The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1913-07-13

backed word-that he called up my
house?"
/ THE time-card at central. A list of
/ all calls is forwarded every evening
/ to central and
"That proves nothingl' declared
Grace Nothing at all. oh, it's pref
| ty trick you're playing, Miss Kelly A
very pretty trick. But it viii fail. You
] build it all on the statement that some
one called up the house of Governor
Robertson Fifty people call up our
house every day And on the strength
of that, his wife is to be involved In
story of low intrigue-0h, it's out
rageous!"
win Mr.. Standish explain to your
husband why he called you up?"
'He didn't call me up. Mr.. Standish
could have had nothing to say to me.
He'll deny every charge you make.
And my word will be believed ahead of
Matchmaking phone girls. | need
simply say you tried to gain my help
by means Of threats to-"
"You need simply say it? viii yon
swear to it?"
"Yes," flashed Grace. "If the need
arises, A womans reputation isn't de-
stroyed so easily as you seem to think.
Miss Kelly"
And the country hotel proprietor"
asked Wanda 81 forgot to say they've
sent for him He can identify the
Woman who was registered as Mrs,
Fowler He"
"Do you suppose, for one moment
said Grace, white to the lips, that my
husband would subject me to the In
dignity Of being looked over like a
common criminal? | need only tell
the truth-deny the whole malicious
leland"
"Ohi" broke In Wanda, with reluat
ant admiration, you're brave, Mrs
Robertson AS brave as they make
them. You're putting up glorious
fight. And can't help liking you for
it. Because know-behind the brave
front--youre sick with fear
"You think"
81 know it. And-belleve me or not
you've got me sized up all wrong.
lin not going to marry your broth
er. But don't want to see his sister
get into this mess. Why don't you
trust me?"
Really"
"The machnel" rushed on Wanda,
Its got the brains of all the men that
are In It. And none of the heart. 1t
burns up everything that gets in Its
path. And now 1t needs a woman's
good name and happiness to keep It
In fuel. It's only square that you
should be the Woman. It's let them
see how other people have felt when
the machine crushed them-how my
father felt when he came home that
horrible day. with death written In his
eyes, and said to my mother; Molly,
I'm done for. Blake and his machine
have got me-! That's what he said
And he was innocent"
But"
That's why ] was going to let them
get you, and break Jim Biake's vile
old heart It's the chance I've been
, waiting for, FIVE endless years. To
, night / saw Gods justice begin to
, move. | saw that Blake and his
crowd we're working out their own
damnation without any help from me
And then-Oh, I'm fool!-then, all
, at once forgot the justice part of 1t
! And all could see was that a gang
' of strong, cruel. clever men were fight
Z ing one unhappy woman. II guess
' that's why I've stayed here, even after
Y you called me a blackmailer.'
f But your past's no business o.
s nine" she went on more quietly. "
e just came to give you a warning Take
4 It or leave It's up to you
i 81 don't want your warning SAID
:. Grace surenly. Il tell you, | admit
n nothing"
n "Then I cant help you"
O Il have not asked your help"
Just as you like sighed Wanda
. But the nets closing tight around
q you. Mrs Robertson And If yot
count on Mr.. Standsh to help you oil
>, to deny anything, you re making DE-
: mistake. The minute he finds himself
n cornered, he'll throw you over to save
!, his own chances. Oh, won't you drol
!, the bluff, once and for all? Won
you let me-?"
you have had my answer There
I is not one single fact on which t
base this-this attack. If you try t
drag my name into any unsavory scan
dal SO much the worse for you. |
| you dare make use of my name-eveI
indirectly-in connection with thi
case. shall go TO my father, at one
| and tell him--tell him that"
| Tell him what, Mrs. Robertson?
demanded Wanda.
| THAT you tried to get me to he'll
you marry Tom. And that when r.
| fused you threatened TO blackmail m
to brand me as the Woman he's bee
| hunting for T."
II A purring OF the buzzer interrupte