Charlevoix county herald., 1911-05-06

you must promise me solemnly not to
make any attempt against your life."
81 promise nothing" muttered I'm
derwood doggedly
"But you must" she insisted. 1T
would be a terrible crime, not only
against yourself, but against others.
You must give me your word"
Underwood shook his head.
Il promise nothing"
but you must" persisted Alicia. 81
won't stir from here until l have your
promise"
He looked at her curiously.
IF my life has no interest for you,
why should you care?" he asked.
There was a note Of scorn in his
voice which aroused his visitor
wrath. Crumpling up his letter in her
hand. she confronted him angrily.
"Shall tell you why / care?" she
cried. Because you accuse me In this
letter of being the cause of your death
i, who have been your friend in
spite of your dishonesty. Oh! it's des.
picable, contemplate! Above all, it's
a lie"
Underwood shrugged his shoulders.
Cynically he replied:
so it wasn't so much concern for
me as for yourself that brought you
here"
Alicia's eyes flashed as she an.
swered:
Eyes. wished to spare myself this
ciated in any way with suicide.
was afraid you meant what you said -
Afraid interrupted Underwood
bitterly, that some of the scandal
might reach as far as the aristocratic
Mrs. Howard Jeffries, SRI"
Her face flushed with anger. Alicia
paced up and down the ROOM The
mans taunts stung her to the quick
In way, she felt that he was right
She ought to have guessed his charac
ter long ago and had nothing TO dc
with him He seemed desperate
enough. to do anything. yet she doubt
ed ii he had the courage to kill him
self. She thought she would try more
conciliatory methods, so, stopping
short, she said more gently:
You know my husband has suffered
through the wretched marriage OF his
only son. You know how deeply we
both feel this disgrace, and yet you
would add"
Underwood laughed mockingly.
why should | consider your hus
bands feelings" he cried. He didn't
consider mine when he married you
Suddenly bending forward. every
nerve tense. he continued hoarsely:
Alicia, | tell you I'm desperate. I'm
hemmed in on all sides by creditors
You know what your friendship-youl
patronage means? Ii you drop me
now, your friends will follow-they're
lot of sheep led by you-and wher
my creditors hear of me they'll be
down on me like a flock of wolves
I'm not able to make a settlement
Prison stares me in the face"
Glancing around at the handsome
furnishings. Alicia replied carelessly:
I'm not responsible for your wrong
doing. l want to protect my friends
If they are a lot OF sheep, as you say
| that Is precisely why / should war;
them. They have implicit confidence
in me. You have borrowed their mon
ey, cheated them at cards, stolen from
them. Your acquaintance with me ha:
given them the opportunity. But now
| I've found you out. / refuse any long
er to sacrifice my friends, my self-re
spect. my sense of decency." Angrily
she continued: You thought you coulC
bluff ME. You've adopted this COW
ards way OF forcing me to receiv,
you against my will. Well. you've
| failed. | will not sanction your rob
bing my friends. | will not allow yol
to sell them any more of your high
priced rubbish, or permit you to chea
them at cards
Underwood listened in silence. II,
stood motionless, watching her flushed
face as she heaped reproaches on him
She was practically pronouncing hi
death sentence, yet he could not he'll
thinking how pretty she looked. Whel
she had finished he said nothing, but
going to his desk, he opened a small
drawer and took out revolver.
Alicia recoiled, frightened.
What are you going to do?" sht
cried.
Underwood smiled bitterly.
"Oh. don't be afraid / wouldn't d.
it while you are here. In spite Of al
you've said to me, ! still think to-
much OF you for that" Replacing tn,
pistol in the drawer, he added: "Alicia
If you desert me now. you'll be sorr.
to the day of your death
His visitor looked at him In silence
Then, contemptuously, she said:
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