The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-10-31
81 do" she denied I've heard.


AMI"
Grace, dear girl soothed Blake.
This is muddy business at best. It's
10 tine for you to be here. You Il only
soil those pretty hands of yours
II is tie time for ME to be here
she declared. Il can see this from the
Woman's standpoint. You men can't"
There IS nothing in commol be.
tween your standpoint and that OF the
Woman we are talking about" protest
ed Mark.
Ton, was right" she persisted,
you must not sink to using this story.
|: -
The whirr Of the buz2er interrupted
her. A. such nigh tension wore they
all that the sound made them turn as
though to confront a physical pres
ence. Neligan strobe to the door, coli.
fer'ed for an instant with soma one
outside. then returned with a slip Of
blue paper in his hand
The duplicate list of phone NUN.
ber& from central" he announced,
turning over the paper to Van Dyke.
Good approved Blake. Nov
we'll get to what we're chasing. And
We'll get it mighty quick"
Van Dyke and Neligan were already
porting over the sheet of numbers that
the lawyer had just spread on the
table under the lamp.
Now, then, Standish," exulted Rob-
ertson; we're ready to begin. One
of these numbers leads directly to the
Woman. Well put man at work
tracing each one of them In few
hours at longest we will have what we
want. And when we find the Woman
We'll lay bare every soiled page in her
life and in yours"
1t was Standish who broke the mo-
ments silence.
Very we'll, Robertson he said
calmly. I've done what | promised
to do. And have failed. You drive
me now to the use of your own
weapons. / shall have to fight ex-
posture with exposure"
NO. MOI" moaned Grace, incoherent
with fear.
Mark Robertson had caught up
Standish's defiance and had stepped
forward to confront him.
In other words, Mr.. Standish," he
demanded, "you threaten me? That's
an empty threat, There is nothing in
my life you have not already shouted
from the housetops."
Don't be too sure" warned Stand
ish, meeting Marks scornful glare
with unconcern.
What do you mean? Speak up"
"Mr. Standish." pleaded Grace. Il
beg"
Don't worry, dear" said Mark LET
him bluff. I'll call him. Mr.. Standish,
! give you full permission to use any
weapon that | use. If you know any.
thing against me-, tell it here and now.
Here, In my wife's presence. You
know our cards. Show yours"
Standish's gaze strayed. as if by
chance. to Graces CHASTITY face.
"Well?" urged Mark Speak up!
We're waitihg!"
At sight of the mortal terror In
Grace's eyes, Standish checked the
words that were on his lips. Turning
away from the domineering man who
so truculently confronted him, he NUT
tered:
IN choose my own time!"
81 thought so!" scoffed Mark.
You're licked. This is your last fight.
From tonight you're dead man, po-
litically. And if we have to hunt out a
woman or two to keep you dead, We'll
do it,"
Van Dyke had glanced from the tele-
phone list to his watch.
"We've just time enough to catch
the last editions of the morning pa
pers," said he. 81. told Jennings to
hold a wire ready"
"What?" exclaimed Standish. You'll
go ahead without the Womans name?"
YES" answered Van Dyke. "Since
we've an absolute certainty. now, Of
getting it. We can afford to do that |
and publish the name tomorrow. Tell |
Jennings to send out the story. Tell
him we're holding the Woman's name
and that we won't give 1t out unless
Standish denies the story. BY the time
he can get his denial in print we'll |
have the name."
Good" asserted Robertson, catch.
ing up the telephone. Hello! Give
me"
Mark" begged Grace. ooh, I i'm
plore you-don't--"
uA10N Main