Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-01-03

listen to me, and I can't interest any
private parties"
"See here" volunteered Fraser, "why
don't you let me sell some Of your
stock7 I'm there with the big talk"
Emerson turned on him suddenly.
"You have demonstrated that. If you
had kept your mouth shut we'd have
been at sea by now"
The fellows face paled slightly as he
replied, ~ told you once that didn't
tip your mitt."
Don't keep that upw cried Boyd, his
much tried temper ready to give way.
II can put up with anything but a
lie."
Noting the signs Of rising storm,
Clyde scrambled out Of his chair, say
ing, "Well think I'll be going" He
picked up his hat and stick and hur-
riedly left the room, followed In every
movement by the angry eyes Of Fra
ser, who seemed on the point Of an ex,
plosion.
"You are tired and overwrought,"
said Cherry quietly to Boyd "The sue
cess Of this enterprise, with any hap
piness it may bring you, isn't worth a
human life, nor is 1t worth what you
are suffering"
Perhaps not. from your point OF
view." he said roughly, then struck
his palm with his closed fist. What
an idiot was to begin all this-to
think could win with no weapons
and no aid except half mad fisher
man, an addle Drained imbecile, con.
fdence man
"And woman" supplemented Cher.
~. "Pm the one to blame"
mo; | blame no one but myself.
| Whatever you're responsible for there's
only one person you've harmed-your-
self"
What do you mean?" asked Cherry
Her surprise left him unimpressed.
Lets be frank" he said. "It is best
to have such things out traded my
friendship for money. and am ruined.
You are stalking your honor against
billiards. banknotes." Her silence
only made him the more fercely deter
mined to force an explanation. "Oh,
I'm in no mood to speak gently" he
said; then added, with sting Of con-
tempt in his tone, II didn't think you
would pay quite that price for your
copper mine."
Cherry Malotte paled to her lips.
Kindly be more explicit; don't know
what you are talking about"
"Then, for your own good, you'd bet.
ter understand. According to accepted
standards. there is one thing no wo.
man should trade upon. You have set
yourself to trap Hilliard. and from
what / hear you are succeeding. He Is
married man. He Is notorious, and
yet you have deliberately yielded your
self to him for price"
Suddenly he found the girl standing
over him with burning eyes and quiv-
ering body.
what right have you to say such
things to me?" she cried. "a moment
ago you acknowledged yourself MUIR
derer-at least in thought. You said
you would sacrifice anything or every
thing to gain your ends. Do you think
I'm like that too? Are my methods to
be called shameful because your own
are criminal? And suppose they were?
Do you think that you and your love
for that unfeeling woman, who sent
you out to toll and suffer and sweat
your soul dry In the solitude Of that
horrible country, are the only issues
In, the world?"
1--WE won't speak of her." he broke In
sharply.
"Oh, yes, we will. You say l have
set a price on myself. Well. she can
set price on herself, but you can't
see it. Her price was your honor, that
has crumbled; your conscience. that
has rotted. You have paid 1t. and you
would pay double If she exacted 1t.
But one thing you shall not do; you
shall not judge Of my bargains nor de-
eide what | have paid to any man."
Never before had Boyd seen wom'
an so transformed by the passion OF
anger. She was the picture of defiant
fury. The mask had slipped, and he
caught glimpse Of the naked. pas
sionate soul. upheaved to its depths.
IL beg your pardon" he said. "You
are your own mistress, ard you have
the right to make any bargain you
choose"
He saw that her eyes were misty
with tears. 81 want you to know"
she said, that understand your posi-
tion perfectly. If you don't succeed
you not only lose the girl. but ruin
yourself. for you can never repay the
men who trusted you. That is very
big thing to man, l know. yet there
must be way out-there always Is
Perhaps 1t will present itself when you
least expect it." She gave him n tired
little smile before lowering her veil.
He rose and laid his hand on her
urn. Forgive my brutal bluntness
I'm not clever ut such things, but ]
would have said as much to my sister
IL had one"
1t was an honest attempt to com
fort her, but 1t failed. "GOodby." she
said; "you mustn't give up"
All the way back to her hotel her
mind dwelt bitterly upon his parting
words. His sister! His sister,! she
kept repeating God! Can't he see?"
Dusk was falling when the girl. with
set. defiant face, went to the telephone
to call up Hilliard at the Rainier club
II have thought over your propo-
sition, and have changed my mind.
she said "Yes, you may send the
car for me at T." Then, in reply
to some request, she laughed back
through white lips, "Very well, If you
wish it, the blue dress-yes. the blue
decollete dress" She hung up the re-
ceiver, then stood with hands clinched
while shiver ran through her slender
body. She stepped to closet and
flung open the door to stare at the ar.
ray of gowns.
$50 this Is the end Of my good reso
lutions," she laughed and snatched
garment recklessly from Its hook
"Now for all the miserable tricks Of
the trade"
George Bait. Clyde and Fraser