The San Francisco call., 1913-09-16

y
grew nightly enthusiastic over the
novel manner of working. In eacl
/ Instance Harris was consulted anc
made his confidential statement as Il
/, the legality OF the thing proposed
Mary gratined her eager mind bJ
careful studies in this chosen line oi
righteousness. After a few perfectly
legal breach of promise suits, due tc
Aggie's winsome innocence of de-
meanor, had been settled advantage
ously out of court, Mary devised a
I scheme of greater elaborateness, with
the legal aeumen of the lawyer to
lndorse it in the matter of safety.
This netted $4,000. It was planned
as the swindling of a swindIer-
which, in fact, had now become the
secret principle in Mary's morality.
A gentleman possessed OF some
means, none too scrupulous himself,
but with high financial aspirations
advertised for partner to invest
capital in a business sure to bring
large returns This advertisement
caught the eye OF Mary Turner and
sne answered IL. An Introductory
correspondence encouraged her ia
nope for The victory in a game of
I cunning against cunning. She con-
suited with the perspicacious Mr.
Harris. and especially sought from
, him detailed information as to part
nership law. His statements gave
her such confidence that presently she
entered into a partnership with the
advertiser. BY the terms of their
agreement each deposited $4,000 to
the partnership account. This sum
OF $4,000 was ostensibly to be de-
voted to the purchase Of a tract of
land, which should afterward be di-
vided into lots and resold to the pub
lie at enormous profit. AS matter
of fact, the advertiser planned to
make spurious purchase OF the tract
! in question, by means Of forged deeds
granted by an accomplice, thus MAX
ing through fraud q neat profit OF
$50, 900. The issue was, however. dis
appointing to him in the extreme. No
sooner was the $50, 600 on deposit in
the bank than Mary Turner drew OUT
the whole amount. as she had a per-
feet right to do legally When the
/ advertiser learned of this he was, nat
uraIly enough, full to oyerfiowing
with wrath. But after an interview
with Harris he swallowed this wrath
as best he might. He found that his
adversary knew a dangerous deal as
to his various swindling operations.
In short, he could not go into court
with clean hands, which is prime
stipulation of the law-though often
honored in the breach. But the adj
vertiser's hands were too perilously
filthy, so he let himself be mulcted in
raging silence.
I. The event established Mary as the
arbiter in her own coterie. Here
was. in truth, a new game, game
most entertaining, and most profit
able, and not in the least risky I'm
mediateIy after the adventure with
RTor Iarfdoa a
certain General Hastings would make
en- excellent sacrifice on the altar of
justice-and to her own financial
profit. The old man was notorious
roue, of most unsavory reputation as
destroyer Of innocence. 1t was
probable that he would easily fall a
victim to the ingenious charms Of
Aggie. AS for that precocious dam
sell she would run no least risk of
destruction by the satyr. So, pres
emily, there were elaborate plot
tings. General Hastings met Aggie
In the most casual way. He was
captivated by her freshness and
beauty, her occurrences. her ignor-
ance of all things vicious. Straight
away. he set his snares, being him
self already lined. He showered
every gallant attention on the naive
bread and butter miss, and succeeded
gratifyingly soon In winning her
heart-to all appearance. But he
gained nothing more, for the coy
creature abruptly developed most ef-
fectiye powers of resistance to every
Establishment that went beyond
strictest propriety. His ardor cooled
suddenly when Harris filed the papers
in a suit for $4,000 damages for
breach of promise.
fafv rff IN
the course of execution. Mary found
herself engaged in a direction that
offered at least the hope OF attaining
her great desire, revenge against Ed
ward Glider. This opportunity came
in the person Of his son, Dick. After
much contriying she secured an I'M
PRODUCTION to that young man.
Forthwith, she showed herself so de-
liciously womanly, so intelligent, sc
daintily feminine, so singularly beau
tiful, that the young man was enam-
ored almost at once. The fact thrilled
Mary to the depths of her heart, for
In this son of the man whom she
hated she saw the instrument OF
vengeance for which she had Sc
| longed. Yet, this one thing was SC
vital to her that she said nothing
OF her purposes, not even to Aggie
though that observant person may
have possessed suspicious more OF
less near the truth.
1t was some suspicion that lay be-
hind her speech as, in negligee, she
sat cross legged on the bed. smoking
cigarette in a very knowing way
while watching Mary, who was ad-
justing her hat before the mirror OF
her dressing table. one pleasant
spring morning.
TN11I IfY+s q xx~f1 n1n Inf q cfr1f4 rHf4o
Aggie remarked, affably. with that
laxity of language which character
ized her natural moods.
Il have a very important engage
ment with Dick Glider" Mary replied
TRANQUILITY. She vouchsafed nothing
more definite as to her intentions.
Nice boy, amt he?" Aggie ven
tured, insinuatingly.
"Oh, | suppose So" came the in
different answer from Mary, as she
tilted the picture hat to an angle q
trifie more jaunty.
The pseudo cousin shifted
You s'pose that, do you? Well
anyhow, he's here so much we ought
to be chargin' him for his meal ticket
And yet, I amt sure that you ever
know whether he's the real goods
or not"
The fair face of Mary Turner hard
ened the least bit There shone ar
expression Of inscrutable disdain ii
the violet eyes as she turned to regarc
Aggie with level glance.
II know that he's the son-the onl,
son!-of Edward Glider. The fact /.
enough for me-
The adventures Of the denure fac,
shook her head In token of complet,
| baffiement Her rosy lips pouted IL
petulant dissatisfaction.
II don't get you. Mary" she admit
/ ted, querulously. You never used t
| look at the men. The way you actes