The Mena weekly star., 1913-10-16


 ger 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 posture changed to d frigid stiffness. For the visitor was not Standish.
 It was Wanda Kelly.
 May I come in, Mrs. Robertson? 2" asked the girl nervously, glancing be- hind her as she spoke
 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.
 T think so,' returned Grace, in no measure unbending. You are Miss Kelly, aren't you? The phone girl downstairs? 2"
 Yes. got one of the boys to mind the switchboard while l came up. Is is any one in there?" she continued, glancing toward the door that led to the inner rooms of the suite.
 No one" said Grace. Why do you ask? Is your business with me so very private?"
 Yes. So private that I don't know how to begin"
 She paused. Grace would give her no 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
 T 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 brother's-"
 Your brothers?" echoed Wanda in bewilderment whose genuineness GraCe COulu not OOuDL. nave 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 1t you think I have or haven't heard?"
 About their scheme to wreck Mir Standish-"
 Mir. Standish"
 The exclamation was out befora Grace was well aware ot 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 or Wanda. They're digging up the old scandal, They've unearthed it all except the Woman'a 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 expres- sion one of polite boredom. And why should you come to me with this story? I am not interested in the seamy side of politics"
 "Oh, all right" said Wanda despon- ently. 'If that's the way you take it, it's no business of mine. But you're Tom Blake's sister and I couldn't let you run into the trap without warn- ing you I've done it And I've been called impertinent for my pains. When first found out it was you who were mixed up in the case, said to my self: Let Jim Blake go ahead. Let him hit out in the dark at the Wom- an, and smash his own heart with the blow. It'll be fair Then. I got to thinking it over. And-well. I found couldn't quite bring myself to pay of my own debts by spelling another woman's life. I guess I'd be 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?"
  out your idea of marrying my brother? Perhaps by using this scandal story as threat to force me into helping you?"
 Wanda looked at her for full half minute in blank silence. Then, turn ing to the door, she said:
 q guess I was fool to butt in"
 "One momenti" interposed Grace; adding, as Wanda paused: "You-you made certain insinuations about me, just now. You must prove them-you must give me your reasons for the absurd supposition that l might know anything about this Standish scandal"
 Mrs. Robertson" replied Wanda her hand still on the door-knob. I'm not in your class. I don't know just how women in your station Of llfe manage such things. But it seems rather tough that you can't find way 10 defend yourself without insulting me- Let that go. You want to know how found out? I'll tell you. Early this evening Mir. Standish learned Of this scheme to wreck him. He knows the story couldn't be used without the Woman's name. And Blake bluffed him into believing the machine would have the name before midnight MT Standish's first thought was to warn the Woman. Just as Blake had known it would be- He called up your house in New York"
 What of that? l was not at home this evening I was on my way here