Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-18
Cha nptcr XI.

his wifo. Her maid came down and
Invited him to her suite. an invitation
which no promptly declined. In
| about quarter of an hour she de-
scended to the lounge. dressed for
the street. She showed no signs OF
confusion or nervousness at his visit.
| she was hard and cold and fair. with
a fraudulent smile upon her lips.
dressed TO perfection. her maid hover
ing In the background with Pckin-
CSC under one arm and jewel case in
her otoher hand.
Thank goodness she said as she
nuttercd into chair by his side.
mat you hate scenes even more than
do! You have the air OF man who
has found out no end OF disavrccable
thinEa"'
You re observant." he answered
dryly. II have Just come from the
Prime Minister"
"welI?"
81 find that Paliiscr has been con-
duciing a regular cons piracy behind
my back. with reference TO this
wretchcd pecrage. He has practi-
caily forged my name and has placed
me In most humlliating position.
You. I suppose, were his ins,iga,or in
this natter
II suppose I was she admitted.
What was to be hi, reward-his
ultcrior reward. I mean
Il promised him twenty thousand
pounds" she answered. with cold
fury. 1T appears that overvalued
your Importance to your party. Tony
apparently did the same. lie thought
that you had only TO intimate your
readiness to accept n pcerage and the
thing would he arranged 1t seems
that we were wrong"
You were doubly wrong" he re-
piled. ''1n the nrst place. there were
difficulties. and In the second, moth
ing would have induced inc TO accept
such a huniliating offer"
How did you find this out?" she
inquired.
The Prime Minister offered mo tho
pecrage less than an hour ago. he
answered. Il need not say that I
unhesitatingly refused IT."
Stella ceased buttoning her gloves.
! There was cold glitter In her eyes
You refused ftp
'Of coursei-
She was silent for a moment.
Andrew" she said, "you have
scarcely kept your bargain with me-
I am not prepared TO admit that"
he replied. You held a worry con-
siderable social position at the time
when I was in Office. II was un to
you. TO make that good"
ira ~
she answered. 1T isn't the real
thing Now you are out of Parlia-
>nent though, even that ha. van
ishcd. Andrew!-
"WeN?'
She leaned 4 little towards him.
she began TO regret that he had not
accepted her Invitation to visit her in
ner suite. Years ago she had been
able TO bend him sometimes TO her
Will. Why should she take II for
granted that she had lost her power?
Here. however. even persuasions were
difficult He nat upon traight,
face seemed as though It were carved
out Of stone.
You have always declined. Andrew,
to mako very much use Of my money"
she said. Gould we not make a bar
gain now? I will gtve you a hundred
thousand pounds and settle $4,000, 600
on the holder OF the title forever, II
you will accept this peerage I
wouldn't mind q present to tho party
funds. either. II that helped matters"
Tallente shook his head
"I nm sorry for va,r
ment," he said, but nothing would
induce me to accept a seat in the
Upper ouse. have other plans"
They could be changed"
Impossible"
You might be forced to change
them"
by whom?"
The smile maddened her. She had
meant TO be subtle. She became
f'amboyant. She leaned forward In
her chair.
What have YOU done with Tony
Palliser?" she demanded
Tallcnte remained absolutely un-
ruffied. He had been expecting some
thing OF this sort. Tho only wonder
was that It had been delayed so long.
- ehtcaI' Ho aShcu pleaSantlS.
Call II what YOU like. Men don't
disappear like that. What did you
do with him?"
what do you think no deserved?
She bit her lip.
~ think you are the most detest-
able human being who ever brcathcd."
she faltcred Surprising go to the
police?"
Don't be melodramatic." he beg
ged. I'm the first place. what have
you to tell? In the second place, in
this country. at any rate. vito can
not give evidence against her hus-
| band"
You admit that something has
happened" she asked eagerly.
II admit nothing" he replied Eek
cept that Anthony Pallisor has dis
appeared under circumstances which
You and ] know about. that he has
Forged my name and entered into
dissraceful conspiracy with you. and
That he has stolen from my wife
political document OF great import
ancc TO me-"
II knew nothing about the political
document" she said quickly.