Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-08

|
You needn't to please me, you know
| And | shan't tell you anything"
| why"
My business" said Sally. with all the
insolence che knew how to infuse into her
| tone. ~ think we covered that ouestIon
rather completely last night-or rather
this morning. 1 imagined II was settled.
| In fact, 1t was. 1 don't care to reopen
IT, but will say thls-or repeat II, II you
prefer; I'm not going to permit you to
| Interfere in my private affairs"
written?"
For the last tlme-positlvely."
See here" Mrs. Standish ventured,
after a bafned moment, ibe reasonable.
There's 10 sense in making me lose my
temper"
I'm sure don't wish you to-"
Then tell me"
Must threaten your"
Sally elevated supercllous eyebrows.
"1f you like"
II have way to force you to obey
me-"
"Oh7" There was an accent in this in
nocent syllable cunningly calculated to
| madden.
you recall certain letter of introduce
tlon?"
"Why-no"
That you brought me from Mrs Corn
wallis English2"
What do you mean?"
| Don't be stupid. You surely are not
prepared to deny that you came to mo
last Wednesday, looking for work, with
! what purported to be a letter of recon-
mendatlon from Mrs. English"
please go on"
WELL" Mrs. Standish announced tri-
umphantly II kept that letter, OF course,
and now I've had occasion to look close
| ly, find it's forgery"
| "Please! Sally faltored
II tell you, ! have safe in my possess
| sion a letter recommending you to me
| and signed with the forged signature of
| Mrs. CORVALLIS English. If necessary
to protect myself shall not scruple to
| exhibit that letter"
oh" With a gasp of incredulity Sally
| sat down anu stared at this impudent IN
| triEante
Now will you tell me what you've
written? No. | won't trust you to tell me.
! Give me that envelope. I'll see for my
self"
at isn't possible" Sally said, that
| you would do anything so cruel and un-
| Just and dishonest"
Dishonest? 1 dare say you consider
| yourself Judge"
II can't believe it of you, Mrs. Stan
dish"
That's Your personal affair, of course
| Ou We HSkeu me not TO lnIerIeTe--
She permitted Sally to think 1t over,
meantime coming closer. holding out her
! hand with an effect of confident patience.
surely you wouldn't show that forgery
you've made up to Mrs. Gosnold?"
| II don't know what you mean by
| forgery I've made up 1 sha'n't hesitate
to show the forgery you brought me-"
II guessed all along" Sally told her,
| that you were not what you made your
self out to be, neither a good woman nor
| n kind one. But | never for a moment
imagined you would stoop to such in
| fanny"
Now that's settled. be good enough"
But what makes you so afraid I'll tell
| Mrs. Gosnold about last night?'
ITO protect yourself, of course. don't
| believe you mean to confess"
| Contest"
Take advantage of this opportunity to
restore the jewels-and get off without
| punishment. Probably you can't. Prob
| ably the man you met outside and gave
! them to is by now SO far away that you
couldn't even If you wanted to"
| "Wat a minute. Let me get this
straight. I don't want TO make any mis-
| take"
Sensible of you I'm sure!"
| "Hou really mean to accuse me of this
abominnbe thing?"
"I know no reason to believe you in
| capable of 1t. And you did meet a man
| out there last night"
Then why do you hesitate to inform
Mrs. Gosnold? Isn't it your duty?"
I'm willing to give you the benefit of
the doubt, providing you"
Have you consulted Mr.. Lyttleton
about this?"
| That shot told. Mrs. Standish paused
| with an open mouth. "Mr. Lyttleton!"
she exclaimed, recovering, in a tone that
| implied complete Ignorance of the exist
| ence of any such person.
NrttIa faH
know very well 1t was he to whom / was
talking out there-and I know you know
| It."
Say I do, for the sake of the argu-
ment; do you imagine Mr.. Lyttleton
| would sacrifice himsef-admit that he got
up and left the house, for whatever rea-
| son, last night after going to bed-to save
| yOu?"
mo" Sally conceded; "I don't expect
anything from either you or any of your
friends. But Mr., Lyttleton will find the
facts hard to deny. There was witness,
you must know-though I've no doubt it's
news TO you. He wouldn't be likely to
mention that to you. In fact can see
from your face he didn't. But there
was"
"Who?" tho woman stammered.
That's for you to find out Why not
ask Mr. Lyttleton? It's no good, Mrs.
Standish. don't understand your motive.
and I'd rather not CUES at 1t; but Pm not
a child to be scared by bogy Show
your forged letter TO Mrs. Gosnold. II you
like-or come with me and Wen both
show it to her.
"Are you mad? Do you want to be
eXposed?"
Pm not afraid, Mrs. standIsh-and
you are!''
After an instant the womans eyes
clouded and fell. 81 don't know what you
mean," she faltered.
II mean that this scene has gone on
long enough. I'm sick and tired OF it
and it isn't getting you anything. either
Good night"'
with this Sally marched to the door.
turned the knob. and found 1t locked and
the key missing.
"The key. please, Mrs. Standlsh."
mot till you tell me" the other be-
gan with a flash of reviving spirit.
Sally advanced a finger toward the
push-button. Must call one of the
maids to let me out2"
Capltulation was signaled with a dis
tracted gesture. Miss Manwaring, do
tell me"
'Nothng-Ill tell you nothinsl Give
me that key"
"Proralse you haven't written"
1.-THE key!'
1t was surrendered. "Well-but that
jewel-case; what have you done with it?"
UTixFn bIddan