The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-10
A BOLD
ATTEMPT
BY ETHEL HOLMES

Trevor locked his desk and went home
Having let himself in with his latch
key, he went upstairs stealthily, for it
had occurred to him to enter his wifes
room quietly, and if her back were to-
ward him he would put his arms about
her and surprise her with kiss.
From this it will be supposed-and
correctly-that Mr.. and Mrs. Trevor
had not been long married.
Cautiously pushing the door open.
he saw standing before a dresser.
hunting in one of the drawers, wOm-
an. In another moment she caught
sight of his reflection in the mirror.
Turning. she faced him.
Madam he said, what are you do
ing here?''
Il came for your wife's jewels But
since | have not found them and have
been interrupted in my search | will
put in operation n scheme which | de-
vised and for which l prepared before
coming here in case | should fail in
obtaining the Jewels. Your wife is not
in the house. | left her some ten min
utes ago at the door of friend of hers
with whom she was exchanging ii few
last words before parting knowing
the disposition of my sex to prolong
those few parting words, | believed
would have plenty of time to come
here and at least make beginning"
Opening Il reticule, she took out bit
of paper and handed it to Trevor 1t
was "a note for $1,000.
Sign it," said the woman.
II will do no such thing"
Eyes, you will when you have heard
my reasons why 1t would be best for
you to do so. Your wife will be here
in few minutes" She had got be-
tween Trevor and the door, locked it
and put the key in her reticule. "She
will find you locked in here with me-
l will plead guilty and ask her forgive
ness. Your domestic happiness will be
ended" a.
Unfortunately for this part OF the
woman's plan, at this moment the
front door was heard to close. Mrs.
AASNol huu hhlSuSu Tic lew
words" with her friend and reached
her home. Ascending the stairs, she
attempted to open the door of her
room and found it locked
open the door" said Trevor sternly
The woman produced the key and
did as she was directed Trevor threw
open the door. The woman covered
in corner, affecting shame and con-
triton. Mrs. Trevor stood looking
from one to the other, first with amaze
ment, then with pain.
"Oh, Mark" she walled, chow could
yOu?"
This woman Trevor began, but
the criminal stopped him.
Forgive me, Mrs. Trevor" she said.
II have injured you in stepping in be-
tween you and your husband. Mark
loved me before he ever saw you. He
really belongs to me rather than to
you. He will deny what | say He
will give his own explanation of my
being here. He will lie to you, as he
has lied TO me. Believe him If you
will, but | assure you he is not to be
believed"
Mrs. Trevor cast an appealing glance
at her husband. 1t pleaded with him
to set himself right, though convicted
by overwhelming evidence.
"Eileen"- he began again, and again
the woman drowned his words.
Don't listen to him." she said. Il
will tell you the true story in a few
words. Several years ago he found
me an unsuspecting country girl His
words were very sweet He told me
that in me he had met his fate, of
all the girls he had ever met was the
only one to whom his heart
AT this point the woman began edg
ing around toward the door Mrs. Ire
vor shrank away before her, leaving
the way clear Trevor stood over
whelmed. paralyzed with the self con
fessed thiefs unblushing assurance.
Then the wife found voice to say to the
woman:
Leave"
81 obey you. | leave you with the
man who has blighted my life. Would
tudt you hdu Dttu ltll LII
Of his true character! Never again will
r.
She was about to back out Of the
door when Trevor sprang forward.
closed 1t, turned the key and put 1t In
his pocket.
You will never again play such a
bold game with me. for | shall put It
out of your power to do 50. Give me
that reticule"
The woman turned pale. She grasp
ed the reticule the tighter.
Eileen" said Trevor. take the bag
from her ] don't wish to use force
with n woman"
What do you wish with it," asked
the wife.
ut contains the proof that this wo-
man is levying blackmail"
Eileen advanced toward the woman,
who, opening the bag, took out an
ivory handled pistol and leveled II at
her adversary. Eileen drew back, but
her husband ignoring the weanon ad