Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-01-09

nj. 0iS6pA9 10 WfOuS 10 lnSlBJ on my
acknowledgements are always in
the way She smiled, and, slipping
around Gregory, had reached the door,
when she came face to face with
Grace Noir, entering. At sight of her
for Grace did not pause, but went
over to the piano-Mrs. Gregory APP
parently reconsidered, and stepped to
her husbands side.
$50 you did come" Grace said, smil-
ing at Robert. shall we go into the
other room?"
Robert reveled In her beauty, and to
that extent his anger against Gregory
famed higher. pretty soon," he said,
pretty soon, Miss Grace-in Just
twenty minutes" he looked at his
watch. then at Abbott.
"T must tell you, Mr.. Gregory" Alb
bott began rapidly, that l had just
thirty minutes to consummate the
matter with you-just half an hour,
when we came here. and ten minutes
are already gone. Only twenty min.
utes are left"
What do you mean by your twenty
minutes being left?" Gregory bus
tered.
Abbott spoke carefully, at the same
time drawing a little farther away
from the man he despised; Bob has
been to Springeld about that matter,
you understand"
mo. I DON'T" cried Gregory. "Or il
I do-tell it out-all Of it."
He has been to Springfield" Alb
bott went n, "and he got on the in
side of the business, and the interests
are determined that-that they will
retaliate on you for your successes in
the past, and at the same time be a
help to Bob"
Il don't understand" Gregory gasped
blankly.
me neither" muttered Robert.
TITS very simple" Abbott main
tanned. "The Springfield interests
want to give you a blow, and give Bob
a helping hand. Therefore, you are
to transfer your secretary to his store,
where a bookkeeper is needed"
"Oh, indeed" interposed Grace Noir
icily. Il am a mere pawn, l presume,
to be sent where I am wanted. But l
HOaAa III " D NIL OlllLOA IL u0
found out anything about Fran, while
he was in Springield?".
Fran is all she claims to be- Rob-
ert declared bluntly.
All? You can prove she's no
fraud?"
my pockets are full of proofs"
Robert exclaimed, looking significant
" at Gregory.
dear Franz" murmured Mrs. Greg
ory with a sweet smile of reminis-
cence.
abbott" Mr.. Gregory gasped, as he
began to realize the compromise that
was offered, you have always been
my friend-and you have been inter-
ested in my charities-you know how
important my secretary is to my work.
1t is true that | did wrong, years ago
very wrong-it is true that bitter
ly-what shall I say?-antagonized the
interests at Springfield. But that was
long ago. Am to be punished low"
Mr.. Gregory" said Abbott, clearly
and forcibly, 81 have nothing to do
with any punishment, I have nothing
to do with demanding the release oil
your secretary. l am a mere agent
of the interests, sent to you to demand
that your secretary be dismissed In
the morning; and If you cannot see
your way to promise me now that you
will dismiss her, my office Is ended.
If you can promise to send her away,
I give you my word the transactions
shall be forever hushed up, SO far as
we are concerned. If you cannot prom
lse, all will be revealed at once
I'm just ten minutes" said Robert
Clinton, consulting his watch.
Grace stood looking at Gregory as II
turned to stone. She had listened In
tently to every word as 1t fell from
Abbott's lips, but not once had she
turned her head to look at him.
"You are cruel" Gregory hared out,
you are heartless. If l send away
the only n who is in perfect knowl-
edge and sympathy with my work"
Then o refuse?"
"Of course | refuse. I'll not permit
the work of years to perish because
of an unreasonable and preposterous
demand. You wouldn't exchange your
position here for Bob's grocery, would
you, Miss Grace7" he ended appeal
ingly.
"Yes-if you dismiss me-" Grace an
swered, her yes smoldering.
"Lucy"-Gregory was almost beside
himself-"tell her she must stay-tell
these men we cannot go on with our
work, without her."
Not for worlds would Mrs. Gregory
have betrayed her eagerness for Grace
to go. but for no consideration would
she have asked her to stay. "Mr.
Gregory" she responded, II canno.
conceive of your being in the power of
business interests to such an extent
as to drive you to anything that seems
like taking your hearts blood"
Il refused" cried Gregory, again.