Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1913-06-12

try as she would. she could not justf-
fy his words to her with his act at
the arbor. The danger to the girls
under her protection was imminent
The whole affair had been a travesty
at best, and she was unwise to continue
It longer. But what method OF pro-
cedure was best? Jackie thought seri-
ously for an hour. Then she sum-
moned an attendant from the once
and gave him . message. Having done
this she retired.
Mayor Bedight was sdrl up at mid
night when a woman glided down the
hallway and tapped gently at his
door. II was opened from within
and the girl closed It behind her.
Waiter" she cried, e~xcitedly.
Jackie Vining has sent help to the
sheriff. Just learned 1t. It's almost
time for him to arrive. You must
act quickly. The letter with the bill
inside is still unsealed on her dresser.
| tried to Set It but failed, You
must
"All right, Bess," replied the mayor.
patting the girl on the shoulder, I'll
act-and want to say right here that
you're a trump card. It's up to your
Uncle Dudley to buy you a new seal
skin when we meet in Chicago"
The mayor was moving lively.
throwing his few effects into a suit
case
I'm ready, Bess." he said hurriedly.
while I'm trying to turn this trick,
you slip out and see II briggs is
waiting. It's an hour too soon, but he
may be there. Good-by. little girl.
NUNS the word" giving her a loving
hug.
The mayor sped down the hall to
Jackie Winnings room.
Cad" he calculated, this is a rum
thing I've got to debut everything is
fair In love and politics-and this is
both"
Taking a key from his pocket. Be-
digit slipped it softly into the door.
The lock yielded. Cautiously he
opened the door and entered the apart
ment Of the Judge" A high-low in
candescent was burning with the dim
light on, and in the glow Bedight's
eyes surveyed the apartment carefully.
As his eyes swept the room. he sought
to locate two objects Of intense inter
est-the dresser, on top of which was
supposed to lie the letter containing
the bin. and Jackie Vining! They
we're both in evidence. the one in the
farther corner Of the room, the other
In her bed asleep, her round arms
thrown upward about her face, her
beautiful hair in a braid that fell
across the white linen like a rope of
gold. Beside the bed on a chair lay
a pile OF flmy lingerie, and or top OF
the heap a pair OF black silk hose.
Bedight, fascinated. turned his face
away. Even a political career would
scarce excuse a man for such an In
trusion.
But she will never know" flashed
through Bedight's mind as he slipped
quietly across the room to the dresser.
Yes, the package vas there-and un-
sealed. Hastily slipping the envelope
of. he tucked the bill away in his
pocket. From a second pocket he
brought out another manuscript and
substituted this for the one he had
lost on the morning of the run through
the swamp. He did not read the let
ter, returning 1t with the manuscript
to the envelope. Wettiug the muci-
lage, he closed and sealed the letter
and laid It back on the dresser. Turn
ing to go. his eyes fell upon the face
OF the sleeper. How beautiful she was
and how unreasonable. For the
merest second he hesitated opposite
the lacy couch Of my lady's dreams
but the moment was fatal.
BY some strange freak OF fate the
high-low light, feeling an impulse Of
fresh current, automatically shifted
from low to high. The brilliant glare
fell directly in the girls face. She
stirred, opened her eyes and would
have screamed but for Bedight's pres
once nj min Swinging forward. he