Putnam patriot., 1913-11-28
CHAPTER VIII.
The Trap Is Sprung.

The trap IS sprung There was pause Neither man seemed desirous to be first to return to the attack. The buzz of the city crept in from outside. The half.stified rhythm of the dining room orchestra reached them in snatches.
 Standsh got to his feet; slowly and more like very old man than one in his prime. But he looked dows with crass stolidity at his tormentor. And in his deep tones there was more of sorrow than of nervous dread.
 MT 3lake." he said. there's one point I can't quite grasp Even your admiration for my worthy qualities and your very kind desire to save me trouble, can not wholly explain your action in telling me. Why are you giv- ing away your hand like this?"
 Blake looked pained.
 Cant a man do decent thing for once.. he grumbled. without having his motives picked apart?"
 I'm afraid not-in your case.' an- swered Standish.
 All right" agreed Blake in no whit chagrined. Let's look at it from business standpoint then. If you'll de- eide suddenly to let this Mullins bill pass. and if you'll support Mark Rob ertson for the speakership, everything will be perfectly smooth and har- monious. And we won't have to use these painful means"
 "Oh. see. A bargain2"
 One that you won't lose by" said Blake. "A mighty good one since 1t saves you your political skin. instead of forcing us to nail it to the barn."
 Despite his confidence Blake was vaguely worried. He knew men, as pianist knows his keyboard. And now subtle intuition. quite at variance with all his keen logic, warned him that Standish was not In the least frightened by the threat of political death. Knowing the insurgents high ambitions as he did, Blake could not account for this absence of terror So. feeling his way, he shifted to the oth- CT tack.
 The Woman, too" he added. Think of her!"
 He grinned under his sparse mus tache. For again he saw Standish's hands clench And he knew he had struck the one right note.
 Yes" went on Blake. Think of the Woman She's walking blindly, un- suspectingly. right straight into the trap we've set for her. Itll be hell for her. Pure, unaduiterated, sky blue hell If she's got a husband or kids or parents it'll blaeken the whole world for them all. Oh, don't make us do this thing, man! Think 1t over. Don't decide in a rush. Take your time. By eleven o'clock or so I'll have her name. Then it will be early enough for you to tell me your decision You'll find me somewhere about the hotel, if I'm not over at the Capitol. Good-by."
 He strolled off toward the dining room. As he passed Wanda he glanc. ed covertly at her through his lowered lids. She was raptly absorbed in the novel she was reading And her dainty lower jaw moved slowly up and down in a gum-chewing cadence that be- spoke years of practice.
 Standish watched Blake out of sight His face, now that the mask was no longer needful. worked almost grotesquely And his swarthy skin was a palid yellow. He looked like a pugilist who tries dazedly to rise after knockout
 He was thinking rapidly; despite his daze. After a moment or two he crossed hastily to the telephone switchboard
 "Get me a New sYork wire, please" he said, looking neryously down the corridor, "as quickly as you can" As he spoke he YVES running ever the pages of one of the telephone books on the desk Wanda drove plug into the switchboard and droned:
 'H1ol Long distance? That you, Jessie? This is Wanda. Say, get me New York wire-on the jump, please. Yes. Oh, have you? Good Let the other party wait, and give it to me, won't you? Thanks. I've got one al. ready" she added. glancing over her shoulder at Standish. What number, Gro Be Continued.)