Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-12-04


4 DO. shs denied I've heard
and
-Iiraee dear girl" soothed blake
This is muddy business at best H's
no tine for you 10 be here. You'll oaly
coil those pretty hands OF yours"
1t is the time for me to be here"
she declared. Il can see this from the
woman's standpoint You men can't"
There is nothing in common be
tween your standpoint and that OF the
Woman we are talking about, protest
ed Mark
Tom was right" she persisted.
you must not sink to using this story.
r."
The Whirr OF the buzzer interrupted
her. A. such high tension wo-e they
all that the sound made them turn as
though to confront a physical pres
encs. Neligan strobe to the door, coh-
fsr-ed fol- an instant with soma one
outside. then returned with a SIP OF
blue paper in his hand.
"The duplicate list OF phone NUN
bers from central" he announced,
turning over the paper to Van Dyke.
Good" approved Blake. Nov
we'll get to what we're chasing. And
well get It mighty quick"
Van Dyke and NelAgan were already
porting over the sheet OF numbers that
the lawyer had just spread on the
table under the lamp.
Now, then, Standish." exulted Rob
ertson; we're ready to begin. One
of these numbers leads directly to the
Woman. Well put man at Work
tracing each one of them. In rev
hours at longest we will have what We
want And when we find the Woman
we'll lay bare every soiled page In her
life and in yours"
II was St6ndish who broke the mo-
ment's silence.
Very well, Robertson" he said
calmly. 1--WE done what l promised
to do. And l have failed. You drive
me now to the use of your own
weapons. l shall have to light ex-
posture with exposure"
mo. mol" uHaned Grace, incoherent
with fear.
Mark Roberts,, had caught up
Standjsh's defiance and had stepped
forward to confront him.
"In other words, Mr.. Standish, ne
demanded. you threaten me? THAT'S
an empty threat. There is nothing IN
nv life you have not already shouted
from the housetops.'
Don't be too sure" warned STAND
ish. meeting Marks scornful glare
with unconcern.
what do you mean? Speak up"
"Mr. Standish!" pleaded Grace. Il
beg"
Don't worry, dear" said Mark. Let
him bluff. I'll call him. Mr. Standlsh,
give you full permission to use any
weapon that I use. II you know any
thing against me. tell 1t here and now.
Here. in my wife's presence. You
know our cards. Show yours"
standisf,s gaze strayed, as II nJ
chance, to Grace's ghastly face.
'fWei? ~ urged Mark. SPEAK ap~-
We'rs waiting!"
At sight of the mortal terror IN
Grace's eyes, Standish checked tina
words that were on his lips. Turning
away from the domineering man who
so truculently confronted him, he NUT
tered:
"I'll choose my own time!"
"I thought SOL" scoffed Mark
You're licked This is your last fight
From tonight you're a dead man, po-
litically. And if we have to hunt out
woman or two to keep you dead, We'll
do it,"
Van Dyke had glanced from the tele
phone list to his watch.
We've just time enough to catch
the last editions of the morning pa
pers," said he. 81 told Jennings to
hold a wire ready"
"What?" exclaimed Standish. you'll
go ahead without the Woman's name"
Yes" answered Van Dyke. "Sinee
we've an absolute certainty, now, oil
getting it, We can afford to do that
and publish the name tomorrow, Tell
Jennings to send out the story. Tell
him we're holding the Woman's mans |
and that we won't give 1t out unless
Standish denies the story. BY the time
he can get his denial in print we'll
have the name"
Good" asserted Robertson, catch
ing up the telephone. "Hellol Give
me-"
Mark" begged Grace. ooh, i'm.
plore you-don't-"
"4400 Main"
(TO BE CONTINUED