Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-10-24


And"
Grace, dear girl" soothed Dlaks
This is muddy business at best. tie
no time for you to be here. You II only
coil those pretty hands of yours"
at is the time for me to BE here!"
she declared. 81 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.
TON was right" she persisted.
you must not sink to using this story.
|: -"
The whirr of the buzzer interrupted
her. At such high tension wore they
all that the sound made them turn az
though to confront a physical pres.
ence Neligan strobe to the door, co1-
ferced fol an instant with some one
outside, then returned with slip 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
we'll get it mighty quick"
Van Dyke and Neligan 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 a man at work
tracing each one Of them. In q few
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"
It was Standish who brake the mo-
ment's silence.
Every well, Robertson" he said
calmly. 1--WE done what I promised
to do. And l have failed. You drive
me now to the use OF your own
weapons. / shall have to fight ex-
posture with exposure"
"No, mol" moaned Grace, incoharent
with fear
Mark Robertson had caught up
Standish's defiance and had stenped
forward to confront him.
'In other words, Mr.. Standish,'' he
demanded, you threaten Ds? That's
an empty threat There Is nothing in
my 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 sn!"
"Mr. Standish!" pleaded Grace. 81
beg"
Don't worry, dear" said Mark. "Let
him bluff. III call him. Mr.. Standish.
| give you full permission to use any
weapon that | use. If you know any.
thing against me, tell 1t here and now.
Here, in my wife's presence. You
know our cards. Show yours"
Standish's gaze strayed, as II by
chance, to Grace's CHASTITY face.
"Well?" urged Mark. Speak mp!
We're waiting!"
At sight of the mortal terror In
Grace's eyes, Standish checked the
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!'
"T thought sol" scoffed MarA.
You're licked. This is your last fight.
From tonight you're dead man, p's
litically. And If we have 20 hunt out
woman or two to keep you dead. we'J
dc 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. "Yo9'N
20 ahead without the Woman's manner"
eyes" answered Van Dyke. "Since
we've an absolute certainty. now, nj
getting it. We cali afford to do that
and publish the name tomorrow. Tell
Jennings to send out the story. Tell
him we're holding the Woman's name
and that we won't give it out unless
Standish denies the story. By the tima
he can get his denial in print Wen
have the name"
Good" asserted Robertson, catch
ing up the telephone. Hello! Givs
me-"
Mark" begged Grace. ooh, su
plore you-don't-"
"44O0 Main"
(TO BE CONTTNUED)