Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-05

."NElL met. Mrs. Harvard" was
w Belknap's greeting.

" belkhap s greeting.
His teeth cleaned at her beneath the
close cropped black mustache. and his
oddly brilliant eyes glistencd with a
suggested menace as he smiled upon her
coolly. for all the world as if he knew
himself to be thoroughly master of the
situation.
1t was with difficulty that Katherine
repressed visible shudder.
The man had become utterly hateful
to her, and strangely menacing. It was
as if he held a physical threat over her
head. She controlled herself with diff
Guilty. and compelled her voice to calm
ness while she replied. with entire re-
moteness. with the air and attitude of
addressing an entire stranger:
That is as you elect to regard it.
Mr.. Belknap-if that is your name. I
am going, now, to ask my husband, and
the four gentlemen with whom you
played poker. TO go with me to the lib
rary. 1t is my purpose to tell them.
plainly and unequivocally. everything
that ! saw when | looked between the
pOrtieres. and to describe your conduct
since then also-unless you choose to
change your mind again and leave My
quest now. at once.
He made no attempt to interrupt her.
He permitted her to finish what she
had to say without changing his atti-
tude or altering his demeanor: nor did
the wolfish smile leave his face. II
anything. the glitter in his eyes became
more mocking and insolent-and threat
ening.
Brave words. Mrs. Harvard" he
responded Coldly. retaining the inscru-
table smile as he quoted the words he
had spoken to her a half hour earlier
at the summerhouse on the edge of the
lawn. Then. with a barely perceptible
pause, he added. with menacing mean
ing: II shall not change my mind
about going away: I shall not go. You
will change your mind about what you
have just theatened to do, for-you will
think better of it.
He had been standing thus far be-
tween her and the stairway. but with
the close of his statement he stepped
aside. leaving her ample room to pass
him if she wished
"Go ahead he said calmly. "if you
have the courage to take the bit in your
teeth. and run: but let me beg that
you will not forget that ! hold the reins.
that a curb is generally regarded as an
instrument of torture and-that | am
merciless driver when | encounter
righteousness Go ahead. if you like.
Call your husband and the others to the
library. Speak your little piece He
shrugged his shoulders and permitted
himself a low chuckle before he added
"But unless you are fully prepared to
face the consequences of such proceed
ing. I strongly advise you not to do SO.
Katherine should have taken him at
his word, and gone; but she did not.
She should have carried out her threat
to the end but she hesitated. She
would have passed him by without an
other word but-she temporized. Even
she, who was not given to temporizing.
She still faced him untinchingly. it
is true; but she stayed. There was
about her not one outward sign of fear
or misgiving: but Belknap knew that
both were present in her heart and
brain. else she would have left him.
Could she have suspected. even re
motely. how greatly the game he was
playing depended upon her not taking
him at his word-hOw much it de-
pended upon his success in instilling in
her that nameless dread of something
intangible, but threatening-could she
have guessed that three fourths of his
insoent effrontery was pure bluff that
he had feared she might not 'fall for. -
she would have passed him then, with
head held high, would have summoned
her husband and her friends, and de-
nounced Conrad Belknap for what he
was. Instead
What do you mean she demanded.
S'Am | to understand that you dare to
threaten me?"
"Precisely that, Mrs. Harvard. You
have threatened me; I give you back
threat for threat. | am threatening you
with the consequences of what you
might still very foolishly do"
"You threaten me-with WHAT
He shrugged again. took out his
cigarette case, selected one from it, and
answered:
II have just told you; with the CON
sequences of an extremely foolish whim
that you still entertain, although not
so strongly now"