Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-06

| horne In the conservatory, but did no
notice who her companion was tina
was another fib. l did not pass her
she never even knew / was there, ant
| did not see who was with her ant
heard what passed between them"
"At what time was this, Mrs
Cowles?"
Some time between II and half.
past"
And Mrs. Hartshorne's compan
ion?
at was Cornelius Swarthmore. >
Her voice had sunk to whisper but sht
rallied quickly and went on: II haC
promised the same dance to three icn
and I didn't know how I could get out OF
it, so l slipped into the conservatory
and sat down on a bench behind some
palms. Mrs. Hartshorne entered with
Mr.. Swarthmore and l would have
made known my presence; but the first
words l heard rooted me to the spot
and then it was too late.
An older man, in whom you can
feel a greater sense of protection Mr..
Swarthmore seemed to be repeating the
words. He was in one of his scething
RACES, only more intense than ! had
ever seen him. so you're throwing me
over for some one else? BY God, if it's
that sanctimonious old goat Braddock
-
81 shrank back behind the palms, but
he evidently lost control of himself and
seized her, for I heard the quick rustic
Of her gown and then she spoke in a
cold disdainful way which must have
been maddening to him.
i" Stop, please, you are hurting me.
There is no need of melodrama, Mr.
Swarthmore, nor is there occasion for
insult. / have exercised a woman S
privilege and changed my mind, that is
all, and your present mood shows me
that my decision is a wise one. If !
choose to marry Mr.. Braddock or any
one else that is my affair
He gave nasty sort of laugh.
And only yesterday you permitted
me to hold you In my arms, you rSom-
ised to be my wife! God, what an in
fatuated ass / was! think under
stand you now. No wonder you wanted
to keep your engagement secret! You
wouldn't commit yourself publicly until
you had played the bigger fish to see
if he would rise to your bait! Did you
think me sentimental boy, a fool of
whom you could dispose so easily?
was disarmed before the woman |
thought you were, but l know how to
deal with common adventures I'll
spoil your little game for you-'
" viii you really?' Her tone seemed
to be filled with quiet amusement.
What will you do, Mr.. Swarthmore"
" III 60 to Braddock and show you
up, by God! I'll look up that past of
yours and find out why you've been SO
id secretive! I'll-'
81 don't believe that you will do
any Of these things Her voice was
still quiet, but there was something in
it like the snap of whip. You will
remember that / could show you up in
turn, my friend
What do you mean?' It sounded
like the snarl of some animal the way
he spoke.
How about your contracts with the
The undergrade stuff and
the padded bids? Did you think l was
a child not to understand, to accept so
easily your statement that there was
nothing illegal about your transac-
tions?'
Prove it, he dared her, and she
laughed.
My method Is not so crude as
yours, Mr.. Swarthmore ! never threat
en- anything I cannot prove. A GER
tain private secretary whom you dis
charged helped me to verify your state
ments and a foreman let out on the
last strike corroborated him. l COL
Iected this data merely as an invest
nent on which it might be possible for
ne to realize some day. Your animos
ty might drive me from Eastopolis, but
FOR me the world is wide; for you there
IS the federal prison if 1 speak =
well, after that it seemed as though
perfect storm of fury burst from him
Ipon her! I can't remember what he
said or the names he called her, 1t all
,ame in such hideous rush of invective
ind threats and curses, too! sat there
stunned and shivering, and think she
must have been little afraid of him
herself, for she shrank away from him,
,ut he followed her. was simply dy-
ng to escape without their discovering
ne, and I peeped out between the palms
% see if the way was clear.
"They had retreated to the other side
II the conservatory over by Colonel
Iedyard's orchids, and with their backs
urned l saw my chance and slipped out
II the door into the ballroom. You
lon't know, Mr.. Harvey, what relief
t was! l found Freddie Gaylor and
made him sit out dance on the stairs
With me while I collected myself, and
n a moment Mr.. Swarthmore tore his
way through the crowd, still in white
lot rage, and made for the cloakroom.
1T was then that poor Trix-NIiss |
Iedyard--met him and tried to speak |
o him, but he never noticed her in his |
ury. She'd been standing near the foot |
# the stairs, looking into the ballroom. |
rs he shouldered his way past she laid |
Ter hands on his arm, but he shook her |,
,ff unseeingly, with a savage thrust
ike a struggling animal! He must
AVE left the house at once"
"You are sure of the words you have
epeated to me?" Paul asked.
Absolutely !" Bebe Cowles shud-
lered. "It seems as though they had
'een stamped on my brain !"