The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-28
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
TEELING perfectly safe behind
- the door which already had
sheltered Der so effectively and
familiar now with the room,
Nora was seated on the bed. She was
tired of trying to listen to the con-
versation she could not hear, except
as confused murmur, and having re-
gained her ccmposure was waiting for
Patsy to go and intending to follow
her at once. She realized that Craw-
ford had gone too far, was dangerous,
as Patsy had warned her he was and
that it behooved her to be extremely
careful. She surmised that her sister
had come to get the note and, not hear
ing her voice raised in anger, assumed
that Crawford had succeeded in molli-
tying her and that everything was 60
ing along all right. She wondered at
the length of her stay. however, and
was getting impatient.
When the door opened brusquely and
Patsy, seeking refuge herself, appeared
to her startled gaze, she was too sur
prised to move. Patsy as she closed
the door and found herself confronting
Nora was not less startled and aston
ished. The supper table standing be-.
tween them told eloquently enough the
tale Of what had taken place. Doubt
that her sister had fallen victim to
Crawford's snares was impossible.
"N1y God!' she groaned.
Nora had risen to her feet and stood
speechless.
Patsy went to her, her eyes blazing
and her teeth set.
"What is this?" she demanded.
The girl did not, could not, answer.
"Speak," she ordered, "but whisper.
Mons in the next room.''
''Mom!' gasped Nora, If possible, still
more terrified.
She raised her hand to her head in a
dazed way. Patsy grasped her wrist
furiously, and, squeezing it as in a
wise, twisted the arm until she forced
the girl to her knees.
"Speak, speak, say" she ordered
"What is the meaning Of thisT'
"Let go, you are hurting me-" whis-
pered Nora in agony. II have done
nothing wrong"
Nothing wrong" Kissed Patsy,
trembling with grief and passion.
"You lie, an you know you lie. You've
been lynn to me all along. I'll let
nom in an show her the thing YOU
are" she said.
Nora threw her arms around her
knees and clutched her frantically.
mo, no, not that!" she duplicated.
Listen to me, Patsy. I'm not what
you think. Indeed, I'm not. haven't
done anything wrong. Don't let nom
see; oh, don't!"
Il wouldn't believe you under OATH"
said Patsy. what are you DOM in
this mans room, in his bedroom
What's this here blowout? What are
you dom in that dress?'
Il came to get the note. 1 didn't
mean to stay, but had to-"
eyes, you had to stay to supper
He'd have given it to me if you
hadn't come"
He'd "a given it to you, at what
price, you fool! Didn't l tell you not
to Gomez"
II had to. was afraid of pop and
nom. Oh, Patsy, don't be hard on
me. know things look queer, but
I'm good girl.''
"Let go my legs an get up. How
many times have you been here be-
fore? Own up-tell the truth. If you
lie, I'll kill you"
Never; it's the very first time"
':Swear it, by the Holy Mother!'
"By the Holy Mother, it's true. 1
wish may die if it amt"
"Swear that you amt yet gone to the
bad"
81 swear it, Patsy. You can believe
me. And I'm not going to the bad
ever"
you'll go in spite of yourself, in
spite Of me, in spite of pop an mom,"
said Patsy bitterly.
'You haven't any right to say such
things" protested Nora. give been
foolish, perhaps, but didn't mean to
do wrong"
That's just it. You don't mean to
do wrong, but you will-you will, God
help us"
"What did you come here for-tha
note?' n
eyes. and to see if you was here.s
'Have you got it?''
"Not yet" y
"How did you leave the theater7
thought you couldn't do it, leading the
chorus"
Il didn't ask. When couldn't find
you liked to the fat, an when l saw
you wasn't there l got bunch you'd
be fool enough to come to Crawford's.
An then heard mons voice an
rushed in here, cause I couldn't tell
her why was there without tellin' all.
I wonder what's she sayin'? They
know we're not at the show shop an
are huntin' for US. sure pop. Hark!
What's that?"
She gripped her sisters shoulder, and
cold sweat broke out upon her brow.
"Oh, my God!' she whispered.
"There's Dan!'
Mallory, after his first interview with
Crawford had walked around to the
Eighty-sixth street station Of the SUBJ