El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-13
The Counter Plot
BY A. G. Greenwood.

~ HE taxicab whirled up to the
door and I caught only "a
the steps of No. 90 She was a
striking woman in her flashy, vulgar
way. Flaming dyed hair. enameled
white skin, vivid scarlet lips shining
made up a picture once seen never
forgotten.
I had seen her before, and paused
e yard on so from the house, wonder
ing where and when our paths had
crossed in the past
The front door opened. An old man
"a hideous wreck, sinister, sQuint-eyed
came out on the step gesticulating
wildly speaking volubly mounting up
Into her face.
walked on past the house for 20 or
80 yards still trying to place the wo-
man and then turned and retraced my
steps.
The two of them stood on the steps.
the woman leaning against the door
post a look of dismay and terror on
her painted features, the old man liter
ally wringing his hands.
Suddenly she caught sight OF me.
She Whispered something in his ear.
He shook his head, but she persisted.
and at last he shrugged his Shout
ders and she ran down the steps, ar
irving at the gate as / drew level with
1t.
Little Billee," she said softly.
/ started. 1t had been my nickname
when / had once spent 10 months In
the Quarter Latin, in Paris, as an art
student
you've forgotten me-" she said re-
proachfully, as I took off my hat She
reminded me of q dozen mad dinners
and madden snppers, and then breaking
off, added:
"You were always hard up, Biflee. ]
suppose you are still? Poor Billee!
Billee, would you do something for
me?''
s1t all depends said cautiously.
But her proposition startled me- A
guest had failed Mr.. Grante, her host,
she said, nodding her head In the old
mans direction. They would sit down
sof course I WILL" replied. and be-
gan to laugh so loudly that a look Of
fear suddenly crept into her eyes.
1 explain, old Granite came trotting
down the steps.
You've told him2 He's consented?"
he faltered.
it's my husband who's unavofdably
prevented from coming He's Fl today,
and Mr.. Granite here Is his friend and
solicitor. Ny husband, Dick, lived
Rogate old Sir James Broadhurst and
the bishop of Selsea, are coming to
make over his property to him. They've
never seen him. No one would ever
know. It's only just mere fornality.
Won't you take his place? Just for
the dinner? Dick wrote to his trustees
SAYING he'd dine and meet them all,
and that Mr.. Granite would do all his
business with them for him. You'll
have nothing to. do-except pretend
you're fond Of me. VIII you, dear Bill
iee?'
"Theren be check for SO pounds In
your pocket, If you consent" put In
Granite
Il consent" I cried 'That decides
me. Take me in and prime me up as
to my behavior
My part was apparently very SIM
pie one Dick kelvlnside,s parents had
unc1e's death in Australia had made
him wealthy and some of his relatives
trustees. But friendly relations were
not established. When Dick was ~
Granite became shis guardian. Today
starchy relatives and wild Dick were to
meet prior to washing their hands OF
each other, But Dick was i'll at his
Paris and here were his relatives
a awaiting him at No. 20. Philridge
Square. Pimlico. 1t was most unfortu-
nate but could deception be easier, as
Lulu q remembered her name at iast)
So Lulu and I stood on the hearth
rugs and shook hands with the guests
as they arrived. Broadhurst, his wife,
his daughter and young son; the
bishop (widower), two sons one
daughter, and two maiden sisters lum-
bered into the drawing room, glared in
disapproval at Lulu and me, took up
frfgid, stand offish attitudes on distant
chairs, and discussed the the weather
while awaiting lord Rogate.
That young man was apparently I'M
popular. Nobody had a good word for
him. He had passed wild youth.
Even coming into the title and estates
had not made him responsible. He was
an absentee landlord. He had never
been near his home or his relatives.
He had been-wicked youthl-on a
tour round the world. But worst of
all, he dared keep his august connec-
lions waiting for their dinner.
And walt we did until o'clock, when
In despair old Mr.. Granite gave the
word, and we filed down to the dining
room.
Dinner had scarcely started when I
leaned back In my chair and asked