The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-20
GAE WATERMAN AND sOUTHRoN. JANUARY 20 1919

sense or satisfaction In hearing that
thls woman WAC treatsd her with such
| contempt was, herself something of an
intrtguer.
now did your stepmother come to
Know Robert Underworld she asked.
He was never in society
NO." replied Howard with q grin.
1t was my stepmotaer who gave him
tho entree. You know she was once
engaged to- him, but broke IL off so
she could marry dad. He felt very
sore over 1t at the time, but after
ner marriage he was seemingly as
friendly with her as ever-to serve.
his own ends. of course. 1t 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 a case OF love
or anything like that, but he simply
holds her under his thumb and gats
her to do anything he wants. She
invites him TO her house, introduces
him right and left. got people to Jake
him up. Everybody laughs about 1t in
society. Underwood is known as Mrs.
Howard Jefries pet. Such a thing
soon gets talked about. That fs the
secret OF his successful career IN New
York. AS far as l know, she's a.
much infatuated with him as. ever"
A look of surprise came into Ar
MES 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 woman permit
ting herself to be talked about in that
way.
Doesn't your father object?' she
asked.
"Pshaw!" laughed Howard. He
doesn't see what's going on under hts
very nose. He's too proud a man, too
sure OF his own good judgment to be-
lieve for a moment that the woman
to whom he gave his name would be
guilty Of the slightest indiscretion of
that kind"
Annie waa silent for minute. Then
she said:
What makes you think that Un-
derwood would let you have the
money!"
Because I think he's got It. 1
Obliged him once in the same way
myself would explain to him what
l want II for. He will see at once
that 1t is good thing. Ill offer him
a good rate of interest. and he might
be very glad to let me have It. Any.
how, there's no harm trying"
Annie said nothing. She did not
entirely approve this idea Of her hus-
band trying to borrow money of a
man In whom his stepmother was 80
much interested. On the other hand
starvation stared them IN the isce.
~ Howard could get hold of THU Sa,e0c
and start in tEN brokerage busine se
1t might be the bOsiprlng OF q new
life for them.
Wen. Go &c ySs AXE, lS.T," sac
said. When will you 60 TO himi'
The best time to catch him would
be In the evening" replied Howard.
We'll. then. 60 tonight" she sug-
gested.
Howard shook HE head.
mo, not tonight l don't think /
should find him In. He's out every
night somewhere. Tonight there's an.
other big reception at my fathers
house. He'll probably be there. l
think I'll wait till tomorrow night.
I'm nearly sure to catch him at home
then"
Annie rose and began to remove the
dishes from the table. Howard non.
chalantly lighted another cigarette
and, leaving the table, took up the
evening newspaper. Sitting down
comfortably In rocker by the win.
dow. he blew cloud of blue smoke
up In the air and said:
Yes, that's It'll 20 tomorrow
night to the Astruria and strike Bob
Underwood for that $4,000"
CHAPTER ~.