The San Francisco call., 1913-09-19

was in her voice a suggestion of des-
olation-a desolation that was the
biighting effect of letting the cher
ished missives go from her.
Well, they can leave you now, all
right the lawyer remarked unsym-
pathetica1ly, but with returning
cheerfulness, since he saw the end Of
his quest in visible form before him
packet, which Aggie extended will
ingly enough. But it was Mary who
with swift movement, caught and
held it.
Not quite yet. Mr.. Irwin, I'm
afraid" she said. calmly
The lawyer barely suppressed vio-
lent ejaculation of annoyance.
But there's the money waiting for
you" he protested. Indignantly.
The reJoinder from. Mary was
spoken with great deliberation, yet
caused a quick and acute anxiety to
the generals representative.
Il think" Mary explained tran
quilly that you had better see our
lawyer, Mr.. Harris. in reference TO
this We women know nothing OF
such details of business settlement.
"Oh, there's no need for all that for
mality," Irwin urged, with a great
appearance Of bland friendliness.
Just the same" Mary persisted,
unimpressed. I'm quite sure you
would better see Mr.. Harris first"
There was a cadence of insistence in
her voice that assured the lawyer as
to the futility of further pretense on
his part.
"Oh. see," he said disagreeably,
with a frown to indicate his complete
sagacity in the premises.
Il thought you would. Mr.. irwin,
Mary returned. and now she smiled
in a kindly manner, which, neverthe-
less. gave no pleasure to the cha
nrined man before her. AS he rose.
she went on crisply: If you'll take
the money to Mr.. Harris Miss Lynch
will meet you in his Office at o'clock
this afternoon, and. when her suit for
damages for breach of promise has
been legally settled out of coure, you
will get the letters. Good
afternoon, Mr.. Irwin"
The lawyer made q hurried bow,
which took in both of the women, and
walked quickly toward the door. But
he was arrested before he reached 1t
by the voice of Mary speaking again,
stiu in that imperturbable evenness
which so rasped his nerves, for all its
mellow resonance. But this time there
was sting, of the sharpest, in the
words themselves.
"Oh, you forgot your marked money,
Mr.. Irwin" Mary said.
The lawyer wheeled and stood star
ing at the speaker with certain
sheepishness of expression that bore
witness to the completeness of his
discontinue. Without a word, after
a long moment in which he perceived
intently the delicate yet subtly ener-
getie. loveliness of this slender
woman, he walked back to the desk,
nicked up the money and restored it
"a the bill case This done, ct last
he spoke, with a new respect in his
voice. quizzical smile on his rather
thin lips.
young woman he said en-
phaticaily, you ought TO have been
lawver.a And with that laudatory
confession of her skill, he finally took
his departure. while Mary smiled ie q
triumph she was at no pains to con-
ceal. and Aggie sat gaping astonish-
ment over the surprising turn of
events.
II was the latter volatile person
who ended the silence that followed
on the lawyers going.
you've darn near broke my heart, =
she cried, bouncing up violently. let
tine all that money go out of the
house. Say, how did you know
ii was marked"
II didn't Mary replied. blandly;
"but it was a pretty good guess,
wasn't it? Couldn't you see that all
ha wanted was to get the letters, and
have us take the marked money?
Then. my simple young friend. we
would have been arrested very neatly
indeed--for bIackmail.''