Putnam patriot., 1913-12-26
CHAPTER XIV.
An Odd Alliance

room, closing the door behind her. The two women faced each other in silence. It was Grace who spoke first.
 IT sent for you, Miss Kelly" she began uncertainty. "because-because oh, I'm hemmed in everywhere! l don't know which way to turni"
 q see," said Wanda quietly. Stand ish is going to throw you over to save himself? I was afraid so."
 TT said some cruel-abominable things to you little while ago, Miss Kelly" stammered Grace. Wont you forgive me? You see, I was fight ing for my very life. I'm sorry"
 I'm sorry I was cranky" said Wan- da impulsiyely, "and l guess I under stand all about it. I thought first that Fate had let me in on this so that I could show you up. But l think now it was so l could be of some use to you. You see, there's only we two women. And we've got to fight that whole crowd"
 You'll help? You'll stand by mel"
 That's what I've been trying to tell you, Mrs Robertson. You've paid for all you did. And I don't want you to pay any more. You're ten times better woman this minute than lot who have the law on their side. So forget all that and let's see what we can do."
 Grace, to Wanda's dlsmay. broke down and sobbed in hopeless wretch edness.
 Don't! Dont!" pleaded the girl. "Well-oh, dear!" sob choking her. Now you've got me going! We must brace up and do something. There's plenty of spare hours for crying. But this isn't one of them. We've bunch of trouble ahead of us. But we're go- ing to win out. So let's get busy"
 By this time, most likely, they've applied to central for all the num- bers called up from this hotel since seven o'clock tonight We have to turn in our calls to central, you know And one of those numbers will be the one they want. But it'll be hard for them to find which one. Yours would be the very one they wouldn't think of"
 Cant we stop them from getting the list?'
 "No. Their pull is too strong. But it'll take time to run all the numbers down. And times the one thing they haven't got Time! That's our one card. They want to use this story tonight. If we can keep them from doing that"
 If worst comes to worst" exclaim- ed Grace, q can go to my father ana tell him. He loves me enough to keep it from every one. Even from Mark. It'll break his heart. But 1t will stop the story"
 'No." decided Wanda, after mo- ment's thought, tits too late for that. The things gone too far Van Dyke and your husband and the rest are as keen for the name as he is. If he pre- tended to weaken or tried to stop them now, they'd push on in spite Of him."
 "Then we've got to work alone. We've got to keep them from finding out. We've got tol We've got to-"
 "Fd give seven dollars to know what they're doing now" mused Wan da. It's tough to work in the dark like this"
 Suppose" suggested Grace. in sud den dread, suppose they try to force you to tell? They're clever-and they're merciless. And"
 They'll have a sweet time. I'd like a colored photograph of the bunch Of men who can make me talk if l don't want to. No, no! Don't you worry about that. Mrs Robertson"
 "It wouldn't be as easy as you think, I'm afraid. They are so determined 50"
 "Yes. I suppose 1t would be liable to spoil the evening for them and make them real peevish. But 1t would take up a lot of time they haven't got"
 You won't let them break you down? Oh. I've no right to allow you to endanger your welfare for mel When they find you won't tell, they may"
 "Don't let that keep you awake. Mrs Robertson. I know I'm taking chances in bucking the machine. Lord knows what they'll do to me. But it's worth the risk. And I'm going to stand by you till the cows come home. We"
 A rattling, as some one in the hall tried the outer door of the suite, brought both women to their feet in wordIess fear. Then Mark Robert sons voice reached them.
 "Gracel" called Robertson from the hall. Are you asleep? The doors locked"
 This way" whispered Grace, point ing to the inner rooms of the suite. "Go down the passage. There's an other door at the end of it, leading out into the hall"
 All right" whispered Wanda in reply. Good luck to you. Keep your nerve. That's the main thing Just keep your nerve"
 eGrace!" called Mark impatiently. Grace crossed to the locked door, paused a moment until she heard the door at the far end of the suite open and close, then unlocked the outer door.
 Did you fall asleep?" asked Mark as he came in. How did the deol