Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-09


She hardly touched hers 20 her lips, then
rt 1t on the tray. AZ She did so, her
rapid gaze took in, just beyond the tray
a shining revolver lying upon a few
meets of paper.
Still smiling Mr.. Shipman drew up
l chair to face her and sat down. II
90 you are wondering about me, Mrs.
Harrison. We'll, what 10 you think
If mcY'
Il hardly know what to think of.
~ she brcathed
''Thcn just suppose IN one of those
'enii, such as YOU used to read about
tne fairy stories. and wanted to make
'ou a present. What present could
i've you that would please you inost?"
She was too much aquivcr with fear
and suspense to frame Il new idea; so
{ had been the original plan in
"cgard to Mr.. Shipmun automatically
found utterancc.
"a Il like your present to me to be
onlething you eau do for my husband
nd what is thatY'
ia like TO have you take him into
your firm. Oh. he's clever-he's fully
UU whatever might be required -
Thcrc--shc had got it out! She wait
ed breathlessly. The utter silence, the
complete isolation Of the place, pressed
upon her heart. For moment he gazcd
at her without speaking.
$50 that's what would please YOU
most. But before we talk about it fur
thcr, let's have some more vine
7 None for me--please -
"Thcn you make me wait until yoa
are ready. Very WE'LL Again, he gazcd
at her steadily. Then. he said. in soft
voice. 'Of course, what you ask is
Il favor | can grant. But when u man
at least such Il man as | am--grants
favor of that sort to n pretty woman,
he rather naturally wants favor in
return from the pretty woman. don't
need to say what that favor is; I'm
sure you understand"
She did. But she did not speak she
could not. She now clearly uuderstoot
the whole of the situation she was III
She had seen too many modern plays
read too many modern novels, no.
to understand And she now also
understood what manner of place this
was that she was in---for she had read
of such places: it was one of those .c-
cret establishments that some very rich
men maintain for their extremely pri-
vate pleasures.
Whether l grant your favor depends
wholly on y0u,' his soft urgent voice
Still she could not SPEAK. She had
thought that somehow she could man
age this man-and how tclrfyingy she
| had miscalculuted White faced, she
sat unnerved by her situaton--familiar
situation though it was.
He leaned nearer. Listen. Mrs
Harrison-Jcnnie." he said rapidly, ~
know woman has always got to thinF
of her reputation. And | know you
must think of yours Everything vii
be perfectly safe. / know how'to man
age things so they are never even wills
nered about. So dismiss the fear Of
ever being found out l can manage Sc
that things will be even safer and more
quiet than tonight
Her gaze held to his powerful face
| his eyes urgently agleam. with terrified
fascination. The others--.arc they not
coming?' she managed to breathe.
The others? OF course not
"Then-then you lied to me -
| How could j lie to you. Jennie
when, of course. yUu undnrstood?'
She had no answer Her soul was
suddenly inundated with loathing fo'
this man size had looked up to anf
sought after. But she was trapped ir
this soundlcss characteristic had to use
her wits. ..~-
! cuf 'O>S' NiN lIltI W SDtuh uulUrHl
| ly. Perhaps it may be safe--hut I'm
sure the others will miss us. Let's go. "
He had risen with her and he nov.
caught her hand. 'We're perfectly
safe! And. Jennie. l can do nor o.
what you asked--I'll do anything else
YOU may ever desire! I'll give YOU anv
thing I'll see that your
husband has the highest place in the
land. can do it-for have the power
Aud YOU aud ], .Iennie--I tell YOU II
will be perfectly safe, Perfectly safe
"Pleasc--please - cried Jennie. try
ing to wiring free her hand.
Jennie-Jeunic--1 love You :" IIc
swept her into his arms. Jennie you
ant leave me ~
The time had passed for the use of
mere wits to escape.
AS she struggled with him, her eyes
were caught by the glitter of the re-
volver lying on the table. She seized it
and thrust it hard against Mr. Ship
! mans chest
Stop she gasped; stop, or I'll
shoot you -
He loosed her and staggered back, and
glared mt her. Her hand trembed, but
she held the pistol full upon him.
whats this mean:" he demanded.
''l'll kill you-if you don't keep your
hands off Of me-and let me go away
from this place / loathe you -
| CONTINUED TOMORROW