The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-08-07
A BOLD
ATTEMPT
By ETHEL HOLMES

| At CLOCK In the afternoon Mark
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 wife's
room quietly, and if her back were to-
ward him he would put his arms about
her and surprise her with kiss.
From this 1t will be supposed-and
correctly-that Mr. and Mrs Trevor
mad not been long married.
Cautiously pushing the door open,
he saw standing before a dresser,
hunting in one of the drawers, a wom-
an. In another moment she caught
sight of his reelection 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 l have not found them and have
| been interrupted in my search | will
put i'll operation a scheme which de-
vised and for which prepared before
coming here i'll 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 Il friend Of hers
with whom she was exchanging a 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 reticule, she took out a bit
OF paper and handed 1t to Trevor. 1t
was note for 81 900.
Sign it," said the woman.
Il will do no such thing"
Yes, you will when you have heard
my reasons why it 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"
Unfortunately for this part OF the
woman's plan, at this moment the
front door was heard to close. Mrs.
Trevor had finished the few parting
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
your"
This woman Trevor began, but
the criminal stopped him.
"Forgive me, Mrs. Trevor" she said.
Il 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 l 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 l 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. II
Will tell you the true story in 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 l was the
only one to whom his heart
At this point the woman began edg-
ing around toward the door. Mrs. Tire
vor shrank away before her. leaving
the way clear. Trevor stood over
whelmed, paralyzed with the self con
fessed thief's unblushing assurance.
Then the wife found voice to say to the
woman:
Leave"
II obey you. | leave you with the
man who has blighted my life. Would
that you had been left In ignorance
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 It I'm
his pocket
You will never again play such a
bold game with me, for shall put 1t
out of your power to do so. 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 a woman"
What do you wish with itg" 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 it at
her adversary. Eileen drew back, but
her husband, ignoring the weapon, ad-
vanaaJ "a. tbfaf on1 A. -: