing so. but
left it burning. This made him feel a
trihe more comfortable. aud toward
morning he went to sleep
He was awakened by his valet bring.
/ ing hot water. After glance ut the
safe. which showed no evidence of
! having been tampered with, he arose,
dressed and went down to breakfast,
A maid approached him and said
81 took tie hot water to Mrs. Wood,
room G. She didn't answer when I
knocked, and went in. She isn't
nhere."
! Sir Bradford blanched. Like light
ming the thought flashed through his
| brain that the key OF his safe had gone
! with her. Then he saw that he was
ruined. He was to sail that afternoon
| for Constantlnople. The only way to
| get the treaty was to break into his
! safe. But 1t was q new and perfect
one, put in since he had entered tho
| diplomatic service. Only in London
could men be found of sufficient skill
to do the work. and London was 200
miles away. He put his hand to his
head, staggered up to his room and
/ locked himself In.
! Twenty hours later the minister
| OF foreign affairs In Paris received the
card of Nine. Chapellier. He direct
ed that she be- at once admitted.
"Well?' he said
81 left the diplomat at his home far
| from London with the treaty locked in
his safe. There Is the key
"And how much time do you think
we will gain:"
She handed him an Item cut from
newspaper stating shat Sir Bradford
Chichester had sent TO London for men
10 open his safe that they had failed
and others more skillful had gone up.
/ He had offered the latter $1,000 if they
would do the job in three hours"
THAT will do" said the minister.
"Our treaty Is on the way"
He drew her check for $4,000
francs.