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

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 life
/ manage such things. But it seems
| rather tough that you can't find a way
| to defend yourself without insulting
me. Let that go. You want to know
how I found out? I'll tell you Early
this evening Mr.. 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. Mr..
| 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
| to"
But Mr.. Standish didn't know that"
And" pursued Grace fercely, Just
| because Mr.. Standish CHANGED to call
up my husbands New York home,
! you've evolved this insane theory.
| What proof is there-beyond your un-
backed word-that he called up my
| house?"
| THE time-card at central. A list of
all calls is forwarded every evening
| to central and"
| That proves nothing" declared
Grace. Nothing at all. oh, it's pref
| ty trick you're playing, Miss Kelly. A
! very pretty trick. But twill fail. You
| build it all on the statement that some
one called up the house of Governor
Robertson. Fifty people call up our
| house every day. And on the strength
| of that, his wife is to be involved in a
| story of low intrigue-Oh, it's out,
! rageous!"
"Will Mr. Standish explain to your
husband why he called you up?"
He didn't call me up. Mr.. Standish
| could have had nothing to say to me.
| He'll deny every charge you make.
And my word will be believed ahead of
Matchmaking phone girls. l need
| simply say you tried to gain my help
| by means of threats to"
You need simply say it? Will you
swear to it?"
| "Yes!" flashed Grace. eff the need
arises. A woman's reputation isn't de-
stroyed so easily as you seem to think,
Miss Kelly
And the country hotel proprietor"
| asked Wanda. Il forgot to say they've
sent for him. He can identify the
Woman who was registered as Mrs.
| Fowler He
do you suppose, for one moment"
said Grace, white to the lips, that my
husband would subject me to the in
| dignity of being looked over like a
common criminal? l need only tell
| the truth-deny the whole malicious
| lie-and-'
| "Oh!" broke in Wanda, with reluct-
ant admiration, you're brave, Mrs.
| Robertson! AS brave as they make
them. You're putting up a glorious
fight And can't help liking you for
it. Because I know-behind the brave
front-youre sick with fear"
you think"
81 know it. And-believe me or not
you've got me sized up all wrong.
| I'm not going to marry your broth
err But l don't want to see his sister
get into this mess. Why don't you
trust me?"
Really"
"The machine!" rushed on Wanda
Its got the brains of all the men that
are in it, And none of the heart 1t
burns up everything that gets in its
path And now it needs a woman's
good name and happiness to keep 1t
| in fuel. It's only square that you
| should be the Woman. It's let them
| see how other people have felt when
the machine crushed them-how my
| father felt when he came home that
| horrible day, with death written in his
eyes, and said to my mother: Molly.
I'm done for. Blake and his machine
have got mel That's what he said.
And he was innocent"
But"
That's why l was going to let them
get you, and break Jim BIake's vile
old heart. It's the chance I've been
waiting for, five endless years. To
|
move. l saw that Blake and his
crowd were working out their own
damnation without any help from me-
And then-Oh, I'm fool!-then, all
at once 1 forgot the justice part of it.
And all 1 could see was that a gang
of strong, cruel, clever men were fight
ing one unhappy woman. II guess
that's why I've stayed here, even after
you called me a blackmailer."
/ But your past's no business of
mine,' she went on more quietly. Il
just came to give you a warning. Take
it or leave. It's up to you"
Il don't want your warning" said
Grace sullenly. Il tell you, admit
nothing"
Then 1 can't help you"
Il have not asked your help"
Just as you like" sighed Wanda.
But the nets closing fight around