Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1913-12-19

came to me-just to help me? You
didn't think for an instant that, out
of gratitude, might help your"
Help me? How?"
"By making it easy for you to carry
out your idea of marrying my brother?
Perhaps by using this scandal story as
threat to force me into helping your"
Wanda looked at her for full half.
minute in blank silence. Then, turn
ing to the door, she said:
Il guess | was fool to butt In"
"One moment" interposed Grace;
adding, as Wanda paused: "Ycu-you
made certain insinuations about me.
just now. You must prove them-you
must give me your reasons for the
absurd superstition that / might know
anything about this Standish scandal"
Mrs. Robertson" replied Wanda.
her hand still on the door-knoh, I'm
not In your class. l don't know just
how women In your station of life
manage such things. But It seems
rather tough that you can't find way
to defend yourself without insulting
me. Let that 60. You want to know
how foundzout! I'll tell you. Early
this evening Mr.. Standish learned Of
this scheme to wreck him. He knows
the story couldn't be used without the
Woman's name. And Blake bluffed
him into believing the machine would
have the name before midnight Mr..
Standish's first thought was to warn
the Woman. Just as Blake had known
it would be. He called up your house
in New York"
What of that? was not at home
this evening. l was on my way here
to"
But Mr.. Standish didn't know tiaat'
And" pursued Grace fiercely, lust
because Mr.. Standish CHANGED to call
up my husbands New York home,
you've evolved this insane theory.
What proof is there-beyond your I'M
backed word-that he called up my
house?"
THE time-eard at central. A list of
all calls is forwarded every evening
to central and"
THAT proves nothing" declared
Grace. Nothing at all. oh, it's a pref
.ty trick you're playing, Miss Kelly. A
very pretty trick. But it will fail. You
build it all on the statement that some
one called up the house of Governor
Robertson. Fifty people call up our
house every day. And on the strength
of that his wife is to be involved In a
story of low intrigue-Oh, it's out
srageousi"
will Mr.. Standish explain to your
husband why he called you up?"
He didn't call me up. Mr.. Standish
could have had nothing to say to me.
He'll deny every charge you make
And my word will be believed ahead of
a Matchmaking phone girls. | need
simply say you tried to gain my help
by means of threats to"
You need simply say it? Will you
swear to it,"
"Yes!" flashed Grace. 'If the need
arises. womans reputation isn't de-
stroyed so easily as you seem to think,
Miss Kelly"
And the country hotel proprietor?"
asked Wanda. Il forgot to say they've
sent for him. He can identify the
Woman who was registered as Mrs.
Fowler He"
do you suppose, for one moment,
said Grace, white to the lips, that my
husband would subject me to the in
dignity of being looked over like
common criminal? l need only tell
the truth-deny the whole malicious
ilie-and-"
"Ohi" broke in Wanda, with reluct-
ant admiration, you're brave. Mrs.
Robertson AS brave as they make
them. You're putting up a glorious
fight. And / can't help liking you for
1t. Because | know-behind the brave
.front-you're sick with fear"
you think"
IL know it. And-believe me or not
you've got me sized up all wrong.
I'm not going to marry your BROTH
er. But l don't want to see his sister
get into this mess. Why don't you
trust me?"
Really"
",The machinei" rushed on Wanda.
"It's got the brains of all the men that
are in it. And none of the heart. 1t
burns UP everything that gets in its
path. And now 1t needs a woman's
good name and happiness to keep it
In fuel It's only square that you
should be the Woman. It's let them
see how other people have felt when
the machine crushed them-how my
father felt when he came home that
horrible day. with death written in his
eyes. and said to my mother: Molly.
I'm done for. Blake and his machine
have got mel That's what he said.
And he was Innocent"
But"
That's why / was going to let them
get you, and break Jim Blake's vile
old heart It's the chance I've been
waiting for. Ave endless years. To
night l saw Gods justice begin to
move. l saw that Blake and his
crowd were working out their own
damnation without any help from me.
And then-Oh. I'm a fool!-then. all
at once forgot the justice part OF IT,
And all could see was that gang
of strong, cruel. clever men were ngnt-
ing one unhappy woman. II guess
that's why I've stayed here, even after
you called me a blackmailer."
But your past's no business Oh
mine," she went on more quietly.
just came to give you warning. Take
it or leave. It's up 70 you"
II don't want your warning. said
Grace sullenly. II tell you, / admit
nothing"
Then / can't help you"
81 have not asked your help