The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-01-12


aged to make herself popular in the
smart set and she needed money to
carry out her social ambitions. Dad
wealthy widower-came along and she
caught him in her net, that's ALT"
Annie listened with interest. She
was human enough to feel certain
sense of satisfaction In hearing that
this woman who treated her with such
contempt was herself something of an
intriguer. .s
How did your stepmother come to
know Robert Underworld" she asked.
He was never in society"
NO" replied Howard with a grin.
1T was my stepmother who gave him
the entree. You know she was once
engaged to him, but broke it off so
she could marry dad. He felt very
sore over it at the time, but after
her marriage he was seemingly as
friendly with her as ever-to serve
his own ends, of course. It 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. l 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 Jeffries pet. Such a thing
soon gets talked about That is the
secret of his successful career in New
York. AS far as I know, she's as
much infatuated with him as ever"
A look of surprise came into An
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 repelIent
and nauseating in a 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 his
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 was silent for minute. Then
she said:
What makes you think that I'm
derwood would let you have the
money!"
Because I think he's got 1t. 1
obliged him once in the same way
myself. 1 would explain to him what
l want it for. He will see at once
that it is good thing. I'll 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 no
entirely approve this idea of her hui
band trying to borrow money of
man in whom his stepmother was 8
much interested. On the other han,
| starvation stared them in the face
If Howard could get hold of this 81, O0l
| and start in the brokerage business
it might be the beginning of a new
| life for them.
We'll, do as you like, dear" she
| said. When will you go to him?"
The best time to catch him would
be in the evening"" replied Howard
We'll, then, go tonight" she sug
gested
Howard shook his head.
mo, not tonight 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. ]
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 a rocker by the win
| dow, he blew a cloud of blue smoke
up in the air and said:
Yes, that's it'll go tomorrow
night to the Astruria and strike Bob
Underwood for that $4,000"