Evening star., 1912-11-19

| the money to Miss Thompson ana then
| go: she was equal to that single act OF
| renunciation, but to stay mere "early
| through days of useless waiting, unable
| to do anything or confde in any one, and
all the time to have, burning in her
| breast, the knowledge of those wonderful
bank notes there in the bottom OF the
flower pot. all unsuspected. and hers Tor
the easy taking-this was too Mucn LOT
Hester Storm.
Through sleepless night hours she
sought some way of deliverance. Should
she take the money and carry 1t to MISS
Thompson in Brighton? NO, no! She
dared not trust herself, she dared not
touch the money, not even to hide 1t In
securer place. The very sight OF that Tor
| tune might be too strong a temptation Tor
| her; indeed, whenever her duties required
| her to pass through the conservatory she
| found herself hurrying away with hands
| clinched and face averted from that
| beckoning rose bush. Once she stopped
| and almost yielded; she was actually
| reaching toward the basket when the
words that Merle had taught her sound
| ed in her ears. ITO be honest, to be
/ kind. To ask God every day to give me
| strength against temptation. For Jesus
| sake. Amen" And she staggered ON out
| of the room.
| To Danish these wicked thoughts Hester
| threw herself with feverish zeal into her
/ household duties She helped the coun-
tess in the kitchen, she helped Lionel in
| the garden. she helped Merle in the din
| ing room She made the beds, she scrub
| bed the fioors she welcomed the humblest
| drudgery anything to fill her mind and
| fight back the devils that We're tempting
/ her.
| The evening Of the third day she real
lied that the situation was intolerable
| Not only was she doubtful of her own
| strength, but she lived in growing terror
| Of Anton. whose looks and whispered
az -I,.,t ht in
| tentions were. Thus far she had avoid
ed being alone with him. but she saw
| that ne would not be put off any longer
| See here, kid" he had threatened that
| afternoon as Hester passed him on the
| drive. III You think you can play tag
| with me any longer you've got another
| guess coming. Either you come to the
| garage tonight after supper Or The
| leer on his evil face was SO full OF men
| ace that she shrank away, trembling.
| "I'll come to the garage she said.
| AT . o'clock?
She nodded slowly. AT o'clock"
| Then she hurried to her room to think.
| She must leave this place at once, that
| was certain. She could hardly bear it to
/ wait another day. And as Betty Thomp-
4 son was the only person to whom she
| could give this money, the only person
/ she could trust-yes, that was it, as she
| could not go to Betty, Betty must come
| to her, Betty must come back from
| Brighton. she must come back immediate
| ly. And straightway Hester sat down and
wrote the following letter:
MY dear Miss Thompson: Please start
for Bainbridge Manor as soon as you get
this letter, which will be tomorrow morn
ing. Take the first train and don't let
anything stop you from coming. And
don't tell any one why YOU are coming.
Say you must get some clothes or make
up any excuse. / am only a poor girl,
but take my word that there will be big
trouble IL you don't come and nobody else
Will do. l never gave you the right rea
son why came here. but you will be glad
to hear this secret. and it will do lot
of good IL you come at once. I'm abso-
lutely on the level now. but l don't know
If / can hold out another day. and then
il will be too late. Respectfully yours.
HESTER STORM"
Having addressed this urgent summons
to the Grand Hotel In Brighton. where
the Baxters were stopping, Hester care
| fully stamped the envelope and gave it
personally to the pOstman when he
| passed. Then, with a long sigh, she came
| down to her supper. confident that relief
would ln there within twenty-four hours.
| Alas, how many things may happen with
| I'm twentyfour hours!
| At . o'clock the girl went to the garage
| to keep her appointment with Anton. She
| longed to stay away, but dared not. feel
1 ing that he was capable Of some des-
| perate act If she trified with him further
| Besides she had managed this man be-
fore and now she trusted to her wits to
| manage him again
| When Hester entered the garage she
found the chauffeur bending over table
| absorbed in something that seemed to re-
/ ouire close attention. AS he heard her
step he rose and came forward with q