The Elbert County tribune., 1914-12-25
.You cosnt sAis change in ths pa.y


morning. Whom quiet fellow like
thing. he's apt to be confoundedly In
sistent-"
Then you want itr-
Certainly
Il sat up until daylight to write this.
It's an Improvement ON the other act:
can see that myself Oswald win tell
you. think. that 1t carries out his
ideas exactly. Before hand It over
want to make dicker with you
Wentworth stared at him blankfy.
"A dicker?" he repeated. rs II
money!
Money!" Andrews face gre~ hsxsh
with scorn
What is 1t then?"
Il was dining last night at Colgaz-
zi's. T.
wentworths face grew suddenly
scarlet. then It whitened.
Il saw you there Merry's voice
was relentless. Il don't know q blessed
thing about the Paget woman. for or
against her. / do know this. though:
every man who has lived among good
women knows she Is not at company
for-your sister for instance"
Who said she VAST" snarled Went
worth. II had not thought OF throw
ing her into my sisters society. Dorcas
would not have to tolerate even n pass
Ing acquaintance with her behind the
scenes II had my way
''She is not At to be seen with a de-
cent man"
You give me the credit then CT be-
ing-a decent man?" sneered Enoch.
ITO a certain limit do"
We'll. what do you want?" Went
worth turned an apprehensive glance
upon him.
Il want you to promise. before I
turn over this manuscript. that you
will have nothing to do with zilla
Paget except in a business way"
why. are you interested In her
yourself?"
MY God. Enoch," Andrew stuffed
the roll of paper In his pocket and
jumped to his feet.
Here. sit down. want this affair
Strengthened out-now."
Merry did not answer. He walked
across the office and stood beside
table where a litter of photographs lay.
He picked one up carelessly and
glanced at 1t. 1t was an exquisite por-
trait OF Dorcas. Her eyes gazed into
his with a straightforward look which
was characteristic OF the girl.
'Will you tell me-" there was stern
demand In Wentworth's voice. will
you explain why you are SO concerned
about my morals?"
Il don't care a damn about your
morals" answered Merry contemptu-
ously Il was thinking about your sis
ter. I am still fool enough to believe
that you have some decency left
will hand over this act. rewritten as
you want It. when you promise to have
nothing to do with Zilla Pagct."
When Merry stopped speaking he
took a seat opposite Enoch and waited
for reply.
A visiting card lay on the table.
Wentworth picked It up and tore 1t
into halves. He sat tearing and re-
tearing It In perfect silence. When 1t
was reduced to fragments. he gathered
them into the hollow of his hand and
dropped them in the waste basket:
then ne looked across at Merry.
That was Miss Paget's card" he
said harshly. I'm through with her"
Merry took the manuscript from his
pocket. laid 1t on the table before
Enoch, and walked out
| A few minutes later Enoch opened
the door which led into the box ONCE.
| A young man sat beside the window.
'Dingley." he said, Il have locked
the outside door. Don't let a soul in
on me. can't see Mr.. Oswald even.
Tell him I am busy. writing"
Wentworth locked the door of the
office. sat down in his big chair. and
rapidly, slipped blank sheet OF paper
into typewriter. and began to copy
It with slow deliberation. When 1t was
finished he read each typed page care
fully. He tackled them together and
rose to his feet He began to search
the Office rapidly with his eyes. then
he turned to wash-bowl In the corner.
He crushed into loose bunch each of
the sheets which held Merry's writ
| ing and touched the paper with a
match. 1t leaped into a red blaze. He
watched 1t carefully, poking the sheets
over with a paper knife until each one
fell away into shivering black ash.
When every spark had died he turned
on faucet. and the light ashes were
swept down the waste pipe He
rubbed a speck of CRIME from his
hands and opened the box office door.
Oswald sat on high stool beside the
window