Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-08-15

Ing tne nle or his wife's relations, his
face set in an expression of heavy de-
lection, scattered her dreams Of retro
spect with shattering impact.
The old woman's face was dark
with passion, her pale lips set into
tight line. Money! Money might
make trouble and bring disappoint-
ment, but it would talk to those peo-
pie. Money was all they were after.
Well, they could have it!
She let three days go by before she
made the move she had determined on
ten minutes after she had passed DOM
mick. The Wednesday morning fol-
lowing that Sunday she put on her
outdoor things and, dispensing with
the carriage. went down town on the
car to see Bill Cannon.
The Bonanza Kings office was on
the first floor of building owned by
himself on one of the finest Montgom-
cry street corners. With her approach
heralded by a rustling OF rich stuffs
and subdued painting. she entered
the office. She did not waste time
beating about the bush. Their talk
lasted nearly an hour. Before the in
terview ended they had threshed out
every aspect of the matter under dis
cussion. There would be no loose
| ends or sighted details In any piece
of work which engaged the attention
of this bold and energetic pair of con-
spirators.
Two days after this momentous COM
bination of her enemies. Berry was
sitting in the parlor OF her fat, writing
| q DSo IN hn
afternoon and she had Just dressed
herself for her daily jaunt down town.
She did not hear a foot ascending
the stairs. till a tap on the door-post
of the room made her turn and ejacu-
late a startled Come in!" The door
that led from the parlor to the hall
had been removed. and bamboo por-
there hung in the opening. A large
masculine hand thrust apart the hang
ing strands. and Bill Cannon, hat in
hand. confident and yet apologetic, en-
tered the room.
She looked at him inquiringly with
somethinr OF wariness and distrust in
her face.
She remembered him to be friend
Of the Ryans'. and she had arrived at
the stage when any friend of the Ry-
ans was an enemy Of hers. She looked
at the old man guardedly, ready for
an attack and bracing herself to meet
it.
| You'll pardon this intrusion, won't
your" he said in a deep. friendly voice.
She looked up at him and made a
slight inclination OF her head as she
had seen actresses do on. the stage.
Wont you sit down, Mr.. Cannon r.
she added,
Now, let me make my apologies for
coming. In the first place. I'm an old
man. We've got a few privileges to
compensate us for the loss of SO much
that's good. Don't you think that's
fair. Mrs. Ryan,"
Berny liked him. There was some
thing SO easy and affable in his man
ner. something that made her feel he
would never censure her for her past
or. in fact. think about It at all.
I'm sure I'm very glad you came
she said politely; "any friend Of Dom
inick's is welcome here"
"Will you let me speak frankly
Mrs. Ryan,"
Yes" said Berry. Go right ahead"
Mrs. Ryan will make you a rich
woman, Independent Of any one, the
money yours to do with as you like
II you'll consent to the few condi.
tions she exacts."
What are they?"
THAT you will leave your husband
for a year and at the end of that
time ask him to give you your lib.
erty. he suing you for divorce on the
ground Of desertion."
| Its a bribe," she said slowly. "a
bribe to leave my husband"
| "Oh, ! wouldn't say that" he an.
swered with deprecating shrug
Call it a deal. a settlement. The
terms are easy and favorable You'll
not find one of them unjust or unfair
You're to leave the city, going prefer
ably to Chicago or New York, and
staying there for the period of deser-
tion. Seven thousand dollars will be
set aside for your. expenses. At the
end of the year you are to write to
Dominick telling him you no longer
want to live with him and asking him
to give you your freedom. After the
divorce is granted the sum of fifty
thousand dollars will be handed over
to you. the one condition being that
you will leave the country and go to
Europe. 1t is understood, OF course.
that the matters to be kept a secret
from Dominick. He must think that
you are acting entirely from your
own free will. He mustn't guess his
mothers had any part in it."
| Berny lifted her head and looked
at him. The color was now burning
in her cheeks and her eyes seemed to
hold all the vitality of her rigid face.
You tell Mrs. Ryan," she said slow
1y. that I'll lie dead in my coffin be-