The Washington herald., 1916-04-09

of-publieity! If I tried to make a move, the
first thing this man Reynolds would do would
be to expose her. It's his only weapon-but it's
a terribly strong one. It's kept him out of the
clutches of the law for years The police and
half the big private detective agencies in the
country have done their best to get something
on him-and he defes them"
1T seems incredible" !" said Mona, with shin
ing eyes.
got more money than he possibly know what
to do with. | believe the things come to be sport
for him-that he takes a vicious, depraved sort
of pleasure in seeing his victims squirm. He has
a wonderful place out in the suburbs and-well,
l don't know that this is thing to repeat be-
fore you young ladies, but his neighbors do a
good deal of talking about the women who are
seen there from time to time.
ugh" said Mona. What beast He's
old man, you say?"
HE must be about sixty" said Clyde AS
repusive and vile looking old scoundrel as
you'd find in long days hunt, toop
You were right" said Mona. Its an ugly
story. But I'm glad you told it to us! Oh, l do
hope that poor woman finds some way to beat
him, How much time has she?"
He said a week-but he'll give her more
than that. He won't strike until he's quite
tain that there's way of getting the money out
of her know his ways"
Back in their own room Mary shuddered.
I'm not glad he told u.s." said she. Il think
it was dreadful story, Mona !"
$50 do II" said Mona. But. Mary-cant
you see? Where could find better person
to present our next bill against society for set
tlement?"
"Oh-ohl I didn't think" !" said Mary. But,
Mona-a man like that is no Tomlinson Gerry!
We might very easily burn our fingers if we
tried to serve him as we did Gerry!'
Then, we'll serve him very differently" said
Mona. "Oh, let me think! l know there's some
way of outwitting an old villain like that-and
wouldn't love to do it. just know one thing,
tOO-the more we know about him the better our
chance will be. You heard what Clyde said-the
private detective agencies must all know about
him. Wen get a report from one"
Mary it who attended to this and did it,
too, without letting the agency suspect that
either she Mona concerned in the mat
ter in any way. And Mary, with sober face,
studied the report.
HE lends money-as well getting it by
blackmail." she said. Hes very rich-and. oh
He keeps lot of money and jewels well at
his place-he's afraid of banks I don't wonder.
I suppose he knows that of his victims may
turn on him at any minute. and that he may
have to make a break for his freedom! And
here-you remember what Clyde said about the
women?"
"IIe was awfully nce-he was afraid we'd be
shocked"
Yes 1t is nice to have men considerate
again, isn't it? We've had enough experience
with the other sort But here-it goes into that
in detail here. 1t seems he's rather mad about
our sex. my dear. Now | know can handle
weakness and that's play on
"Tt's risky work. Mona"
It'll take the risk. I'm flasher than you
are, though man who had any sense wouldn't
hesitate minute to choose you. So I'll be the
victim of his sixty-year-old charms-only I
WON'T"
"How you going to manage it?"
Don't know yet-Ive got to him first.
One thing I've learned is that il doesn't do to
map out a lot of plans ahead, before you know
the people you've got to deal with. They won't
work and you tend to stick to them despite
yourself It's better to approach thing like
this with an open mind, if you manage to
do it. 1t seems to me I've got widows outfit
somewhere in trunks. if can find it. think