The evening world., 1914-03-05


case OF trouble"
by gad!"-the exclamation burst
=, rom him involuntarily-"but you're
cold biooded proposition"
Merely business foresight. my
lear Mr.. Symes." she smirked COM
'lacently. Some fool, you know,
. night think he could get q judgment
he didn't like the way We handled
lim."
And you're sure he couldn't?"
'LOrd!--no. Not out here" Her
q eg slipped over her knee and her
DOT slumped to the floor. She slid
Uwer In the chair. until her head
ested on the back. her sprawiing
.tss outstretched, her fingers clasped
,cross her starched waistcont. upon
ter face an expression OF humorous
iisdain.
II can promise you," she urged,
that I'll be equal to any emergency"
I've no doubt of it," he returned.
Symes smoked hard: he was think.
ng. not OF tho contract which he in
ended to percmptorily refuse. but
, ,ow best, In what words to tell this
soman that now more than ever he
Wished the intimacy between her and
Ills wife To end.
At the close OF an impatient silence
The demanded bluntly:
do 1 get tho contract?"
With equal bluntness he re-
porded:
~ III do not"
She Strengthened herself instan. y
n the chair and he knew from the
COX In her eyes that the clash had
,ome.
you'd better reconsider" she said
u last, and there was in her voice
md manner the haunting confidence
of . gun man" who has hand at his
hip.
Symes spat out a particle of to-
bGcco with angry vehemence and his
iuddy face turned redder.
my answer is final'
Her composure grew with his loss
II hoped II wouldn't be necessary
% remind YOU Of your first visit here.
but II see...s II is"
That was It then--the source OF her
'hs0urance-she meant to trade upon,
ebecret. II was like her to remind him
Of an obligation TO attain her end.
'Do you mean"-his voice dropped
% an incrcdulous whisper--"that you
lre threatening 10 betray Augusta to
Attain your cnd?"
"Something OF the sort" she re-
piled In cold stubbornness.
With his hands thrust deep In his
Trousers pockets Symes faced her.
byeing her with an expression which
would have made most women vince
Slt which she returned with absolute
eomposure. She was In control OF the
situation and realized II to the full.
Symes was spcechless. nearly. in the
face OF such effrontery, such dis
nyalty. such ingratitude.
"You would sacrifice your best
friend for money!"
"Business In business, and TIM out
for the stun, as l told you. but there's
mo sense In letting II come to that.
I don't want to do 1t, so don't be .
eoci!"
him In his most vulnerable spot,
namely. his horror of scandal. Of any
thing which would besmirch the name
,sf which he was 30 inordinately
proud. The pride was at once his
strength and his weakness.
? "And II permit myself to be black
mailed-there Is no use In inincing
words-if ! give you this contract in
exchange for my wife's good name.
arc you willing to consider every oh
ligation wiped out?"
Her eyes flashed their triumph at
this quick collapse Of his stand.
D. n am"
"And, furthermore. will you agree
70 di:sontinue &C your visits to my
"Why" There was hard bravado
In the question.
.sYour influence IL not good, DR..
"What does Augusta sayT
sIyc not consulted her."
sAnd the contract is mine!-'thas Is
ssttled?" ..
, She smiled enigmatically.
sI'n keep my word"
= 6ymes descended the stairs or the
Terriberry House IN a frame OF mind
that was very different from the de-
tsrmfned arrogance with which he had
n scended them less than an hour be-
foro. He was filled with a humiliating
sense of defeat and OF having acted
weakly. He returned mechanically the
anlutat ations of those he passed upon
the street and sank into his office
chair with his hat upon his head.
da1Dd sense Of shock and humiliation
stin upon him. -
The knowledge OF DR.. Harpe's unbe-
Nevable perfidy would be shock 10
Augusta. but II would terminate the
Friendship, he told himself. and he
would be relieved Of the disagrccable
necessity OF asserting his authority too
strongly.
symes removed his hat and hung u
upon a nearby chair. then turned to his
desk. A telegram propped conspicu-
ously upon the inkwell proved to he
from Nudge. the promoter. and read:
"Have possible investor who wants
detailed information. Better come on
at once. IS. j.. MuDuT'