The Washington times., 1911-01-04
To lin I hat Hath ~ >. s; LEROY SEC. SCOT :.
By LEROY SCOTT
Copyright. The Frank A. Munsey Coz

, within him when he looked upon the
boyish face of Morton at twenty-five.
II was the snap of suspense. His Fear
was now certainty.
"She probably wouldn't nave suited
you''-the tone declared she would-"but
Phil Morton certainly had 1t bad for
| four or five months!'
David forced himself to his duty-to
search his relationship TO its limits.
And then-he broke 1t orr" he asked,
with a sudden desire to make her smart.
The question stung her pride. mo
man ever threw me down-not in those
days" she returned harshly, her dry
cheeks flushing. II got tired of him; a
woman soon gets tired Of mere boy
like that. And he was repenting about a
third of his time, and preaching to me
about reforming myself. To live with
a man like that-it's not living. /
dropped him.
But all this was fifteen years ago."
David said, calm by an effort. What
has that to do with your note?'
She sank into a chair before him, and
ran the tip of her tongue between her
thin lips. She leaned back luxuriOusly,
clasped her hands behind her head. and
regarded him amusedly through half-
closed eyes. "a woman comes to New
York about four months ago. She is
well, she could use money. After a
month she learns a man is in town she
had once-temporarily married. she
hasn't heard anything about him for fif-
teen years. He is a minister, and has a
reputation. She has some letters ne
wrote while they were-such good
friends: She guesses he would just as
soon the letters should not be made
public. / have a talk with him; ma
guessed right. Now you understand
David leaned forward, his face pale.
You mean he had been paying you-to
keep still?"
She laughed softly. She was enjoying
this display of her power. He has paid
me the trifling sum of 5000 in the last
three months" David stared at her.
And he's going to pay me lot more
or-the letters"
His head sank before her bright, tri-
umphant eyes, and he was silent. He
was a confusion of thoughts and emo
tions, amid which only one was distinct
to protect Morton II he could. He
tried to push all else from his MIND
and think of this alone.
A minute or more passed. Then he
looked up. His face was still pale, but
set and hard You are mistaken in
at least one point" he said.
And that?'
About the money you're going 10
get. There'll be no more"
Why not?' she asked with amused
superiority.
Because the letters are valueless."
He watched her sharply to see the effect
of his next words. Phillip Morton was
buried two days ago"
Her hands fell from her head and she
stood up, suddenly white. ITS he!
He was buried two days ago." David
repeated.
Her color came back, and she sneered,
Its lie. You're trying to trick met
David rose, drew out handful of
clippings he had cut from the news
papers. and silently held them toward
her. She glanced at a headline, and
her face went pale again. She snatched
tho RlinniDUS read half through.
then flung them all from her, and
abruptly turned about-as David guess
ed. to hide from him the show OF her
loss.
In a few moments she wheeled round,
wearing a defiant smile. Then l shall
make the letters public. I'll let those
people'-she threw hand toward the
clippings on the hoor-"see what kind
of a man their saint was"
David stepped squarely before her; his
tall form lowered above her. his dark
eyes cleaned into hers. You shall do
nothing of the kind" he said, harshly.