The Southern herald., 1911-06-02

ased to make hsrseit popular n ths /
smart set and she needed money q /
carry out her social ambitions, Dad I
wealthy widowsr-oame along and she /
caught him in her net, that's alll-
Annie listened with interest she
was human enough to feel a certain
sense OF satisfaction IN hearing that
this woman who treated her with such
contempt was herself something Of an
intriguer
How did your stepmother come to
know Robert UaderwOodg' she asked
He was never in society"
"No, replied Howard with q griA
1T was my stepmother who gave him
the entree. You know she was once
engaged to him. but broke 1t on 20
she could marry dad. He felt very
sore over It at the time. but after
her marriage he was seemingly a.
friendly with her as eVev-to serve
his own ends. Of course. II is simply
wonderful what influence he has with
her. He exercises over her the same
fascination that he did over me at
college He has sort Of hypnOtized
her. / don't think it's = case Of love
or anything like that. but he simply
holds her under his thumb and gets
her to do anything he wants. She
invites him to her house. introduces
him right and left, got people to take
him up. Everybody laughs about it in
society. Underwood is known as Mrs.
Howard Jeifries' pet. Such a thing
soon gets talked about. That is the
secret of his successful career in New
York. AS far as | know, she's as
much infatuated with him as ever"
A look of surprise came into An
nie's face. To this young woman.
whose one idea of matrimony was
steadfast loyalty to the man whose
life she shared and whose name she
bore, there was something repellent
and nauseating in a woman permit
ting herself to be talked about in that
way.
Doesn't your father objectf" she
asked
"Pshaw!" laughed Howard. He
doesn't see what's going on under his
very nose. He's too proud a man, toe
sure Of his own good judgment to be
/ lieve for a moment that the woman
to whom he gave his name would bS
! guilty Of the slightest indiscretion oi
, that kind"
Annie was silent for a minute. TheI
she said:
+ What makes you think that Un
5 derwood would let you have tn
}. money!"
E Because / think he's got It.
obliged him once in the same wa,
t myself. l would explain to him wha
s want 1t for. He will see at ono
e that 1t is q good thing. I'll offer hir
= a good rate of interest, and he nigh
be very glad to let me have It ANY
e how, there's no harm trying"
Annie said nothing She did no
t entirely approve this idea of her hui
q band trying to borrow money OF
man in whom his stepmother was 8
a much interested. On the other han
y starvation stared them in the face
, If Howard could get hold of this S2,0 90
and start in the brokerage busines
d it might be the beginning of me-
u life for them.
l. We'll, do as you like, DEAR" sh
e said. When will you go to him?"
e The best time to catch him woul
e be in the evening"" replied Howar
a We'll, then, go tonight" she SUI
Is gested.
10 Howard shook his head
y mo, not tonight. l don't think
y should find him in. He's out ever
lie night somewhere. Tonight there's a
ID other big reception at my father
In house. He'll probably be there.
is think I'll wait till tomorrow nigh
n I'm nearly sure to catch him at hon
b. then"
at Annie rose and began to remove Il
dishes from the table Howard no
ir chalantly lighted another cigaret
and, leaving the table, took up Il
le evening newspaper Sitting dow
ID comfortably in a rocker by the wi
n dow, he blew a cloud Of blue smol
n up in the air and said:
"Yes, that's it'll go to-morro
! night to the Astruria and strike b
Underwood for that So O00."