Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-27
CHAPTER XX-(Continuedl.

She suddenly forsook her half-sllent
attitude, and drew close to him with a
gesture half confidential, half appealing,
But can't walt until tomorrow" she
said. You don't know how important II
is that I get possession of it today! Now
you won't be horrid and stubborn, viii
you!"
''why2" asked Craig. smiling at her
sudden coquetry and willing to lead her
on.
"A woman's reason-because | can't
tell you all about it, today. But If you
will help me now-by just not being stub
born--there is nothing | wouldn't do-al-
most!'
why, the almost'?" he parried quizzi-
cally
She laid her warm hand eagerly al
most fiercely upon his somewhat pale
one. Her soft breath famed his cheek.
''Yesl-Why say almost she repeated,
'You cold American men know not how
the heart beats in our SUMMER cline. The
whole, wide world beCkons us saying,
Come, my children" We have the key
TO great fortune which will bring US
happiness! And yet you refuse me the
key-until 'tomorrow'-and you sit here
and say. Why almost?'"
Rutherford suddenly awoke to the fact
that she was making love to him-and
he wondered, manlike, how much the
blue buckle had to do with it.
He seized her hand in his own. DO
you mean it," he whispered.
Can you not-see7" she answered, with
meaning glance.
"But why this haste. today" he asked,
still caressing the hand left willing in
his own. why not wait until [ can
help you claim this fortune?" e
There are other and powerful forces
at work, dear" she said, lingering on the
N gf "
do not wait. and neither must we. I
must get the buckle before they can
plan against US | must act at once"
Then will you let me see you tomor-
row." he asked softly.
Not tomorrow, Craig, as / shall have
to 20 away to obtain my property. l
shall have to go South-then | will hurry
back-to you"
She must go South Craig's mind
ieaped instantly to the contradictory
news items of the mornings paper,
Heldernlan was going South, on hasty
mission. What more natural than that
this woman, his accomplice, should also
be going, and that she should he des-
perately in need of the buckle to COM
plete her chain of proofs?
Rutherford was undergoing a complete
change of heart. He now realized. be-
yond the shadow of doubt. how infinite
~ superior was Billie Ballantyne to the
and seemingly so convincingly. He be-
lieved 1t quite possible that this ad-
venturess would play him against Helder-
man, or Helderman against him, with
no compunction beyond her own imme-
diate desires.
He gently released her hand and |
reached for the telephone receiver
What are you going to do?" she /
asked. again placing her hand on his /
wrist.
"why, telephone downtown" he re- .
piled, casually. you see, I don't keep
the buckle here in my rooms. Too many .
people have evinced an interest i'm il,
have It slowed away safe in a vault
downtown, and I thought l could tele-
phone
why, give yourself that trouble. Craig,
dear2" She was slowly pushing the re-
eeiver out of his reach. although she
never took her eyes off his face
why give yourself that trouble? Just
let me have an order on the trust com
pany; or send your key down by your
nan, with me to accompany him.
Rutherford half smiled. Her fear of
he telephone had removed the last
lingering doubt in his mind His voice
ook on a more business-like tone.
NO. Miss Arany, that is impossible.
Assuming that you are the rightfu own
r of the blue buckle, there Is another
'laimant. These rival claims constitute