The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1912-02-22

but you must" persisted Alicia ~
won't stir from here until have your
promise"
He looked at her curiously.
i III my life has no interest for you.
why should you carer he asked.
There was note of scorn in his
voice which aroused his visitors
wrath. Crumpling up his letter In her
hand. she confronted him angrily.
Shall tell you why carer" she
cried. Because you accuse me In this
letter of being the cause of your death
i, who have been your friend In
spite of your dishonesty. Oh! it's des-
picable, contemplate! Above all. It's
lie
Underwood shrugged his shoulders.
Cynically he replied
so 1t wasn't SO much concern for
me as for yourself that brought you
here"
Alicia's eyes flashed as she an
swered:
Yes, wished to spare myself this
indignity, the shame OF being asso-
ciated in any way with a suicide.
was afraid you meant what you said"
Afraid" interrupted Underwood
bitterly, that some of the scandal
might reach as far as the aristocratic
Mrs. Howard Jeffries. SRI"
Her face flushed with anger. Alicia
paced up and down the room. The
mans taunts stung her to the quick
In way, she felt that he was right.
She ought to have guessed his charac-
ter long ago and had nothing to do
with him. He seemed desperate
enough to do anything, yet she doubt
ed If he had the courage to kill him
self. She thought she would try mora
conciliatory methods, so, stopping
short, she said more gently:
You know my husband has suffered
through the wretched marriage of his
only son. You know how deeply wa
both feel this disgrace. and vet Won
would add"
Underwood laughed mockingly.
Why should | consider your bus.
bands feelings?" he cried. He didn't
consider mine when he married YOU"
suddenly bending forward. every
nerve tense, he continued hoarsely:
Alicia, tell you I'm desperate. I'm
iemmed In on all sides by creditors.
lou know what your friendship-your
patronage means? If you drop me
low, your friends will follow-they're
| lot of sheep led by you-and when
ny creditors hear of me they'll be
lown on me like flock of wolves.
m not able to make a settlement
'rison stares me in the face"
CHANGING around at the handsome
Alicia replied careessly:
I'm not responsible for your wrong
oing. / want to protect my friends.
f they are lot of sheep. as YOU saw.
hat is precisely why | should warn
hem. They have implicit confidence
me- You have borrowed their mon.
". cheated them at cards, stolen from
mem. Your acquaintance with me has
'iyen them the opportunity. But now
We round you out. | refuse any, long
# to sacrifice my friends, my seIf-re-
pect my sense of decency." Angrily
he continued: You thought you could
NAh nc lou We adopted THIS cow
rd's way of forcing me to receive
GU against my WILL Well. you've
ailed- will not sanction your rob-
ing my friends. | will not allow you
sell them any more of your high
riced rubbish. or permit you to cheat
hem at cards"
Underwood listened in silence. He
TODD motionless. watching her flushed
ace as she heaped reproaches on him.
he was practically pronouncing his
eatn sentence, yet he could not help
how pretty she looked. When
mad finished he said nothine, but.
ding to his desk. he opened a small
rawer and took on. a revolver.
Alicia recoiled, frightened.
What are you going to do?" she
lied.
Underwood smiled bitterly.
On, don't be afraid wouldn't do
while you are here. In spite of all
ou've said to me, | still think TOO
UGH OF you for that" Replacing the
stoi in the drawer. he added: alicia.
you desert me now. you'll be sorry
the day of your death"
Ills visitor looked at him in silence.
men, contemptuously. she said:
cTo BE CoNTINUED.)
- Ss 49,