The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-11-14


dorse it in the matter Of safety. 1t
was planned as the swindling Of a
swindler, which, in fact, had now be-
come the secret principle in Mary's
morality.
A gentleman possessed of some
means. none too scrupulous himself.
but with high financial aspirations, adj
vertised for partner to invest capital
in business sure to bring large re
turns. This advertisement caught the
eye OF Mary Turner. and she answered
1t. An Introductory correspondence
encouraged her to hope for the victory
In game of cunning against cunning.
She consulted with Harris and espe-
cially sought from him detailed infor-
nation as to partnership law. His
statements gave her such confidence
that presently she entered into part
nership with the advertiser. BY the
terms Of their agreement each depos
tied 100000 to the partnership account.
This sum of $4,000 was ostensibly
to he devoted to the purchase Of
tract of land. which should afterward
be divided into lots and resold to the
public ut enormous profit. AS mat
ter of fact. the advertiser planned to
make Il spurious purchase of the tract
in question by means of forged deeds
granted by an accomplice. TINS max
Ing through fraud a neat profit Of $780,
900
No sooner was the 100000 on deposit
in the bank than Mary Turner drew
out the whole amount, as she had q
perfect right to do legally. When the
advertiser learned of this he was. nat
urally enough. full to Overfowing with
wrath. But after an interview with
Harris he swallowed his wrath as best
he might. He found he could not go
into court with clean hands. which is
a prime stipulation of the law, though
often honored I'm the breach. So he
let himself be mulcted In raging ST.
lence.
The event established Mary as the
arbiter in her own coterie. She next
decided that certain General Hast
ingS would make an excellent sacrifice
on the altar Of justice-and to her own
financial profit. The old man was a
notorious roue, Of most unsavory rep
utation as a destroyer of innocence.
1t was probable that he would easily
fall victim to the ingenious charms
of Aggie. As for that precocious dam
sci. she would run no least risk of de-
truction by the satyr.
General Hastings met Aggie in the
most casual way. He was captivated
by her freshness and beauty, her de-
mureness. her ignorance of all things
vicious. Straightway he set snares.
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
effective powers Of resistance to every
Establishment that went beyond strict
est propriety. His ardor cooled sud
denly when Harris served a summons
in suit for $4,000 damages for
breach of promise.
Even while this affair was still in
the course of execution Mary found her
self engaged in direction that offered
at least the hope of attaining her great
desire-revenge against Edward Gil
der. This opportunity came In the
contriving. she got am introduction to
that young man. Forthwith she show
ed herself so deliciously womanly. so
intelligent. SO daintiy feminine. so
singularly beautiful that the young
man was enamored 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 instru-
ment of vengeance for which she had
so lOnged. Yet this one thing was so
vital to her that she said nothing of
her purposes. not even to Aggie,
though that observant person may
| have possessed suspicious more or less
near the truth.
1t was some such suspicion that lay
, behind her speech as. In negligee. she
sat smoking a cigarette. while watch
ing Mary. who was adjusting her hat
before the mirror of her dressing table
one pleasant spring morning.
"DOllin' up whole lot. amt yOu?'
Aggie remarked affably, with that lax
ity Of language which characterized
her natural moods.
II have a very important engage
| ment with Dick Glider" Mary replied
TRANQUILITY.
Mice boy, amt he?" Aggie ventur-
ed insinuatingly
"Oh. | suppose So came the indif-
ferent answer from Mary as she tilted
the picture hat to an angle trife
| more jaunty.
81 don't get you. Mary. You never
used to look at the men, The way you
acted when you first run round with
me. thought you sure was a suf-
fragette. And then you met this
young Gilder-and-good night. nurser'
''Well?"
His old man sends you up for q
stretch for something you didn't do.
! and you take up with his son like
And yet you don't understand
There was scorn for such gross stupid
| ity In the musical voice.
Aggie choked little from the cigar
cite. smoke as she gave gasp when
suspicion of the truth suddenly dawn
ed on her slow intelligence.
/ "Hully gee!' Her voice came in a
/ treble shrek Of apprehension. I'm
wise!"