The Washington times., 1913-09-27
CHAPTER VIII.

~ ULLY a minute she sat there her
eyes half closed, her figure re-
laXed, her hands hanging list
lessly. / could see that she was
undergoing the effects of sharp re-
action, and / waited quietly for her to
say something, although was afire
with iInpatience to ask her many Ques-
tiCns.
at last she looked up, her great
brown eyes staring at me DULY for a
few seconds, as if her mind were work
ing very slowly.
You would not go away"
She said it helpiessly, almost petu-
laEtly. accompanying the words with a
Limp gesture.
No; l wouldn't go. Did you expec,
me to-"
Il wanted you to. What good can
come Of it?''
You tried to make me believe you
had gone away with Vinton.'
She Ecoded wearily.
why, Miss Donaldson"
Il did not want you to question me
any more. It's all so useless. l thought
when !cu found me gone you would moi
il. And I'm so-tired."
Il suppose you know i overheard
incst of the conversation below?
said.
That was one reason why 1 wanted
you to 60" she answered slowly. -
didn't want to see you after that; 1,
( was $3.50 humiliating. 1 felt 1 could
never face YOU"
But was ready to help you, il you
needed help" 1 reminded her.
Il know; l saw you. Oh! She buried
! "Oh, he is a terrible man! He frightens
me SO. Sometimes / feel as IL l should
die when he looks at me. l can hardly
breathe"
Has he ever harmed you?" 1 asked
gently.
physically, you mean? No. That is
! not his way. II he struck me down
with his fist il would be infinitely
kinder but ne strikes with his eyes
and his tongue. He looks at me-oh. l
| can't tell your
''HypnOtizes you?" i suggested
mo: not that. He just terrifies me.
And then he keeps telling me that / am
nothing-just mere pawn, thing
without initiative or will. And it's true.
| That's the bitterness and the horror of
il. he has made it true"
Her eyes roved wildly for a moment,
and finally rested upon the satchel
which / had left lying on the table
Then she looked up at me inquiringly
It's Vinton's.'' / nodded. 1T was on
| the shelf over there"
And you've found out
A little; yes. Enough to explain
where l come in. Under the circum-
stances. 1 took the liberty of examin-
ing its contents
Then you know what Vinton wants
and why r.
She broke off the sentence abruptly
and I saw that it was difficult for her
to speak of what she had done
What ] don't understand" I said
Is why Vinton is able to make Won do
something you don't want to do. You
don't look like woman whose mind ia
a mere piece of putty. I don't believe
you are. And ] don't believe that Vim
ton. without some sort OF a lever to
work with. could transform you into a
mere machine without resolution or
volition. Haven't you anybody that can
help you?"
She hid her face again, and / heard a
dry sob.
mo friends? No relatives to whom
you can go?"
TITS too Late she whispered "Too
late. And he's right-Vinton is right
] haven't any will. any courage. It's all
gone-gone."
Nonsense" 7 said sharply. "If you
keep telling that to yourself. which is
what he wants You to do. you'll be-
lieve 1t some day. But you don't he
lieve ii vet"
''Oo you believe it,
She looked me as II fearfully await
ing verdict
"Certainly not. You're overwrousht:
you're pretty nearly m the edge or A
breakdown. But that's all. You saw
You've got nobody to go to with your
troubles?'
Not here"
Tell them to me. then.'' said brisk
", Perhaps I can suggest some
thing
Tell You my trouhIes-after whag
has haprenAd?"
She looked at me increduIouslv for 4
second.
why not? I'm mixed up in this
thing. " appears. I NAV as we'll know
more about IL. The trouble with Won Is
tLn' YOU" had nobody to talk to
She nodded humblv. her paze hXc.I
upon me as " irving to assure hersaf
that I was a friend rather than an
enemy.