Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-30
FLORIDA.

Ing toward the door came to a stop. their
heads turned inquiringly. Here. Mr..
Mortimer. take one OF these guns and
cover the major. He's the one I doubt"
Then George followed the others into the
hall and ironically babe them godspeed
as he opened the door for them. They
went out stupidity; the wine had dulled
them. George Immediately returned to
the library.
Neither Fortune nor her mother had
stirred IN all this time. A quality OF
hypnotism held them in bondage. The
mother could not lower her glance and
the daughter would not. II there was a
light OF triumph in Fortunes eyes. 1t
was unconsciously there. And no one
Will know the full bitterness that shone
from the mothers. She could have
screamed with fury; she could have rent
her clothes torn her skin, pulled her hair:
and yet she sat there without physical
sign OF the tempest. This offers q serio-
comic suggestion: but 1t was tragedy
enough for the woman who was I'm the
not her predicament; 1t was not that she
was guilty OF crime against society; 1t
was not that she had failed. No. 1t was
because she, in leaving this house forever,
was leaving her daughter behind, mistress
Of 1t.
On her side Fortune knew that. had
there been a single gesture inviting pity.
she must have flown to her mothers side.
But there was no sign. Finally, Fortune
stepped back, chilled. 1t was all too late.
Fortune" said George. terribly EN-
barrassed, do you wish to speak to your
mother alone?"
mo" It was little word, spoken in
little, hushed tone.
put on her furs. which she had flung
across the back Of her chair.
"Mother! This came in a gasp from
the elder Wadsworth. An understanding
OF this strange proceeding began to filter
through his mind. The young girls
mother!
Mrs. Chedsoye drew on her gloves
slowly. She offered them to the major
to button. He flung the hands aside. He
was not nice under the veneer. But
curiously she watched his agile fingers at
work over the buttons: they were per-
fectly steady. Then. followed by the
major and Ryanne. she walked easily to-
ward the hau. Ryanne paused.
Good night, Arthur. I'm sure you will
not sleep we'll. That handsome safe is ir-
reparably damaged. / dare say you will
find way to cover the loss without any
we'll! Who was it, Brutus or Caesar.
who said: I go but to return'?'' The
banter left his face and voice swiftly.
you sneaking blackguard, you cheater
Of widows; yes, l shall come again; and
then look to your sleek. sanctimonious
neck! You clRlcked me down the road to
hell. and the pity OF 1t is. some day l
must meet you there! Fortune. child,
his voice becoming sad, you might re-
member a poor beggar in your prayers
shall never meet again. But when you
stand upon that bally old rug there. you'll
always see me, the fire. the tents. the
camels and the desert. and the moon in
the date palms. Bye-bye!'
4 And presently they were gone. A mo-
ment later those remaining could hear
the chug-chug Of the motors as they sped
away. The banker was first to recover
from the spell He rushed for the hall,
but George stopped him rudely.
Two hours, II you please. never
break my word. Your money Is all t.iere.
II you do not act reasonably. I'll throw
you down and sit on you till the time is
up. Sit down. I do not propose that my
future wife shall appear In court as q
witness against her mother. Do you un-
derstand me now?"
The banker signified that he did. He
sat down, rather subdued. Then he got
He counted roughly million. A million!
He felt sick and weak. 1t would have
wrecked the bank. wiped 1t out Of exist
ence. And saved by the merest. the most
trifiing chance! A bottle Of wine! He
resumed his chair and sat there wonder
ingly till the time limit expired.
The public never heard how nearly the
MISUNDERSTANDING had gone to the wall;
nor how six policemen had worked till
dawn carrying back the gold: nor that
the banker had not even thanked them
for their labor. The first impulse OF the
banker had been to send the story forth
to the world. to harass and eventually
capture his brother; but his foresight be-
coming normal, he realized that silence
was best even If his brother escaped. II
the depositors heard that the bank had
been entered and a million taken from
the vaults, there would naturally follow
a terrific run.
When the last bag had been taken out
Of the library and the banker and the
police had gone. the bell rang. George
went to the door. A messenger handed
him a small satchel and a note. There
was to be no reply. The note was from
Ryanne. Briefly 1t stated that the satchel
contained the emeraids. There had been
some difficulty in forcing the major to
surrender them. But that much was due
to George for his generosity. Later in
Horaces-brother that the coup hadn't
been a total fizzle. They had already
packed away in suit cases something like
two hundred thousand dollars in bills of
brother Of mine to charge 1t to our ac-
count. 1t will be less than the interest
upon million In ten years To You, my
boy, I add: Fortune favors the brave!'
George" said Mortimer. ''you will not
mind IL I forage round in the kitchen?
bottle Of beer and bit Of cheese would
so handy. It's almost my breakfast
time.''
BLESS your heart. help yourself!'
And George turned to Fortune.
'Ah." she cried. seizing his hands, "you
will not think ill Of me?''
"And for what?" astonished.
For not speaking to my mother. Oh,
1 just couldn't: I just couldn't! When
I thought Of all the neglect all the indif-
ference. the loneliness, couldn't! 1t was
~ understand. heart o. mine. Say no
more, about it, And he put his two
hands against her cheeks and kissed her.
Never shall you be lonely again. for /
am going to be all things to you. Poor