The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-06

ut is necessary that you should answer
me TWO questions -tTuthfully.
Her eyes grew wider. 1t was tie
lace of a terrified child
Why not?" she exclaimed What
have to conceal? .
1 Peter Ruff's expression never
changed. There was nothing about
him. as he stood there with his hands
behind him. his head thrown little
forward. in the least inspiring moth
Ing calculated 10 terrify the most
timid person, Yet the girl looked at
him with the eyes Of 4 frightened
bird.
Remember, them he continued.
smoothly. that what you say TO me
is sacred. Yeu and are alone with
out witnesses or eavesdroppers. Was
| it Brian Sotherst who shot Abbott
! or was II you?
j She gave little cry. Her hands
clasped the sides Of her head in hor-
I ror.
~ she exclaimed. II! God help
NE, z
He waited In moment she looked
/ up.
You cannot believe that" she said.
/ With caimness for which he was
/ scarcely prepared. : 1t is absurd,
/ left the room by the inner door as he
took up his hat to step out into the
/ hall"
incidentally" he asked" this is
/ rot my other question, mind-why did
YOU no, let him out YOURSELF"
We had disagreed" she answered.
curtly
Peter Ruff bent his head in assent
IL see,n he remarked. You had
disagreed Abbott probably hoped that
you would reient, so he waited for a
few minutes. Brian So,herst, who had
escaped from his engagement In time,
he thought, to come and wish you
goodnight. must have walked in and
found him there. Bye-the-bye, how
would Captain Sotherst get inn"
He had key" the girl answered.
Ny mother lives here with me. and
we have only one maid 1t was more
convenient. gave him one washed in
gold for birthday present only few
days ago
Thank YOU" Peter Ruff said The
revolver, l understand. was your prop
erty?"
She nodded.
1t was a present from Brian" she
said. He gave it to me in joke, and
/ had II on the table with some other
curiosities."
The first question, Peter Ruff said.
is disposed of May proceed TO the
seeond9"
The girl molstened her lips.
Yes, she answered.
Why did you sup alone with Austen
Abbott last night"
She shrank little away.
Why should not?" she asked
You have been On the stage. my
dear Miss Shaw, Peter Ruff continued,
" for between four and Ave years,
During the whole of that time it has
been your very wise habit to join sup
per parties, of course, when the COM
pany was agreeable TO you, but to sup
alone with no man, Am not right"
You seem 10 know great deal
about me- she faltered
Am / not rignt2 he repeated.
Yes. she answered.
:" You break your rule for the first
time" Peter Ruff continued, In favor
of a man of VIGOROUSLY bad character,
a few weeks after the announcement
OF your engagement to an honorable
young English gentleman. You know
very well the construction likely to be
put upon your behavior-you, OF all
people, would be the most likely to ap-
preciate the risk you ran. Why did
you run it2 In other words, repeat
my question. Why did you sup alone
with Austen Abbott last night?"
All this time she had been standing.
She came little forward now, and
threw herself into an easy chair.
:" 1t doesn't help" she exclaimed.
" All this doesn't help"
+" Nor can help you. then" Peter
Ruff said, stretching out his hand for
his hat
She waved to him TO put II down.
will tell YOU" she said. !" 1t has
nothing to do with the case, but since
you ask, you shall know. There is a
dear little girl in our company
Fluffy Dean we all call her-only eigh-
teen years old We all love her, she
is SO sweet, and just like / was when
| first went on the stage, only much
nicer. She is very pretty. she has no
money. and she is such an affectionate
little dear that although she is as
good as gold, we are all terrified for
her sake whenever she makes acquaint-
ances. Several Of US who are most in
terested made sort of covenant. We
,
and try TO see that she did not meet
any one she shouldn't Yet, for all
our precautions, Austen Abbott got
hold of her and turned Der silly little
head. He was man of experience,
and she was only child. She wouldn't
listen to us-she wouldn't hear a word
against him took what seemed to
me to be the only chance. went to
him myself begged for mercy,
begged him to spare the child. swore
that if-anything happened to her,
would start crusade against him.
would pledge my word that he should
be cut By every decent man aud woman
on the stage, He listened to what
had to say and at first he only smiled.
When / had finished, he made me an
offer He said that If would sup with
him alone at the Milan, and permit
him TO escort me home afterwards, he
would spare the child One further
condition he made-that was TO tell
no one why did It. 1t was the mans
brutal vanity ] made the promise,
but break it NOW You have asked
me and ] have told you l went
through with the supper, although
hated it. let him come in for q drink
as though lie had been a friend Then