The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-12-09
Continued From Yesterday
MiRlAM's RuSE

Miriam shrugged her shoulders. "A
little. perhaps: very little. When you
have grown to know as much Of tho
world as I do, Miss Pollock. you will
realize that any woman can get man
into her power so long as she can
make him feel sorry for her.
Il don't understand" replied Molly
stiffly.
Very well, then. will try to ex-
plain. 1t was in South Africa that !
first met Mr.. Brent"
Ah. so 1t wasn't only your hus.
band?" cried Molly. Chris told me
that he had mot your husband there"
But not a word about me?" asked
Miriam.
No"
You are n brick. Kit" remarked
Miriam. flashing a smile at him. well.
Miss Pollock. was married to q farmer
In Rhodesia. I need not bore you with
details. He was just the worst kind of
brute, that's all: and even to think OF
my married life makes me 20 cold.
Well. Mr.. Brent came along and was
sorry for me. He gave me money so
that could run away. He got me
fy me. | was ambitious: I wanted to
be rich. I wanted to live. really live,
after all those wasted years in Rho
desia. didn't want anything more
to do with men, though: you needn't
think that. l had enough OF that side
of life with my husband. But wanted
excitement something to fiji my life.
something that would pay WE'LL This
opportunity came. Ny country was
nothing in particular to me. took the
job on. Well I wanted a dupc. an UNI
conscious assistant" She paused a
moment II hope you won't mind what
Ram going to say Kit. but couldn't
help thinking OF you. You looked tho
| part so Well" and she gave u little rip
pie OF laughter which struck Molly as
being peculiarly heartless under the
! circumstances. II just made uEc OF
him." Miriam explained. ut was 30
easy. He asked no questions. he just
| believed in me-"
And II II hadn't been for me-" said
Molly slowly, you would have game on
using him"
| pleasantly.
Molly's feminine mind had seen a
! flaw in the argument and she fixed on
! 1t.
! But II you are all you say. since he
was ready to take your guilt on himself,
why didn't you let him." she demanded,
III there Is really nothing more than
| just friendship between you?''
Because II wouldn't have saved me-"
replied Miriam frankly. "Otherwisc-''
and she gave an expressive little gess
| ture with her hands.
Il think you must be the wickedest
woman in the world" said Molly pas
sionatey.
mo, no. Molly" cried Brent. you
don't understand"
Chris. you still defend her after what
she's said?"
please don't be cross with him." said
Miriam sweetly. Il think it's really
rather beautiful. Well, Miss Pollock,
hadn't YOU better tell Mr. Sanderson
that YOU have found the spy and that
she's quite willing to confess to- him?'.
Molly looked from one to the other OF
them in miserable perplexity.
you como with me. Chris, she sug-
gcs,ed
oh. no, YOU mustn't leave the spy
alone" put In Miriam. Suppose Tlwcre
to escape. What would Mr.. SandersOn
| say them"
Shall | GO Chris" asked Molly.
He had turned AWAY from the two
women and was standing with his cl-
bows on the mantelpiecc aud his head
in his hands.
yes. go, dear; ! suppose YOU had
better" he said in "A low voice; there
Is nothing more to be said"
Molly again glanced from one to the
other then went silently out OF the
room. leaving them together.
AS the door closed. Brent swung
round and faced Miriam.
Good Lord! what horrible situa
tion.' he said violently. Miriam, what
have YOU done?"
The only thing that could be done,
" they had taken YOU away what
would have happened to us all tonight ?
You see, l remembered that Pollock's a
magistrate and that he'd have YOU ar
rested on suspicion. He doesn't love
you as it is, if you'll excuse my men,
tioning it, Kit. You would not have
been able to see the authorities and
get at anything before morning, and
1t would have been too late"
It's going TO be damnably unpleasant
for YOU grumbled Brent
Miriam came swiftly toward him,
giancing at the door as she did so. r
don't think so. Kit. I've got an idea.
/. Didn't YOU tell me once that the Ger
man system Is so arranged that one spy
may meet another and have no idea Of
it?"
, Yes, that's true, but what's that got
to do with it?"
It's all l wanted to know, thanks"
said Miriam, laughing.
What's your idea? Tell me, Miriam
Never you mind. It's my own little
eve lamb Of an idea. But. tell me.
who found the plan III my room
Does that matter now p It's been
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