Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-14

only Eambled, though, with my own
money; make no mistake about that,
young man. never played with a cent
Of the banks funds; those went to the
woman.
''I met her there FIVE years ngo. She
was a young widow taking rest cure,
after having been defrauded Of the
greater part Of the money her husband
left her by snide brokerage House. She
had scheme to beat them at their own
game and drive them to the wall If only
she could command the capital neces-
sary to operate--but that came later.
"I had never cared particularly for
any woman, but she had a face like a
saint and was so gentle and womanly
and helplessly confiding-Lord! l fell
| hard She never touched q card;
didn't dream then that she knew game
was being run there. She just walked
about the grounds or sat on the veranda,
lonely and pensive, like a child that has
been hurt and doesn't know why.
II was blindly. madly infatuated and,
when she. told me of her loss and her
plan to recoup, | begged her to forgo
her revenge and marry me, but she
would not. Soft and yielding as she
was, she made it an absolute condition
that she must first be enabled to break
the man who had robbed her.
MY losses at cards had been ap-
/ palling, but | bcggared myself for her ;
mortgaged everything / possessed to the
/ hilt. even this poor shack which was
/ my birthplace. Still she was Unsuitable
and ! drew upon the funds in my care.
/ 1t was the beginning of the end.
"When the inevitable exposure
threatened went to her and confessed,
/ imploriug her TO help me make resti-
tuition; but her scheme had failed, she
had lost the money and was virtuously
Mortified at what | had done. She dis
appeared, the resort was closed in mid
season and ultimately sold. Then the
storm broke over me.
Il bore II alone: | would not be-
tray her. but after my conviction | ar
ranged with the few thousands ! had
left to have her traced. Much can be
done with liberality and l was playing
for high stakes. the highest of my life !.
When the reports we're smuggled in TO
me and l learned what manner of woman
had ruined me ] went mad. / think.
| She was IN adventures of the worst
! type her losses in Wall street, her plans
| to recoup, had all been part of the
! game. She had bled me TO the bone
and made away with all had given her.
81 could have denounced her then
but It had become matter between
her and me alone and l waited. j was
sure from the first that ! would be re-
/ leased in time to find her and compel
her to make restitution that | might
come back and make good, at least, in
| part, before the end.
''She lived very quietly, moving con
stantly from place to place. Twice in
these four black years my man lost
track of her, but each time he found her
again. Last autumn he traced her from
| New York TO Eastopolis and found that
she had established herself permanently
| and broken into society. My health was
/ failing and knowing that | was near
| the end / moved heaven and earth to
obtain my release. 1t came a fort
night ago and went straight TO East
opolis.'
His voice had grown gradually lower
and more faint and now it ceased alto
| gcther and he slumped back among the
/ pillows, but Mrs. MacNab was at his
| side in an instant with the brandy.
| Paul forbore to interrupt his train Of
thought by question or comment and
after a moments respite he took up
the thread once more.
II sought cheap, inconspicuous lodg-
| ings and logged her footsteps, but did
/ M oil nG To-
! Wednesday, afternoon, when / pecred In
the drawing room window of her house
! Some man was with her and l lodged
/ just in time, think, TO prevent her
| seeing me. ! returned half hour later
and saw a face in the basement window
| which fancied was hers. but it proved
| to be just that of some servant.
81 learned from the papers the next
day that she was to be present at the
Red Cross ball. / went there and hung
about in the garden, don't know why.
exactly. My brain wasn't clear, but !
had no weapon and never meant to use
one; felt only that ] must cling to
her trail until / could meet her face
to face and demand that she make res
titution.
II found ledge which ran along be e
Heath the conservatory windows, climbed
upon it and waited therefor hours il
seemed. At last she entered with a
man. the same one who had been in her
drawing room with her on tho previous
day. They Quarreled violently and he
seemed to be threatening her, when sud
denly he turned and rushed from the
conservatory.
''The music OF the orchestra reached
, even my ears cut there in great crashes
, Of discord and tbunderous noise. I die
not even hear the shot which killed her
In the midst of il she stood aud
laughed maliciously with her lips curled
3 back, from her teeth. Still laughing she
glanced up and met my eyes. I've told
you the rest"
l He sank back YEARLY once more. bu,
: Paul prompted him.
e 'Not quite ALL, What did you dc
G when she saw her fall?"
S II don't know responded Zenat
T Prall feebly. He was weakening fast
s but he waved away the sup which Mrs
d MacNab would have held to his lips
+. "No more, Margaret, I've strength
II NA-I