The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-08-18
CHAPTER vii.
The Trap 10 Sprung.

L mere Was pdupc' ANOiShoa hie%AA
seemed DESTROYS to be first to return
to the attack. The buzz Of the city
crept in from outside. The halfstifled
rhythm of the diningroom orchestra
reached them in snatches.
Standish got to his feet; slowly and
more like very old man than one in
his prime. But he looked down with
Grass stolidity at his tormentor. And
in his deep tones there was more of
sorrow than of nervous dread.
Mr.. Blake he said, there's one
point I can't quite grasp. Even your
admiration for my worthy qualities
and your very kind desire to save me
trouble, can not wholly explain your
action in telling me. Why are you Civ
ing away your hand like this?"
Blake looked panied.
Cant a man do decent thing for
once" he grumbled, without having
his motives picked apart?"
I'm afraid not-in your case" an
swered Standish.
'All right" agreed Blake in no whit
chagrined. Let's look at 1t from q
business standpoint, then. II you'll de-
eide suddenly to let this Mullins bill
pass. and If you'll support Mark Rob
ertson for the speakership, everything
will be perfectly smooth and har-
monious. And We won't have to use
these painful means"
"Oh, I see. A bargain?"
L. 49,
Blake. "A mighty good one, since 1t
saves you your political skin, instead
of forcing US to nail 1t to the barn"
Despite his confidence Blake was
vaguely worried He knew men, as a
pianist knows his keyboard And nov
a subtle intuition, quite at variance
with all his keen logic. warned h;m
that Standish was not in the least
frightened by the threat of political
Heath. Knowing the insurgents high
ambitions as he did, Blake could not
account for this absence Of terror. So,
feeling his way, he shifted to the 9TH
sr tack.
The Woman, too" he added. Think
Of her!"
He grinned under his sparse mus
tache. For again he saw Standish's
hands clench. And he knew he had
struck the one right note.
Yes" went on Blake. Think Of the
Woman She's walking blindly, I'M
suspectingly, right straight into the
trap we've set for her. It'll be hell
For bar D,ra una dultaratad ckv.h1ua
hell. If she's got husband or kids
or parents it'll blacken the whole
world for them all. Oh. don't make
US do this thing, man! Think it
over Don't decide in a rush. Take
your time. By eleven o'clock or so
III have her name. Then 1t will be
early enough for you to tell me your
decision. You'll find me somewhere
about the hotel, il I'm not over at the
Capitol Good-by,"
He strolled- off toward the dining
room. AS he passed Wanda he glanc-
ed covertly at her through his lowered
lids. She was raptly absorbed In the
novel she was reading And her dainty
lower jaw moved slowly up and down
In a gum-chewing cadence that be-
spoke years Of practice.
Standish watched Blake out OF
sight. His face. nov that the mask
was ne lengsr needful worked almost
grotesquely. And his swarthy skin
was q pallid yellow. He looked like
q pugilist who tries dazedly to rise
after a knockout.
He was thinking rapidly; despite his
daze. After a moment or two he
crossed hastily to the telephone
switchboard.
Get me New York wire, please
he said, looking nervously down the
corridor, "as quickly as you can"
! AS he spoke he was running ovel
the pages of one of the telephone books
on the desk. Wanda drove plug into
the switchboard and droned:
"Hlo! Long distance? That you
Jessie? This is Wanda. Say, get me
a New York wire-on the jump, please
Yes. oh, have you? Good Let thu
other party wait, and give 1t to me
won't you? Thanks. I've got one al
ready" she added, glancing over he
shoulder at Standish. What number
pleasef
"One thousand and one, Plaza" h
answered, looking up from the direc
tory.
Plaza one-o-o-one!" she drone'
into the transmitter. ANY name, MI
Standish?"
mo-" he answered huskily. Jus
the number"
"A'ri! Here you are--number on
booth, please. H'lo New York." sh
continued into the transmitter, shoN
ing a plug in and out of the switch