The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1917-01-06
., WILLARD BLAkEMAN

'tGtY we'll 0tuSU 0ANSs
particulars. I refer to Miss Waliaees
"po you mean to accuse her OF anyN
thing evil?"
mot as you mean IT."
.1Tben wherein Is she at fault? Fer
haps you consider her an adventur'
ess?"
mot that. either"
"Then what do you meant Speak
before r.
He raised his clinched dst.
II make no. imputation against MISS
Wallace except that she has a mania
for bringing men to her feet ana
throwing them over her shoulder"
"And you consider that IL what she
u trying to do with meT
81 believe she is. though my BELIEF
is based on her record. and the evil
dence is circumstantiaL"
Explain"
First, I know Of several cases where
she has infatuated men and turned
them down: second. she has no fortune.
and her life would be failure without
one. You are unable to take care Of
her only in the most inexpensive way.
AIover is always doubter. and Wal
ter Crane was no exception to the rule.
81 will not trouble you for evidence
he said. ~ will put the case plainly
to her and learn the truth. Should any
one mallgn me to her that II the way
| should expect her to meet the
charge"
His friend smiled incredulously.
"shake that sardonic look and speak
what you feel like man."
SHOULD any one .malign you to her
she would not take SUFFICIENT interest
In the matter to investigate"
"very well. prove the charge you
make against her"
"what charged"
THAT she Is intending to throw me
over her shoulder"
ITO prove that would be impossible"
'"Then prove that she has treated
others as you claim she will treat me-"
THAT can be done. but 1t would not
suffice. She would make you believe
that you are the only one of the lot
to whom she has given her heart"
Stanley. VITO was trying to save bis
friend. thought for 4 few moments.
then said:
81 am in a position to give you the
best of proof in one case. will bring
you a letter from the sister Of one Of
the victims Of this woman you love.
. victim whom she drove to put
bullet In his brain. The letter win
state what l assert. Then I win take
you to the grave Of that victim. and
there yos shall renounce this siren.
promising me that you will never zee
her again."
There was long silence. which was
broken by Crane. who seized his
friends hand and pressed It fervently.
He was under too great q strain to
speak.
you agree7" asked Stanley.
Crane nodded afiirmatively.
Within a couple Of days the prom.
lsed statement was produced. It read
simply:
Isabel Wallace infatuated my broth
er. and when he proposed to her she
laughed at him. A month later he
committed suicide. We gave out that
he had accidentally shot himself while
preparing for hunting trip"
Walter Crane turned pale a. he read
the statement. Handing 1t back to
Stanley. be said. 81 am ready to per
form my part of the agreement"
Stanley had come in an auto. and the
two went out. and. entering It. the
chauffeur was told to drive to the
Meadowland cemetery. At the gate
they inquired for the location OF the
grave Of Arthur Stanton. drove to It.
alighted and entered the lot There.
standing beside the grave. Crane
promised his friend that he would new.
er see the siren again.
One week from that day Crane went
to Stanley and. after confessing that
he had broken his promise. said that
Miss Wallace had explained the mat
ter Of the suicide to his entire salts
faction. She had nothing Whatever to
do with It.
Stanley looked at bis frissd in
amazement. but made no reply.
"You think I'm weak" said. Cnne.
AS for you. l know that you'se the
best friend ever had; that you have
tried to save me from what you con.
slider 4 misfortune. There's q story
within a story about this suicide bust.
ness. II could tell 1t to you you'd
see how unjust Is the statement Of
this lady who wrote the letter-indeed.
how abominably she treated"-
Hold on. WaIter!' said Stanley.
THE lady who wrote that letter b my
dancee. Were she not she would not
have given 1t to me-"
"a thousand pardons. dear boyi Not
for the world would r.
"Goodby. Walterr'
"Goodby! It will all be explained In
time. congratulate you on your en-
Ragement. Why didn't you teIl''-
The rest was lost. for Stanley bad
passed out Of hearing.