The San Francisco call., 1913-09-19
CHAPTER X
Marked Money

1 Mary had scarcely received from
Aggie an account of Cassiday's threat
ening invasion, when the maid an
nounced that Mr.. irwin had called.
/ "Show him in. in just two minutes,
Mary directed
Who's the gink?n Aggie demanded.
with that slangy diction which was
her habit
you ought to know" Mary re-
turned, smiling a little. He's the
lawyer retained by General Hastings
in the matter of certain oreach OF
promise suit"
.Oh, you mean yours truly" Aggie
exclaimed. not in the last abashed by
her forgetfulness in an affair that
concerned herself so closely. Hope
he's brought the money. What about
| it?"
Leave the room now Mary or
dered, crisply. when / call to you,
come in but be sure and leave every
thing to me. Merely follow my lead.
| And, Agnes--be very ingenue.
"oh, I'm wise--I'm wise, Aggie
nodded, as she hurried out toward
| her bedroom. I'll be squap-surest
thing you know.
! Newt moment. Mary gave a formal
greeting to the lawyer who repre-
sented the man she planned to mulct
! effactively. and invited him to chair
near her. while she herself retained
her place at the desk, with drawer
Of which she had just locked the for
midable appearing document received
from Harris
Irwin lost no time in coming to the
point
..I called in reference to this suit,
which Miss Agnes Lynch threatens to
bring against my client. General Hast-
| ings.'
Mary regarded the attorney with a
level glance, sererely expressionless as
far as could be achieved by eyes so
clear and shining, and her voice was
cold as she replied with significant
brusqueness.
.It's not threat, Mr.. Irwin The
suit will be brought
The LAWYER frowned. and there was
strident note In his voice when he
answered. meeting her glance with
an uncompromising stare Of hostility
"you realize of course, he said
finally, "that this is merely piain
blackmail."
| There was not the change OF q Tea
ture in the face of the woman who
listened "a the accusation. Her eyes
steadfastly retained their clear gaze
into HIS. her voice was still -coldly
| formal as before.
ar rs blackmail, Mr. Irwin, why
don't you consult the policeE she IN
ouirad. with manifest disdain. Mary
turned to the maid, who now entered
| IN response to the bell she had sounded
noin,te before Fanny, will you
ask Miss Lynch to come in, please!
Then she faced the lawyer again, with
an aloofness of manner that was con
temptuous. Really, Mr.. irwin sne
drawled, why don't you take TINS
matter to the policeY
The reply was uttered with con-
snicuous evaporation.
ssYou know perfectly well. the
lovver said bitterly, that General
Hastings can not afford such pup
licity His position would be 1eop-a
ardised" ..s
| IF flippancy in her fashion OF speak
ing aI'm sure the police would keep
ycilr complaint a secret. Really, you
know. Mr.. Irwin, I think you had bet
ter take your troubles to the police,
rather than to me- You VIII get
much more sympathy from them
The lawyer sprang up. with an air
OF sudden determination
VERY well. Will them he de-
cIarnd. sternly. Il willp
Mary from her vantage point at the
daslx across from him, smiled smile
that would have been very engag-
ing to any man under more favorable
circumstances, and she pushed In his
direction the telephone that stood
there.
"3100 Spring she remarked, en-
couragingly. will bring an officer al
most Immediately. She leaned back
in her chair. and surveyed the baf-
fled man amusedIy.
The lawyer was furious over the
| failure of his effort to intimidate