Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-09-26


to recover herself. sat up. swallowing
and gasping, while she wiped her
eyes.
I'm ready to do 1t ALL" she shifted.
'on1y-only-" she paused on the
verge of another collapse, suppressed
it, and said with some show of re-
turning animation. only l must have
some money nova guarantee.
"oh." he said with the descending
note of comprehension. las l remem-
ber. We agreed to pay you seven thou
sand dollars for the first year. the
year of desertion."
She lowered the handkerchief en-
tirely. presenting to him disf1gured
face. all Its good looks gone. but show
ing distinct signs of attention.
Il don't want the seven thousand.
I'll waive It, want sum down.
guarantee. an advance. You offered me
at first fifty thousand dollars. Give
me that down and I'll go this after
noon"
THAT wasn't our original arrange
ment." he said to gain time.
Deduct 1t from the rest. I must
have 1t. l can't go without 1t. II you
give me the check now I'll leave for
New York tonight"
| Her reviving interest and force
seemed to have quenched the sources
of her tears as suddenly as her ex-
hnusted nerves had made them flow.
But her disfgured face. her figure
which seemed to have shrunken In its
fine clothes. were extremely pathetic.
IF you don't trust me send one OF
your clerks with me to buy my ticket,
send one to see me off. I've left my
husband for good. for ever. can't
live here any longer. Give me the
money and let me TO-"
81 don't see that I'm going to have
any security that you're going to car
ry out the whole plan. Hcv do |
know that you're not going to New
York to have good time and then.
when you've spent the money. come
back here?"
She sat up and sent despairing
look about the room as If In wild
search for something that would con-
vince him of her sincerity.
81 swear, promise" she cried with
almost frantic emphasis, that I'll
never come back. I'm going for good
and I'm going to set Dominick free.
Oh. do believe me. Please. I'm tell
ing the truth
He was impressed by her manner.
as he had been by her tears. Some
thing undoubtedly had happened
which had suddenly caused her to
change her mind and decide to leave
her husband He did not think that 1t
was what she had told him. Her ex-
citement. her overwrousht condition
Suggested cause less gradual. more
like shock. He ran over In his
mind the advantages of giving her the
money. Nothing would be jeopardized
by It. 1t would simply be an advance
made on the sum they had agreed
upon.
Fifty thousands too much" he
said slowly. "But I'll be square to
you and I'll split the difference and
give you twenty-five. I'll give you the
check now and you can take IT and 20
tonight"
She shook her head obstinately.
"It won't do" she said. What diff
ference does It make to you whether
you give It to me now or next year?
I'll give you a receipt for 1t. There
won't be any trouble about It. It's as
broad as It's long. It's simply an ad-
vance on the main sum-"
He looked moodily at her and then
down. Her demand seemed reason
able enough. but he distrusted her.
"If you don't believe me-" she in
sisted. send out that clerk of yours
| trl, at To
him to go up to the fiat and he'll see
my trunks all packed and ready.
tell you you've beaten me. You and
Mrs. Ryan are one too many for me-
He again looked at her. his lips
pressed together. his eye coldly con
sidering.
I'll give you thirty thousand dol
lars and it's understood that you're
to leave the city tonight"
She demurred. but with less show
of vigor. and. for space. they hag
gled over the sum till they finally
agreed upon thirty-five thousand dol
lars.
AS the old man drew the check she
watched him with avid eagerness. re-
straining by force the hand that trem
bled In its anxiety to become pos
sessed of the slip of paper. He no
ticed, as she bent over the desk to
sign the receipt that her fingers shook
so they could hardly direct the pen.
She remarked It herself. setting It
down to her upset nerves. and laugh
ing at the sprawling signature.
With the check in her hand she
rose. something of the airy buoyancy
of demeanor that had marked her on
her entrance returning to her.
WELL" she said. opening her purse,
this is the real beginning of our busi-
ness relations. feel as II We were