Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-05-30

faco set In an expression Of heavy de-
lection, scattered her dreams of retro
spect with shat.ering impact.
The old woman's face was dark
with passion, her pale lips set into n
tight line. Money! Money might
make trouble and bring disappoint-
ment, but 1t would talk to those peo-
pie. Money was all they were after.
Well, they could have It!
She let three days go by before she
made the move she had determined on
ten minutes after she had passed Dom
mick. The Wednesday morning fol-
lowing that Sunday she put on her
outdoor things and, dispensing with
the carriage, went down town on the
car to see Bill Cannon.
The Bonanza Kings office was on
the first floor Of building owned by
himself on one Of the finest Montgom-
cry street corners. With her approach
heralded by rustling of rich stuffs
and subdued painting, she entered
the Office. She did not waste time
beating about the bush. Their talk
lasted nearly. an hour. Before the in
terview ended they had threshed out
every aspect of the matter under dis
cussion. There would be no loose
ends or sighted details in any piece
of work which engaged the attention
of this bold and energetic pair of con-
spirators.
Two days after this momentous COM
bination of her enemies, Berny was
sitting in the parlor of her fiat, writing
letter. 1t was three o'clock in the
afternoon and she had just dressed
herself for her daily jaunt down town.
She did not hear a foot ascending
the stairs, till tap on the door-post
of the room made her turn and eiacu-
late a startled Come in!" The door
that led from the parlor to the hall
had been removed, and bamboo por-
there hung in the opening. A large
masculine hand thrust apart the hang
ing strands, and Bill Cannon, hat in
hand, confident and yet apologetic, en-
tered the room.
She looked at him inquiringly with
something of wariness and distrust in
her face.
She remembered him to be friend
Of the Ryans', and she had arrived at
the stage when any friend Of the Ry-
ans was an enemy of hers. She looked
at the old man guardedly, ready for
an attack and bracing herself to meet
it.
You'll pardon this intrusion, won't
your" he said in deep, friendly voice.
She looked up at him and made a
slight inclination of her head as she
had seen actresses do on the stage.
Wont you sit down, Mr.. Cannon?"
she added.
Now, let me make my apologies for
coming. In the first place, Pm an old
man. We've got a few privileges to
compensate US for the loss of so much
that's good. Don't you think that's
fair, Mrs. Ryan,"
| Berny liked him. There was some
thing so easy and affable in his man
ner, something that made her feel he
would never censure her for her past
or, in fact, think about it at all.
I'm sure I'm very glad you came,
she said politely; "any friend of Dom
| inicks is welcome here"
"Will you let me speak frankly
Mrs. Ryan,"
Yes" said Berry. GO right ahead.
Mrs. Ryan will make you a rich
woman, independent of any one, the
money yours to do with as you like
if you'll consent to the few condi
tions she exacts."
what are they?"
THAT you will leave your husband
for year and at the end of thai
time ask him to give you your lib
erty, he suing you for divorce on the
ground Of desertion"
"It's bribe," she said slowly, "a
bribe to leave my husband"
ooh, wouldn't say that" he an
swered with a deprecating shrug
Call it a deal, settlement. Th'
terms are easy and favorable. You'll
not find one Of them unjust or unfair
You're to leave the city, going prefer
ably to Chicago or New York, ant
staying there for the period of deser
ton. Seven thousand dollars will b.
set aside for your expenses. At tn
end Of the year you are to write t
Dominick telling him you no longe
want to live with him and asking hin
to give you your freedom. After tn
divorce is granted the sum of fift
thousand dollars will be handed owe
to you, the one condition being tina
you will leave the country and go t
Europe. 1t is understood, of course
that the matters to be kept secre
from Dominick. He must think tina
you are acting entirely from you
own free will. He mustn't guess hi
mothers had any part in it."
Berny lifted her head and locke
at him. The color was now burnin
in her cheeks and her eyes seemed I
hold all the vitality of her rigid fac.
"You tell Mrs Ryan," she said slov
ly, that I'll lie dead In my coffin b,
fore I'll take her money and leav
my husband"
well, I'm a patient man, and e,
arutbino nnmaa m him uhO 1,oIk,u