The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-08-26

Nel1gan," he ordered, take this
phone girl downstairs and turn her
over to the officer who is waiting. Van
Dyke will be around at the station
house in few minutes to make the
charge. And he'll see that she is held
in bail too heavy for her friends to
pay"
''Neligan!" yelled Tom, springing in
in front of the giant henchman as the
latter moved toward Wanda. eff you
put finger on her III"
MOI" walled Grace in the same
breath. you shan't arrest her, Mark.
l can't bear it, /"
You'll tell?" asked Mark, exultant
at the success Of his ruse.
'I-yes!"
Pardon me, Robertson" intervened
Standish, as he saw Grace's last bar
rter break down; but | advise you to
clear the room before you let her
speak. Three people here already
know the name. advise you to keep
the number as small as possible"
That is our affair, not yours" re-
torted Mark. "She shall tell us all. In
side of few hours the whole country
is going to know that name"
Mark" begged Grace, "let me tell
1t to you alone!"
mo-" refused the husband. Its too
late now to spare any ones feelings
And witnesses are necessary in an af-
fair like this. 1t concerns us ALL And
we must move quickly"
Mr.. Standish," he went on with
savage joy that rent away the last
remnant of the velvet from the iron
beneath. ITS been long fight But
you couldn't beat the organization.
You've been bowling for fight to a
finish. This is the finish"
1T is the fnish," agreed Standish,
his deep voice infinitely sad. And
am sorry for it. l don't think you
need me here any longer, gentlemen.
And I will barely have time to reach
the capitol before the bill comes to
vote. Good night"
He looked furtively at Grace But
she was staring blankly ahead of her
with eyes that saw nothing.
Good night" he repeated. 81 would
have spared you, Robertson. But you
would have it."
And he was gone. His words had
fallen on deaf ears. The men were
leaning forward eagerly to catch
Graces first syllable.
And now" Mark demanded, as his
wife still hesitated, who is she,
Grace?"
Blake had forestalled her answer.
He crossed the room to the telephone
1--WE win!" he was chuckling It's
a way we've got. Hell's full of losers.
And I'm still loss-proof."
What are you going to do?" queried
Van Dyke, who had dropped back in
his chair few moments earlier, TAX
ing no longer even a passive part in
the scene.
''Tm going to phone Gregg to let the
house know the whole story; names,
y dates and all. BY the time 1 get on
the wire Grace will have told"
Hold on, Jim," objected Van Dyke.
mot yet"
mot yet?" What dye mean? Why
not? We're almost against the ropes
over there at the capitol. This is our
last punch and it's going to be a
knockout"
wait, JIM" begged Van Dyke.
wait till you hear the name"
We've got the name. Grace is GO
ing to tell us"
You've got it, yes. But you can't
use it, Jim"
Blake, telephone instrument in hand,
passed to glare down in angry amaze
ment at the saturnine lawyer who so
calmly opposed him in the hour of
victory.
why in blazes can't we use it?' he
clustered. Are you weakening?"
He took the receiver from the hook
But Van Dyke. with peremptory ges-
ture, halted him.
wait, / say!" ordered the lawyer
Michigan, go downstairs and get rid
OF that officer. And don't come back"
go with him, Tom" whispered
Wanda. For my sake. You don't
want to hear the name"
You're right" assented Tom, fol-
lowing in Neligan's wake. Its none
of my business. Now that you are
safe"
The door closed behind the two de-
parting men.
Come, Grace" prompted Mark
5 who is she?"
Grace's. lips paled. But they were
dry and cracked. Her tongue would
not stir.
CHAPTER-xxI.
Sim Blake, Loser.
And so for an instant they stood. It
was an odd tableau: Grace, helpless,