The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-12-11

tilted In permitting any one. however
trustworthy, to go In thereT
His tone was growing more decided
interests Of state were asserting them
selves.
"You would be fool to do so. Here
is my box. / intrust 1t to your care"
A temptation came to him not to be
outdone In matter OF confidence, but
he resisted it. Taking the box, In
which there were only few gems for
informal occasions, he went away and
placed 1t In his safe.
The next evening at dinner the young
widow was enhancing. She seemed
to be in a light, happy mood. She
| told the story of how the host had re-
fused to permit her to visit his safe
without his being present and set all
the guests laughing by its humorous
telling. The host laughed with the
rest, and had he not been coming I'M
der a spell that would have ended the
matter As it was he wincod. There
was underneath Mrs. Woods humor
a faint suspicion of ridicLle. He tried
to excuse himself, but only got tangled
In his own excuses.
Don't you think" said the lady to
! the others. that Sir Bradford owes
! me some reparationT
All banteringly agreed that he did.
well, this is the last night OF our
visit here. Let him intrust me with
the key Of his safe till tomorrow morn
| ing"
All declared that such an act would
not necessarily be showing any con-
fdence whatever. But the widow in
sisted that it would satisfy her, and
she smilingly held out her hand for
the key.
The thought flashed through Sir
Bradford's head that the safe, being
In his own room, would be under his
control through the night There was
pretty woman smiling at him, daring
him-a woman with whom he was
fascinated and whom he thought it
advantageous to marry. Nevertheless
he did not consent. Then suddenly
there came a flash from the woman's
eyes. haughty look as If she deemed
such a denial Of confidence insulting.
Sir Bradford put his hand in his pocket
and tossed the key on the table be-
fore her.
Amid burst of laughter she seized
1t and placed 1t in her corsage.
The diplomat had no sooner yielded
m n mn fhon hn kod
act A man under q woman's spell Is
liable to rush from one extreme TO an
other. One moment he trusts her i'm
plicitly; the next he fears that he has
allen into the tolls of devil. At any
rate, such was the fear of Sir Brad
ford. Never for moment during the
evening did he leave the side Of the
woman who possessed the key of his
safe-the safe where was deposited
that which If 1t passed into the pos
session of another would ruin him. If
he turned away from her for mo-
ment it was that she should not see
the expression on his face when he
cursed himself for fool.
The widow rallied him continually.
Aren't you going to give me one mo-
ment aloneY BE comfortcd! / am
not In the habit of visiting any but
my own room when ! visit" "Wnl
you sleep with revolver under your
pillow tonightT These were some Of
the gatherings she gave him, much to
the amusement of the guests. At mid
night, when the party broke up, she
had made no move. She rose with
the others and went up to her room.
The moment Sir Bradford heard her
door close he went up to his own
apartment. With his eyes fixed on his
safe he gave himself up to tumultuous
musing. 1t contained his possible ruin,
and the key was In the possession of
a woman he had known but few
days.
Pooh, poohl What an ass! She
only did 1t to bedevil me. Nonsense!
l have a revolver under my pillow,
and II any one should come In here
Gomez Thus he tried to dismiss the
matter from his mind But, oh. If be
only had the key!
He went to bed and tried to sleep
Slumber would not come. Fancying
he heard a movement in his room, he
arose and struck a light. He was
ashamed of himself for doing so, but
left 1t burning. This made him feel
tride more comfortable, and toward
morning he went to sleep.
He was awakened by his valet bring
ing hot water. After a glance at the
safe, which showed no evidence Of
having been tempered with. he arose,