The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-03-04

try as she would, she could not iust,-
~ his words to her with his act at
the arpor- The danger to the girls
under her protection was imminent
The whole affair had been a trayesty
at pest, and she was unwise to continue
1t longer. But what method of pro-
ceoure was best? Jackie thought seri.
ousiy Tor an hour. Then she sum-
moned an attendant from the office
ana gave him message. Having done
this she retired.
mayor Bedight was still up at mid
night when woman glided down the
naiI"ay and tapped gently at his
door. 1t was opened from within
ana the girl closed It behind her.
Walter!" she cried, excitedly,
JACKIE Vining has sent help to the
snerin. just learned it. It's almost
time for him to arrive. You must
act quickly. The letter with the bill
INSIDE Is still unsealed on her dresser
l tried to get 1t but failed. You
All right, Bess," replied the mayor,
pattlng the girl on the shoulder. I'm
act-and l 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"
Inc 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 il Briggs is
waiting. It's an hour too soon, but he
may be there. Good-by. little girl.
NUNS the word" giving her loving
hug.
The mayor sped down the, hall to
Jackie Winnings room. ~
Cad" he calculated, this is rum
thing I've got to debut everything is
fair in love and politics--and this is
both"
Taking 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" high-low in
candescent was burning with the dim
light on. and in the glow Bedights
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 bill, and Jackie Vining! They
We're both in evidence. the one in the
70 ~ - 9TH
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 rope OF
gold. Beside the bed on a chair lay
pile of filmy lingerie, and on top OF
the heap pair of black silk hose.
Bedight, fascinated. turned his face
away. Even 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 was there-and un
sealed. Hastily slipping the envelope
off, 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 it with the manuscript
to the envelope. Wettiug the muci
lage, he closed and sealed the letter
| and laid 1t 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 o.
| 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
ence of mind. Springing forward, ht