Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-18

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it! For moment she hesitated, and
then her hand reached out stealthily
to appropriate it. The instinct that
whispered her a swift warning she
could not have explained, but she
drew back hurriedly, leaving the wal
let undisturbed. Was it not possible
that Wentworth had laid clever trap
to test her? 1t was inconceivable that
a man accustomed to living by his
wits, would be. careless enough to
leave $4,000 weapon OF blackmail
conspicuously an restaurant table!
A moment later Wentworth sauntered
back, and his glance told Mary that
her suspicious had been justified.
With low laugh he picked up the
wallet, and turning it inside out, flung
it back. 1t was empty!
please accept my apologies for
doubling your he said in low tone.
"But couldn't afford TO take chance
and if we are to play the game to-
gether, l must be absolutely certain
that we are going to do it on the
squarel' N-'
Mary paled. How near she had been
to a hopeless, fatal betrayal
When she rejoined Mona that night
her mind was definitely made up. She
would force the situation to climax
without further delay. She saw now
that every day might hold fresh pit
falls and new dangers. Until almost
daybreak the two girls considered the
various elements of the game, and
when they finally retired it was with
the decision to stage the last act OF
their little drama that same night.
1t was nearly noon when Mary
called up Wentworth at his apart
ments, and asked hurriedly for an inn
mediate interview. When he met her
an hour later she impaired to him the
intelligence that Mrs. Douglas and
Carlton, after the theater that night,
were together in the formers apart
ment at the Roanoke. =
"And ] have plan which I think
will give US what we have been schem-
ing for" ended Mary enthusiastically.
For several moments she spoke swift
ly and nervously, and at the end
Wentworth caught her hand enthusi-
astically.
Splendid he cried, "I'll be ready
when you arer' The die was cast! For
just moment Mary ,itated, and
then she Strengthened her shoulders
bravely. 1t was too late now to draw
back.
1t was just before II o'clock that
night when the telephone in the apart
ment of Mary and Mona announced
the arrival of Wentworth in the lobby.
Mary asked him to come up at once.
She was alone. Mona had left for a
theater with Carleton shortly after a
J o'clock dinner, leaving Mary to put
the finishing touches to the last act
they had planned in their little drama.
She received Wentworth at the door,
and with show of secrecy, conducted
him through the living room into an
inner bed room.
Wentworth glanced around him Gu
riously, and his eyes lighted as he
noted camera, and flash light ap-
paratus, already in position, and
trained on the living room. d.
All that we need now is to wait
until she and Daniels are seated at
their tete-a-tete supper-and then
light the powder. The camera will do
the rest!' chuckled Mary in apparent
glee. al3ssss -eifa5 =
"And we will sell the plate to the
highest bidderr said Wentworth with
grinness which showed that he al
least was in deadly earnest.
Hush" cautioned Mary suddenly,
catching his arm, as key turned in
the hall lock. The next moment Mona
and Carlton entered the suite, and
the latter removed his companions
wraps with show OF tenderness
which made Wentworth smile again in