Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-28

II Wdh bHOftlY DftOTc noon TIC iOl'
lowing day that Mary, attired in a
trinity fitting tailored suit for the
occasion assembled the steps of the
Laidlaw residence and rang the bell
She was admitted to see Laidlaw
after some ceremony.
Il have come on rather EN-
barrassing interview, Mr.. Laidlaw,
began Mary, timidly. She flashed a
bewitching glance at him from her
downcast eyes, and smiled again as
she saw the others thin lips part
in deprecatory grimace.
Surely you can have no embarass-
ment IN speaking TO me, Miss"
Peter Laidlaw glanced at the card in
his hand, and finished with a little
bow, Miss Davenport, | assure you
that you can speak with the utmost
frankness and confidence to me on
any subject"
Thank you" said Mary. She hcsi-
tated again, fumbling with her hand
kerchief. The fact Of the matter is,
Mr. Laidlaw," she continued nervous
ly u have come to you about your
son and my sister"
My sonf" Mr.. LaidIaw frowned.
And what has the youngster been up
to nowi'
"Oh, he isn't to blame, not In the
leastP said Mary quickly. IL am
afraid the fault is with my sister. You
see, he IS infatuated with her, and
wants TO marry her, and-and she
isn't the kind OF a girl that ought to
marry your son and heir, Mr. Laid
lawP The girls head sank and she
burst into tears.
Please don't think harshly OF me
for this confession. n you only knew
how ! have pleaded with my sister
TO mend her ways, | know that you
would sympathizc with mel She Is
an adventures, a fortune hunter and
IS marrying your son for his money.
II is hafd-hard, Mr.. Laidlaw. 10
have 10 say such things about ones
own sister, but | could never rest
easily II felt that had allowed an
innocent young man 10 be trapped by
her. And she is beautifui--mueh
more so than am am the plain
one Of the family"
Il don't believe itp said the elder
Mr.. Laidlaw emphatically. IF your
sister IS superior to you in looks, my
dear young friend, she, she"
You are Just saying that 10 get
my mind off my troublesp chided
Mary. But you must take me seri-
ously, or II will be too late, and we
shall both be sorry You see, | had
to leave my sister some time ago. We
were living together, but when | saw
that she was persisting in the habits
was warning her against, and that
my pleadinRs were Of no avail, / had
70 part with her, hoping against hope
that the fact might help me to make
her see the error Of her ways, and in
duce her 10 repent and reform But,
50 far, she has paid absolutely no at
tcntion 10 my nrgings, and although
VIC occupy apartments in the same
building, VIC see little of each other.
/ wish It might be different. would
give half my life to make it other
wise, but ] have done all that | could
do, and-and now"
Peter Laidlaw rose from his chair
just IN time TO catch the girls hys-
terically shaken form, as she gave
herself up TO flood OF racking tears.
lie soothed her with petting and
promised to call on her next day. be-
slowing an admiring glance on her
as she left
Peter Laidlaw, quite evidently, was
a man of direct methods. II was not
yet II o'clock of the next morning
when, watching from the sitting room
window OF the apartment, now given
over exclusively TO the occupancy Of
Mona, Mary saw the limousine OF the
elder Laidlaw draw up at the curb.
Mona let the bell ring for a full min
ute before she answered. There were
two reasons for her delay. The first,
OF course, was the quite natural wish
TO keep Laidlaw tuning below. The
second was the need of time TO com
plete a striking change of costume.
Laidlaw paused stock still in the
doorway OF Monas sitting room, and
caught his breath quickly at the Wis
ion lounging on a window seat be-
fore him. Mona turned her head list.
lessly.
Come in" she said indlfferently.
80 a. YOU NiNb-GI LJdNFns
portl stammered Laidlaw.
"Rightop agreed the girl. "And
what can | do for your"
Il believe that you are the young
woman 10 whom my foolish son has
been paying some slight attentions"
Ills voice was cold and cutting. we
will get TO business at once. What do
you wantf"
Il don't get your Mona deliber-
ately extended her feet SO as 10 ex-
pose another inch Of her silken
ankles. III you arc Peter Laidlaw
you must be Dicks governor He has
spoken TO you about me. Since you
are 10 be my father-i law, YOU can
come over and kss'mel"
Laidlaw glarcd
Kiss your lie snapped. you vix.
en-. You are just the type OF woman
that a foolish, headstrong boy would
make fool Of himself over And
now, let US understand one another.
What IS your pfieci How much do
you want 10 lea my son 90"
Mona's hand reached deliberately
toward an electric push button az her
side The man saw that she meant
@ have him elected With a mutter.
cd mpfeca,ion, he turned short. ana
strobe toward tho door
Mona was still busy with hot water
and powder rag ritaeing she paint
when the electric bell ~ her apart.
nieni Fang again hui this time shr
DID not answer even when 4 repeat.
~ iis summons second and a third