The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-17

and swear to it-but 7 knew he meant
money. added the fellow.
,, Then the story went on. wilkins and
Jimmy. who had come rpon the scene
a few moments too late, filled the gaps
with philosophichl deductions as 10 the
meaning Of II all.
Jimmy had arrived just In time TO
see Conley step out Of the woods and
men return hastily. as II he had for
gotten something. As q matter OF fact
ne mad forgotten a check for s5Do-with
which he had expected TO buy Off the
protection "''
The other In the mea ntime. seeing his
s'c eo SissT 70 Tsssh the girl vas about
sense sense. OF hearing warned him OF his
rNsis return. and instead no termed
and faced the city man
r,Each or them expected an attack,
been following the siri. and. m 40 WIN
having decided that he was a match
TOT his rival. wilkins insoientiy answer-
cd. wei, what II I was7"
,. what l want to know IL, are you
interested IN her-are you In love with
her? Would you like to marry her.
Wukins' reply was an evil grin.
Wen: you can have her and a thous-
and dollars In cash-but you'll have TO
| baby-mighty good Do YOU under
stand?' asked Coniey.
None OF this had Jimmy heard. Hc
had only seen the two men wandering
on toward the cabin with a certain a.
sorbed interest In each other witch he
did not then understand, but which was
now unpieasantiy clear.
And 90 II was arranged. Richard Com
| ley end wilkins Matched their plot.
The Baby Stolen.
Madge was wandering through the
woods toward her own home. grooming
to her baby. almost cheerfully. She felt
strangely elated. Richard had come
from the city at sound OF her voice.
Baby Elimpsed patch OF rcd flowers
at the top OF a bank By the roadside
and began screaming Justify for them
! To quiet him Madge laid him In the
grass and climbed after the bright OBJ
| jects which had attracted the little lad.
| A minute later she returned tri-
umphant bearing the flowers.
Baby was gone!
Then the mother heard Its cries and
followed the sound. Straigh: to the
| cabin those cries led her. And when
! the mother reached the door OF the d.
| lapidated cottage she plunged In to
| rescue her baby. The man flung the
door shut after her and bolted It. Then
he seized her and fastened her securely.
| A second later he hurried out carrying
the baby away under her tortured Dyes.
Gosh! That was sort OF fun-most
as much as when I take one OF the
kittens and the Cd mother cat meous
for II. hid the kid In the barn. en-
then I went back and told the girl
she's got to marry me or else ia leave
the kid to starve."
| MadUA'a fana had emma ,yhita Nd
twisting with pain and horror. She
thought her lover Q pitiless villain.
At last wilkins had united his cap
tive and had told her to choose between
her freedom and her baby's life.
Mother love prevailed-nothing but
the life OF her baby. She knew she was
was ready: she must brave all for the
sake of her baby.
But wave on wave OF horror went
over her when wilkins seized her and
crushed her into his arms. She felt
herself helpless but normal instincts OF
| self preservation had made her shrek
for help. and her cries had led Jimmy
and me straight to the cabin door.
And that was the story wilkins told
"And now, Miss Beatrice. will your
sense OF ethics and honesty prevent
your using the story TO Madge's advan'
tage?" asked Jimmy; Are you ready
little evil that good may Gomez"
with tense breathlessness Madgs
Minturn watched me-and ! knew what
my answer must be.
Well, later events have proven that hat
means--if you can be sure OF the end.
Jimmy and had been sent special
Invitation to the "Conley:Payne
sd our So ~o rGs S' e sSssSSns
made ourselves hne and splendid In
keeping with the limousine society
with which we were going to minsle
In a Limousine.
And we went to that wedding in a
Limousine which had quite as long
a wheel base and an engine OF just
as numerous horsepower as those OF
Miss Margaret Payne's more ex-
elusive intimates.
The Payne drawing room represent
ed the very best in the interior dec
orators art, plus a florists work un-
trammeled by thought OF expense
When we entered II and beheld the
floral altar OF marvellous roses banked
across one end of the room, my heart
gave q sudden contraction, half fear
and half pity. You see, I was remem.
berinE the tumbledown cabin in the
woods ana the sullen-faced degenerate
who wanted Madge Minturn for his
own.
/ the room and crossed to the flora
, altar back OF which stood the sur.
piicsd minister. His face was chalk
whitS---set late Q mold OF repression
| and not looking at all like that OF al
eXpectant bridegroom.
In the front row OF spectators stood
/ Richards fdther-dominant, arroga mt
evidently the master ngure In tn,
situation which he had created for hi
son.
An organ hidden somewhere In tn,
house pealsd forth The Voice Tha
? RraatheA Oar Eden" ana than nwuns