Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-11-12
CHAPTER XII.
The Forlorn Hope.

The Forlorn Hope.
For a minute or so after her father
had left her. Grace Robertson busted
herself in laying away her hat and
furs and in putting a stray feminine
touch here and there TO various details
of the rooms disarranged appoint
ments.
But another woman could have
seen how very mechanical all Grace's
movements we're. At every step in the
ball outside the suite, she paused and
seemed to brace herself as for some
ordeal. When at last the electric buzz
ger announced a caller, she moved
with perfect calmness to the door, as
though to admit a stranger But at
sight of the figure on the threshold
of the opened door, her hard-won com
posture changed to a frigid stiffness,
For The visitor was not standish
IL was Wanda Kelly.
May / come In, Mrs. Robertson"
asked the girl nervously, glancing be-
hind her as she spoke.
A cold inclination of the head gave
the desired permission. Wanda en-
tered, looked about; then waited while
Grace closed the door.
you know me?" asked the girl.
Il think So" returned Grace, in no
measure unbending. You are Miss
Kelly, aren't you? The phone girl
| downstairs"
yes. | got one of the boys to mind
the switchboard while came up. Is
lis any one in there?" she continued
glancing toward the door that led to
the inner rooms of the suite.
mo one" said Grace. why do you
ask? Is your business with me SO
very private?'
Eyes. So private that don't know
how to begin"
She paused. Grace would give hel
no assistance. but stood watching the
younger woman with the air of one
who coolly waits for a dead-beat t.
bring the conversation to the begging
point.
Il don't know how to begin" Wan
da faltered once more.
'Indeed?" queried Grace.
you haven't heard anything?'
asked Wanda "They haven't TOLD
you? Your father hasn't told you any
thing about me?'
please be more explicit"
you have heard" exclaimed Wan
da. And yet you can stand there al
if nothing had happened"
Nothing has happened that coulC
cause any of us real nervousness
This boyish folly of my brothers."
Your brothers?" echoed Wanda il
a bewilderment whose genuinenes
Grace could not doubt. Have the,
dragged him into it, too?"
Miss Kelly" said Grace, I'VE seen
to be talking at cross-purposes. vii
you kindly come to the point? Wha
is it you think have or haven
heard?"
About their scheme to wreck MI
Standish-"
"Mr. Standish"
The exclamation was out befor
Grace was well aware of it. But sh
managed, none the less, to give tn
quickly spoken words a turn Of civ
inquiry, and her face did not change
YES" hurried on Wanda. "They'r
digging up the old scandal. They'v
unearthed it all except the Woman
name, They must get that before the
can go ahead. When they get tha
name they'll use the story to ruin hil
and her"
"Yes?" returned Grace, her swet
voice bare of emotion and her EXPIRE
sion one of polite boredom. And VIII
should you come to me with tn
story? l am not interested in tn
seamy side of politics"
"Oh, all right" said Wanda despol
emily. IF that's the way you take
it's no business of mine. But your
Tom Blake's sister and l couldn't l,
you run into the trap without war
ing you. I've done it. And I've bee
called impertinent for my pains. Whe
| first found out it was you who wei
: mixed up in the case, l said to m
e self: Let Jim Blake go ahead. L.
him hit out in the dark at the WoI
n an, and smash his own heart with Il
blow. It'll be fair. Then, l got
A.? thinking it over And-well, found
Il couldn't quite bring myself to pay {
o my own debts by spelling anoth
e woman's life guess I'd be failu
at politics" she ended with a lit
4. laugh of self-disgust. That's a
a Good-by."
y And so" said Grace slowly, "y'
it came to me-just to help me? "
s didn't think for an instant that, o
n of gratitude, might help your
d Help me? How?"
"By making it easy for you to car