Putnam patriot., 1915-10-08

wholly masterfui. Look at me-
/ Then, at last. she yielded her eyes to
! his, and the piteous sacrifice in those
depths taught him something of the
CHASTITY truth that lay beneath her sur
face reluctance.
lie went to the door leading into the
hall and called sharply:
Marshall Marshallr' There came
an indetermindte sound that he trans
! lated into an answer. Bring Creegan
here" was his command.
a moment later the detective APP
peared with a manacled thief at his
side
Take off tile handouts Vain
/ wright directed brislly.
After one glance at the set face
Marshall obeyed the order. Then
Wainwright spoke again to the pris-
oner:
"Creegan. my wife tells me that she
and you had planned to go away to-
gether."
That's right. gov'nor."
Wainwright turned his eyes full on
his wife. and spoke easily, almost lack
adaisically:
well, here she is. Creegan. Take
her-and gor
The thief stared wonderingly.
''Sure-surer' he exclaimed.
Wainwright nodded toward Creegan
and then looked toward his wife.
Come, come" he eXhorted. There's
your man. Take him and be off He
went to her, took her hand. drew her
forward. and placed her hand in that
of the thief, holding the two together.
The touch of the rufiian's hand ON hers
broke the bonds of her self control.
She drew away with a shriH cry of
horror.
no, no, no. she repeated fiereely.
Il can't, | can't. | can'tr
"Lucener, Wainwright's voice was
eurcharged with tenderness.
But the woman was become gem
uine now-self sacrifice forgotten UNI
der the driving of natural repulsion.
ooh" she cried despairingly. IN
go: yes, will go. But not with him
not with himi Oh, l couldn't; no,
couldn't Td-Td Kill myself first!'
Suddenly a smile curved the lips of
Wainwright
Il thought SOL Without any haste
he turned to Marshall Take him
away" he directed, with a curt nod
toward the thief.
"Ill keep him safe, no fear" the de-
tective joined.
But Wainwright shook his head.
"No, not that" he commanded. Turn
him loose-let him go!''
As the two disappeared Lucene ut
tered broken cry and sank to the
floor, budding in helpless weakness.
AS she fell Wainwright leaped to her,
caught her in his arms, drew her to
his breast.
"Oh, my dear-my dear" he said
TREMENDOUSLY. Il knew it! Yes,
knew it,
Then presently there came a whisper
from the wife. a merest breath of
sound. which told him loudly of her
ruth:
''Oh, Cortland, but | meant to go''
For the time being Wainwright felt
himself the eenqueror. He understood
p come measure the device by which
he Master Mind had plotted to make
Lucene the instrument of his venge-
ance He turned to Andrew with
smile of exultation at the utter dis
comfiture. as he deemed it, of his in
genious foe.
Il shall dismiss you now, Andrew,
he said. rather supepiliously.
The Master Mind, however. showed
no trace of the humility of defeat
"You are to learn, Mr. Wainwright.
that l am not quite 50 easily dis
missed.
Wainwright frowned disdainfully.
what do you meanT' he demanded.
what has passed" Andrew remark
ed lis merely an incident. Now we
come at last to the real issue be-
tween us"
Wainwright was plainly perplexed-
1.-THE real issueT' he repeated
Andrews eyes flashed ominously and
IN his utteranee had new toxic quail
ty
DO you suppose that after four
years Of careful planning. | would
place the issue in the hands Of a mere
ehldYv
Yet it would seem that you did
commit Just that folly"
Not So Andrews denial was
ipokeu with angry vehemenee. Il
have my chief resource against you
ttiI in readiness. and l shall employ il.
Listen. sir. You aspire to high office,
Mr. wainwright The opposition 70
you is strsng. and it is unserupulous
You have Threatened the corporations.
They know what 70 expect from you.
Now. If in the newspapers We're 70 apr
pear the story If certain peculiar tai
81 rs Of Your wife's relatives, together
with a sketch of your wife's life
MY wile's relat!ves." Wainwright
exclaimed.
Ii was Lucene who seized the oppor.
tunity for explanation. Little by little,
DOW that the period Of most frightful
stress was past. she had been gather
ing some idea of the truth as TO the