The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-08-15
CHAPTER XII.
The Forlorn Hope.

We4u ISIL uSTs trace fODGTLSOn DuSl6Q
herself in laying away her hat and
furs and in putting a stray feminine
touch here and there to various details
of the rooms disarranged appoint
ments.
But another woman could have
seen how very mechanical all Grace's
movements were At every step in the
hall outside the suite, she paused and
seemed to brace herself as for some
ordeal. When at last the electric buzz
yer announced a caller, she moved
with perfect calmness to the door, as
though to admit a stranger. But at
sight of the figure on the threshold
of the opened door, her hard-won COM
posure changed to a frigid stiffness.
For the visitor was not Standish.
1t was Wanda Kelly
May l come in, Mrs. Robertson? p"
asked the girl nervously, glancing be-
hind her as she spoke.
A cold inclination of the head gave
the desired permission. Wanda en-
tered, looked about; then waited while
Grace closed the door.
you know me?" asked the girl
Il think So" returned Grace, in no
measure unbending. You are Miss
Kelly, aren't you? The phone girl
,downstairs?"
yes. got one of the boys to mind
the switchboard while 1 came up. Is
is any one in there?" she continued,
glancing toward the door that led to
the inner rooms of the suite.
ask? Is your business with me so
very private?''
"Yes. So private that don't know
how to begin
She paused. Grace would give her
mo assistance; but stood watching the
younger woman with the air of one
who coolly waits for a dead-beat to
bring the conversation to the begging
point.
It don't know how to begin" Wan
da faltered once more.
"Indeed?" queried Grace.
You haven't heard anything?''
asked Wanda. "They haven't told
you? Your father hasn't told you any
thing about me?"
please be more explicit
"You have heard!" exclaimed Wan
da. "And yet you can stand there as
If nothing had happened"
Nothing has happened that could
cause any of us real nervousness.
This boyish folly of my brothers,
Your brothers?" echoed Wanda in
q bewilderment whose genuineness
Grace could not doubt. Have they
dragged him into it, too?"
Miss Kelly" said Grace, I'VE seem
to be talking at cross-purposes. Will
you kindly come to the point? What
is it you think l have or haven't
heard?"
About their scheme to wreck Mr.
Standish-'
"Mr. Standish."
The exclamation was out before
Grace was well aware of it. But she
managed, none the less, to give the
quickly spoken words a turn of civil
Inquiry, and her face did not change.
Yes hurried on Wanda. They're
digging up the old scandal They've
unearthed it all except the Woman's
name. They must get that before they
can go ahead. When they get that
name they'll use the story to ruin him
and her"
"Yes?" returned Grace, her sweet
voice bare of emotion and her express
sion one of polite boredom. And why
SHOULD you come to me with this
story? l am not interested in the
seamy side Of politics.
ooh, all right" said Wanda despon.
emily. "If that's the way you take it.
it's no business Of mine. But you're
HTom Blake's sister and / couldn't let
you run into the trap without warn
ing you. I've done it. And I've been
called impertfnent for my pains. When
Il first found out it was you who were
mixed up in the case, l said to my
self: Let Jim Blake go ahead. Let
him hit out in the dark at the Won
an, and smash his own heart with the
blow. It'll be fair Then, I got tc
thinking it over. And-well, found
couldn't quite bring myself to pay of
my own debts by spelling another
woman's life. l guess I'd be a failure
at politics. she ended with a little
laugh of self-disgust. That's all
Good-by."
And So" said Grace slowly, you
came to me-just to help me? You
didn't think for an instant that, out
of gratitude. might help you?"
Help me? How"
''By making it easy for you to carry
out your idea of marrying my brother
Perhaps by using this scandal story as
a threat to force me into helping your
Wanda looked at her for a full half
minute in blank silence. Then, turn
ing to the door, she said:
7 guess I was a fool to butt in"
"One moment" interposed Grace;
adding, as Wanda paused: ''You-yoU
made certain insinuations about nae
s