The Rice belt journal., 1920-09-25

ployeeS of the Granddeck, Wick and
the telephone girl.
"TO what am | indebted for the
honor of this visit" asked at length.
adding with some sarcasm, from my
sister,"
I Never for a second had l imagined
that other than q selfish motive could
have brought her thither, and the con-
versatiOn that followed was all the
more surprising to me on that ac-
count.
"I had to say was your sister" J."
she answered quickly. 81 wanted to
be sure Of seeing you and I did not
wish anyone to recognize me. You
know, l believe, who ! ann"
You are Barbara'S sister" l re-
I piled.
That's why came" she cried, "for
Barbara's sake. ! have come to plead
with you for her"
ITO plead-with me-for her." I
echoed in astOniShment.
YES" she cried pasSiOnately
"She's young. She's little more than
a child. She did not realize what she
was doing. You must not let anyone
know you even know her. You must
never, never tell"
Never tell what?" l answered non
committally.
She answered with a cOnvulsive sob
l thought for a little that she was
going to break down completely. Her
manner and the pallOr of her face
attracted the attention of the keeper
who was in the room with us, and he
started forward as If expecting her
to fall in a faint. ResOlutely she
pulled herself together and went on
in calmer tones.
"Oh, know all about it. know
that she is completely fascinated by
you. know that she has been meet
ing you in the park. I know that
she has lunched with you at the
AstOr." She hesitated and her face
crimsOned-"I know that she has ever
visited you in your rooms late al
night. Oh, please, please, l beg OF
you, If there is a spark of manhood
in you, do not take advantage of 6
silly girls weakness. Please help me
protect my little sisters name; prom
ise-you will, won't your
"Why should n" l replied careless
ly, repressing my desire to leap a
once to Barbara's defense and explair
how pure and honorable hOr conduc
had been and how lofty the motive
that had governed her actions
Tempted though / was to defend her
I realized that this might be an op
pOrtunity to learn something Of Claire
Bradford's associates, and / deter
mined to make the most. Of it, How
else could she know of all my meet
ings with Barbara unless she was IL
league with the persons who had beer
having me shadowed? How tn
knowledge that Barbara had been il
nv apartment could have come to he
was mystery beyond me. l woul,
have sworn that that was secret SO
cred to our two selves.
Listen to me-" she commanded
speaking in low tones, Barbara |
my baby sister, innocent of the way
of the world. ! must save her from
herself, and her heedlessness. Never
never, If can help it, shall she suffe
the agony and shame and disgrac
that l have known. Years ago /, jus
as she Is now became infatuated wit
man far below me in the sOcia
scale. He, too, was a criminal
l shifted Indignantly at the "ht
too" but she paid no attention.
II ran away from school and maj
ried him and learned too late that h
had wife and child already. All m
life. ever since, that terrible thing ha
followed me. It's like a speeter eve
rising to confront me. Even If / hav
to kill you, am going to save my III
tie sister from following in my steps.
"Where is CASTOR Maurice now?'
asked. "Have you seen him recentlyI
She gasped and shuddered, lookin
at me incredulously.
"You," she breathed excitedly, "wh
, are you? How do you know hi
name"
Never mind how / know It," / n
piled. what l want to know
where is he now? When did you Sc
{ him last?'
, "Not for years-nOt since long b
| fore my fathers death-not since tn
marriage was annulled,"
I "Nor heard from him." persisted
: mo, nor heard from him." she hes
+ tated. unless"
: UNLESS what?" I insisted, as sh
s stopped abruptly.
II can't tell YOU" she said frml,
: 81 don't know. They must have CON
from him, from someone that knew
. the letters"
What letters? Tell me abol
, them"
, Il can't tell what | don't know.
haven't the least idea where Caste
8 Maurice is. had hoped he was dea
in the war. Yet he can't be. | hay
had anonymous letters threatenir
me. They must have come from hi
or from someone whom he told Of Ot
! marriage? How else could they know
: Her distress was so real and he
, manner so convincing that | decide
! that she must be telling the truth.