Atlanta Georgian., 1912-07-02

Miss Betty, forgive me" he said Let
us have an end of this fencing: let me
be quite candid with you | do know
where that vanity bag is; where the po-
lice will find 1t, worse luck--in Mr. Rim
ingtons possession. But 1 know more
where Rinington put the jewel that you
entrusted to his keeping"
THAT | entrusted? What do you mean?"
There was almost an appeal for mercy
in Betty's startled tone. SAKE made a
gesture of his eloquent hands as though
he repudiated it.
"I Can Save You"
I'm plain English, Miss Betty, | mean
that you, like the foolish, maddened girl
you were, probably hardly knowing what
you did, like many another before you,
yielded to an impulse of your necessity
and stole a beautiful iewel-a world fa-
| nous jewel that could never impossi-
profit you because of the sheer impossi-
bility Of ever getting rid of it. Riming
| ton, to whom you gave the stone realiz-
| ing the danger you ran, the uncomfort-
| able notoriety of the stone was guilty of
an action almost idotic as your theft
| instead of comfortably leaving the ruby
behind him in the house in Tempest
street, he carried it off, and the next
morning, in melodramatic fashion, flung it
| into the Thames"
SAKE broke off impatiently and crossed
the room to her side.
DO you understand what his action
meant? he demanded, almost peremptor-
lily. There is no need to go into tech
nical details and mouth long phrases
about the compromising Of felonies and
the like 1t simply means that-the fact
of his disposal of the stone being known
for good or i'll, you and he stand to-
gether. If you go to the police, as you
foolishly suggest going, you simply place
yourself under an inquisition which-not
to mention the scandal such an action
would create, the ruin 1t would mean to
your sister and yourself-wll very speed
| lily draw sufficient evidence from you to
incriminate your lover
why do you say this to me?" the girl
broke out wildly. almost as though the
words had been drawn from her in spite
of herself by the look in his strange eyes
because want you TO understand this,
Miss 6etty-that can save you by
word-that | can hang him by a word |,
who know Just what happened in Tempest
street that night In those fifteen minutes
before RImIneton entered the house-In
those appalling five minutes after the
lights went out in that room Of death-can
/
"Yes?" The whispered word was
question, not an affirmation. SAKE saw
that Betty's face, white before, was ashen
now; that her lips trembled.
| you came today to ask for my help,
| Betty" he said, and there was something
in his tone that hurt her as an undesired
oaress would have hurt her. 'I am will
ing to give it-but you must pay for It.
Already you are in my debt, you and your
sister-more deeply than you guess. She
| hasn't spoken to you of the hush money
she received the morning after you re
turned home? II l keep my promse-if
| I save this man who is arrested to-
day as only l can save him shall require
my quid pro quo. | do not pretend to
be a philanthropist. You're not a child
Betty; you must know what 1t is"
He bent his face toward her, and the
girl recoiled with little cry of disgust
Sake gave a short laugh.
II must want you for my wife very
badly, Betty. to withhold my hand after
the insult that your eyes have flung at
me every moment you have been in this
room" he said. But I do need you
need you so badly that | must proffer a
further argument still.
He leaned toward her and whispered a
sentence in her ear.
Betty drew back with sharp cry, her
white, appalled, face quivering.
Once or twice her colorless lips moved,
but no sound issued from them. Then
IF you complete your bargain, if you
do what you say" she said, hoarsely, Il
will pay your price"
Her voice broke, she bowed her head
on her hands and burst into a tempest of
tears.