Putnam patriot., 1914-01-23
The Last Card.

on ms arm.
 Mrs. Robertsonl" cried the tele- phone girl in terror; intuition telling her why Grace was there.
 "Grace!" called Tom joyously. Help usl You'll make everything right. You always do."
 Father" said Grace in eager ap- peal. you won't go on with this? It is abominablel"
 I'm sorry. daughter; but we've got to. wish you'd clear out. It's no place.
 But, father, can't you see? Miss Kelly is protecting some poor woman who has done wrong and who has re- pented. Must she be punished so? Must the Womans years of repent anee all count for nothing?"
 That's no concern of ours," said Mark "The Woman's possible repent ance is between her and her God. We"
 Then leave her punishment to God. It's not for you to say how she shall suffer. You are striking with the blindness of man; without dreaming where the DlOW VIII ldil.
 'sIt will fall where it is deserved. I'm enough of believer in divine jus tice to know that"
 Tt will fall on her husband more heavily tran on her"
 It will do no harm to know the type of woman he's married"
 Tt isn't fair! It isn't fair! Mark, o.nI t. thousandfoid worse than your cruelty to the Woman. It is wicked to punish Wanda Kelly for her loyalty in trying to save friend from disgrace. It's cowardly-unbelieva
 Steady, daughterl Steady" ad- monished Blake, amazed at his usual ly well-poised child's vehemence. You're all worked up over this. It isn't like you to-"
 ''No," agreed Mark, "it isn't. That is what has been puzzling me-"
 He was eyeing Grace strangely. The lightning quick and accurate faculty of deduction that had won his first success at the bar was stirring strong ly within him.
 Grace" he commanded, hS3 voice still gentle. but with a ring of iron be- hind it's suavity, Took at mel"
 Slowly, as by hard physical effort, she raised her panie-widened eyes to meet his gaze.
 You Lncw this Woman's name," he declared
 At the mastery that vibrated through 4lis voice and look, she falter- ed, thEsagh no conscious volition of her owin-
 Yes
 You knew the name," pursued Mark, still gripping his wife's brain by the magnetism tEat was almost ihyp- use it Tell it to me"
 "No-not" she murmured distract edly. Fl can't. l won't. r."
 "Grace." and now the iron glinted more openly through the velvet sheath ing, "tio you mean to say you are go- ing to let us face ruin when enc word from you would"
 q tell you, can't--.I can'tl"
 Mark shifted his attack with unex- pected swiftness.
 Mir. sstandish is willing" said he. ''to see this girl here terribly punish ed for protecting the guilty Woman Are you?"
 No, no, But"
 Mrs. Robertsoni" broke in Wanda, first of all to detect the note of weak ening in Grace's voice. Don't tell! Don't tell Keep-your nerve. It's all right. Never you mind what they threaten to do to me. Don't give her awayt"
 shut up!" roared Neligan.
 Marks eyes had never for an in, stant left his wifes face. At the hor- TOT that now deepened in it he saw what his next and crowning move must be.
 "Neligan." he ordered, take this phone girl downstairs and turn her over to the officer who is waiting. Van Dyke will be around at the station house in a few minutes to make the charge. And he'll see that she is held in bail too heavy for her friends to pay"
 ''Neligan!" yelled Tom, spf.inging in latter moved toward Wanda. If you put finger on her Ill-"
 'No!" walled Grace in the same breath. You shant arrest her. Mark l can't bear it! r."
 "Youn tell?" asked Mark, exsltant at the success of his fuse.
 .I-yes!s
 Pardon me, Robertson" intervened Standish. as he saw Graees last bar rier break down. but l advise you to clear the room before you let her speak. Three people here already know the name. l advise you to keep the number as small as possible"
 That is our affair, not yours" re- torted Mark "She shall tell us all. h. side of few hours the whole country k going to knew that name"
 Mark" begged Grace. "iet me tell it 10 you alone,"
 No" refused the husband. Its too late now to spare any ones feelings And witnesses are necessary in an af- fair like this. It concerns us all. And we must move quickly"
 MT. Standish," he went on with a savage joy chat rent away the last remnant of the velvet from the iron beneath. Its been iong fight But you couldn't beat the organization. You've been bowling for fight to a finish This is the finish"
 "It is the finish" agreed Standish.