The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-08-18
CHAPTER XIV.
An Odd Alliance

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on some mission of dire peril And,
as stealthily, Wanda slipped into the
room, closing the door behind her
The two women faced each other in
silence. 1t was Grace who spoke first.
Il sent for you, Miss Kelly" she
began uncertainty, "because-because
oh, I'm hemmed in everywhere!
don't know which way to turn"
81 see," said Wanda quietly. Stand
ish is going to throw you over to save
himself? I was afraid So"
II said some cruel-abominabl
things to you little while ago. Miss
Kelly" stammered Grace. Wont
you forgive me? You see, was fight
ing for my very life. I'm sorry
I'm sorry I was cranky" said Wan
da impulsively, land l guess l under
stand all about it. | thought first
that Fate had let me in on this so that
could show you up. But I think
now it was so I could be of some use
to you. You see, there's only we two
women. And we've got to fight that
whole crowd"
You'll help? You'll stand by me?"
That's what I've been trying to
tell you, Mrs. Robertson. You've paid
for all you did. And l don't want you
to pay any more. You're a ten times
better woman this minute than a lot
who have the law on their side. So
forget all that and let's see what we
can do"
Grace, to Wanda's dismay, broke
down and sobbed in hopeless wretch
edness.
Don't! Don't!" pleaded the girl.
"We'll-oh, dear!" a sob choking her.
Nov you've got me going! We must
brace up and do something. There's
plenty of spare hours for crying. But
this isn't one of them. We've a bunch
of trouble ahead of US. But we're go
ing to win out. So let's get busy"
by this time, most likely, they've
applied to central for all the num-
bers called up from this hotel since
seven o'clock tonight. We have to
turn in our calls to central, you
know. And one of those numbers will
be the one they want. But it'll be
hard for them to find which one.
Yours would be the very one they
wouldn't think Of"
Cant we stop them from getting
the list?"
mo. Their pull is too strong. But
it'll take time to run all the numbers
down. And times the one thing they
haven't got. Time! That's our one
card They want to use this story
tonight. If we can keep them from
doing that"
eff worst comes to worst" exclaim-
ed Grace, 81 can go to my father and
tell him. He loves me enough to
|, keep it from every one. Even from
Mark. It'll break his heart. But it
will stop the story
NO." decided Wanda, after a mo-
ment's thought, cts too late for that.
The things gone too far. Van Dyke
and your husband and the rest are as
keen for the name as he is. If he pre-
tended to weaken or tried to stop
them now, they'd push on in spite of
him"
Then we've got to work alone.
| We've got to keep them from finding
out. We've got to! We've got to-"
| I'D give seven dollars to know
what they're doing now" unused Wan
da It's tough to work in the dark
like this
Suppose suggested Grace, in sud
den dread, suppose they try to force
| you to tell? They're clever-and
| they're merciless. And"
| They'll have a sweet time. I'd like
a colored photograph of the bunch of
men v ho can make me talk if l don't
want to. No, no! Don't you worry
about that, Mrs. Robertson"
ct wouldn't be as easy as you think,
I'm afraid. They are so determined
So
Yes, 1 suppose it would be liable
| to spoil the evening for them and
make them real peevish. But it would
| take up a lot of time they haven't
got
You won't let them break you
down? Oh, I've no right to allow you
to endanger your welfare for me!
When they find you won't tell, they
| may"
Don't let that keep you awake,
! Mrs. Robertson. I know I'm taking
! chances in bucking the machine. Lord
knows what they'll do to me. But it's
worth the risk. And I'm going to stand
| by you till the cows come home. We"
rafting, as some one in the hall
| tried the outer door of the suite,
brought both women to their feet in
! wordless fear. Then Mark Robert
/ sons voice reached them.
Grace" called Robertson from the
! hall Are you asleep? The doors
! locked"
This way" whispered Grace, point
/ ing to the inner rooms of the suite.
| Go down the passage. There's an
other door at the end Of it, leading