The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-07-13
CHAPTER XII.
An Offer of Marriage

from her to the contrary
Her first impulse was to telephone.
But her pride held her back He had
accused her of lying, the night before.
and she must wait for him to apollo
gize! So she held short conversa-
tion with her father, and he saw no
objection to the interview; on the con-
trary, pointed out that it might be very
advantageous to her. 1t was not every
day that influential bankers concerned
themselves with the personal concerns
of possible clients. Early in the even
ing at the appointed hour smart
limousine rolled up to the old-fashion-
ed house on West Tenth street.
Helderman felt elated to be received
so graciously by the self-possessed
young hostess, although he may have
felt surprise at being ushered into the
somewhat bare study. The sole orna-
ment to relieve its business-like as
pect was the splendid horned head
mounted upon the table.
81 wish to speak to you of your blue
buckle. / would warn you to guard it
/
may not know it, but others seek it
and its meaning, as well as yourselfi
may tell you, as informed you yes
terday, that I am indirectly interested
in this affair, but only In so far as it
concerns the REIMBURSEMENT of the
estate to the right party. knew Goef-
frey Ballantyne In life
"You knew my uncle!"
'SYes-- and l have reason to believe
tkat he regretted the injustice he had
done and wished to make reparation.
But he has involved his will in so
many curious safeguards that his pur-
pose may be defeated by impostors!"
"Wiu you please explain yourself?"
eff the buckle is not in your personal
possession that is bad 1t is in dan
ger"
"Why?"
"If you are to prove your claim
this week-it would be well to go alone
and avoid confidantes.
"You may think 1t singular that I
have taken all this trouble to warn
you of things. many of which you may
already know. But what do you know
is the inexhaustible resourcefulness of
your enemy. That enemy is con-
stantly ctive-constantly at work, in
channels you know not, and aiding her
is large supply Of funds, against
which you would be helpless. / am
telling you this frankly, through q
selfish motive, for there is only one
way in which you can controvert such
agencies"
"And how is that?" asked the girl
breathlessly
''You must marry mel"
The words were uttered almost in
the tone of quiet command. Miss Bal.
1antyne sprang to her feet, her hands
clasped against her breast.
'You seem to regard this as merely
another business matter, sir!"
II crave you pardon for speaking of
the-practical side, first" he said, in
low earnest tones, bending toward her.
1--WE men of affairs are too apt to for
| get that it's love that makes the world
go round Will you give me credit
for sincerity when l saw that ever
since first saw you, on the Gothic,
I have hoped and longed for the mo-
me1at when I could pour out my heart
to you! My desire to serve you is
but part of this expression. love
you, as never loved gold, or power
as | never believed it possible to love
any woman!"
"Stop, Mr.. Helderman! Do you
think it is quite honorable to make a
business engagement the pretext for
any such avowal as this?'
"Can you not believe me?" he
pleaded.
Looking at his feryent adoring eyes,
the girl felt with the swift instinct Of
womanhood that he was telling the
truth about his passion, however she
might doubt his other pretensions
And granted this premise, he was a
I man quite desperate enough to go to
any extremes-even to the betraying
| of the other woman, is she were his
| accomplice-to the furthering of his
desires. She resolved once more to be
| cautious, to temporize.
"You-you would not expect me to
/ give you definite answer tonight.
Mr.. Helderman unless 1t were mega
tive one
'At any other time should not be
so urgent" he replied, almost fiercely.
"But great many things hang upon
I your decision"
do you mean to-threaten me, Mr..
Helderman ?"
by no means, child-but you need
protection right now-this week!"
why, | am not so alone, SO helpless
as you would infer!" she blazed up
There is my father and -and"-
"The precious Mr.. Rutherford" he
sneered Your father does not dare
appear in this matter. He is suspected
of a serious crime
what do you mean, sir?"
''Why / mean--if you must know
serious smuggling plot. And Mr..
| Craio Ruth orford 10 also hosr, o. fra;1o5