Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-17
) TEMPTING OF TANERNAKG

THAT is for me to iudgsr' sire ex.
claimed. you say that because you do
not understand. a few hours may make
all the difference in the world"
He shook his head.
~ will tell you exactly what Il IN my
mind" he said, deliberately. "The young
lady was terrified when she saw you that
night accidentally IN the chemists chop.
She almost dragged me away, and al
| though she was almost fainting when We
reached the taxicab, her greatest and
| chief anxiety was that we should get
away before you could follow us. ! cam
not forget this. Until I have received
her permission. therefore, TO disclose her
Whereabouts. we will, II you please speak
of something else"
He rose TO his feet and giancins around
was Just In time to SEQ the change IN
the face OF his companion. That eioquent+
ly pleading smile had died away from her
lips, her teeth were clenohed. She looked
like a woman struggling hard TO control
some overwhelming passion. without the
smile her lips seemed hard, even cruel.
There were evil things shining out of her
eyes. Tavernske felt chilled. almost
afraid.
1--WE will see the rest Of the house," she
declared coldly.
They went on from room TO room.
Tavernake, recovering himself rapidly,
master of his subject, was fluent and
practical. The woman listened, with only
terse remark here and there. once
more they stood In tho hall.
rs there anything else you would like
to seer" he asked.
Nothing" she replied. hut there 10
one thing more have to say"
He waited in stolid silence.
"only a week ago." she went on look
ing him in the face, II told a man who
is what you call, I think. an Inquiry
agent. that would give hundred pounds
II he could discover that young woman
for me within "a hours"
Tavernake started, and tho smile cafne
back to the lips of Mrs. Wenham Gardner
After all. perhaps she had found the
way!
"a hundred pounds is a great deal Of
| money" he said thoughtfully.
| She shrugged her shoulders.
mot so very much.' she replied.
about fortnight's rent of this house.
| Mr.. Tavernake."
us the offer still open7' he asked
She looked into his eyes, and her faco
had once more the beautiful Ingenious
| ness of a child.
| "Mr. Tavernake," she said, "the offer
is still open. Get into the car with ma
and drive back to my rooms at the
Milan Court, and 1 will give you a cheque
for hundred pounds at once. 1t will be
| very easily earned and you may Just as
well take it. for now 1 know where you
| are employed, 1 could have you followed
day by day until / discover for myself
what you are so foolishly concealing. 30
reasonable. Mr.. Tavernake."
Tavernake stood quite still. His arms
were folded, he was looking out of the
hall window at the smoky vista Of roofs
| and chimneys. From the soles of his
ready made boots to his ill-brushed hair.
he was n commonplace young man. A
hundred pounds was to him a vast sum
of money. It represented years strenu-
Gus savings, perhaps more. The woman
who watched him imagined that lie was
hesitatlng. Tavernake, however, had no
such thought in his mind. He stood there
instead, wondering what strange thing
had come to him that the mention of a
hundred pounds, delightful sum though
IL was, never tempted him for a single
second What this woman had said might
be true She would probably be able to
discover the address easily, enough with
out his help. Yet no such reflection
seemed to make the least difference. FROM
the days of his earliest boyhood. from thu
time when he had flung himself Into the
struggle, money had always meant MUCK
to him. money not for It's own sake. but
as the key to those things which he
coveted in life. Yet at that moment
| something stronger seetneu 10 nave as
serted itself.
"You will Gomez" she whispered pass
ing her arm through his I'VE Will be
there in less than five minutes, and
will write you the cheque before you tell
me anything"
He moved toward the door indeed. but
he drew little away from her.
Madam he said, II am sorry to seem
so obstinate. but thought I had made
| You understand soIne time ago. do not
feel at liberty to tell you anything with.
out that young lady's permIssion.'
'You refuse?" she cried. incredulously-
"You refuse a hundred pounds?"
He opened the door of the car. He
seemed scarcely to have heard her.
| cat about II o'clock tomorrow morn
ing" he announced. 'I shall have the
pleasure OF calling upon you. trust that
YOU will have decided to take the house"
Continued Tomorrow