The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-01
Copyright. 1913. By tn. star Company.
Copyright
The Adventure That Was
Just Outside the Law

ed publicity more than paying his ex-
tortionate price--the price of uneasy and
guilty silence.
Madeline Grey was one of many pa
thetic women who groveled In fear at
Colds threat to drag her clanking skele-
ton from its cupboard.
But for her there threatened more
than the pillory OF public scorn--
the love and trust OF an eager, untried
boy were at stake. And she was afraid
to put her whole world-a mans faith
to 30 grim a test as she must endure.
unless Simeon Colds power were
broken.
The man could not be won to pity
or an isolated flare Of decency. He
must be bought or terrified into yield
Ing up the letters.
There was another method OF deal
Ing with Gold, but / did not think Of
clever Jimmy Barton to persuade me
of the only way to save Madeline Grey.
How often, have you seen Simeon
Gold?" asked.
from him telling me that unless
wished to see my letters to Charles
Duane In cold type, / had better come
In and talk over a friendly arrange
ment to suppress them. l was fright
ened. OF course, but 1 thought 1 had
better act at once.
80 1 hurried right down there. Oh!
Miss Fairfax. know exactly how a
fly must feel when II becomes aware
OF the fact that it's hopelessly en-
meshed in the spiders web. Colds Off
flee Is the most gorgeous place ever
saw-are all newspaper offices like
that7'' she concluded naively.
made for use use. II" not show Mrs. Grey. Be-
sides which. a scandal weekly like the
Vampire isn't deserving OF the title
newspaper: II deals with all the news
that Is unfit for print"
ged for those letters. assured him that
they couldn't interest anybody but me.
He said they interested him very much.
And finally he sneered at me In O tone
that made me realize he understood
some OF Wilbur's jealousy. My dear
Mrs. Grey, your husband will return
day after tomorrow. I am sure he will
pay my price rather than have the let
ters appear In the Vampire
Then began pleading all over
again. Finally told him that could
not buy the letter1 from him, and that
l could not bear to have him go to Will
bur.
An Infamous Proposal.
"Oh, Miss Fairfax, 1 can't tell you
the expression that came over his face
then. He laughed and leaned forward
and said In the most insinuating tone
have ever heard: There are so many
ways a pretty young woman can get
money. Even would be willing
Il didn't let him 20 on. am old
enough to understand what a man like
that means when he seizes my wrist
and leers such words at me. pushed
him away somehow and jumped to my
feet
There didn't seem any particular OBJ
ject In staying and so, although I had
accomplished nothing, ! hurried away.
don't know what intended to do. I
had not thought of you then
I stared at the desperate creature be-
fore me with a queer tightening at my
heart strings. Her tragedy was 80 un-
necessary--and that was what made II
80 hard to endure. Based on nothing.
the outgrowth OF no shameful thing. 1t
yet had assumed proportions where 1t
threatened to becloud all of her life.
II will nelp you. Mrs. Grey. 1 don't
see how Just this minute. but 1 am
sure there is way. Iour letters TO
Charles Duane shall not be published
in The Vampire. and your husband shall
not know Of them-until you are ready
to tell him. am going to help you
but there is n price ask, too. You
must tell your husband the truth. viii
you promise that?"
"Oh! yes. I couldn't go on living on
the edge. OF q volcano. Some day when
I am calm again I'll tell Wilbur all
about the man thought loved almost
ten years before ] met him. But
needn't show him the letters-surely you
won't ask that?"
mo, won't ask that" said, as II
thna lat Ill I,t To-.
session.
But a second later I smiled to myself
I had promised to get the letters, and
Madeline Grey had promised to tell her
husband the truth. Her promise was
contingent on mine. How could either
one Of us keep our word?
After had given Madeline Grey my
promise that her letters to long dead
lover should not appear in the Vampire
sat .s i moment IN lost in thought-fairly
seemingly simple task ] had undertaken.
I had forgotten all about by luncheon
engagement with one J. Barton, and
when the maid ushered him in fairly
II there was a way out Jimmy would
help us find It. After 1 had introduced
him to his hostess i gave her some idea
OF my faith in him by saying: "If only
you will let me tell Mr.. Barton your
story; I'm M, sure he will help me find a
So we told Jimmy the story-and as
some newspapermen say: HE fairly ate
II up"
Jimmy Joins the Chase.
do you know, Mrs. Grey, you are a
good Samaritan-nothing less. I've been
pining to try conclusions with the YAM
pire gentleman for some time past, but
] hadn't n logical excuse for wasting
my time on him.
Now that you have put 1t into the
days work I am justified I'm carrying
out the desire of my young heart. Miss
Beatrice Fairfax, you are cordially dis
invited to help me eat up $3.50. 20 to
beard the lion In his den-'The YAM
plre' In his lair
| And Jimmy and / departed leaving
Madeline Grey 30 reassured, so calmly
trusting that when our task looked most
hopeless sacrificed a personal principle
OF right rather, than her faith in the
helpers on whom she had called In her
hour OF need.
We decided to go our several ways TO
work after quick lunch Of crackers
and milk which did not seriously deplete
Jimmy's riches. invited that youth "a
report progress over a dinner table
with Granny at the head OF the festal
L