Williams news., 1922-08-18

had come to her when the servant:
 had told her of what was going on
 a fancy that Uncle Benny had come
 back-was banished instantly.
 Alan led her into the room across
 from the library.
 "You shouldn't have come in," he
 said "I shouldn't have let you in
 but-you saw him."
 "Yes."
 Do you know himr'
 "Know him ?" She shook her head
 "T mean, you've never seen him be
 fore?"
 "No"
 "His name Is Luke-he speaks ot
 himself by that name. Did you ever
 hear my father mention a man named | LukeT'
 "No; never"
 Luke's voice cut suddenly their con-
 versation; the doctor probably had | given him some stfmulant.
 "Where'sh Ben Corvet?' Luke de
 manded arrogantly of the doctor Corvet I want drink right away. Tell Ben Corvet I want my thousan' dol | lar !"
 Constance turned swiftly to her maid. "Go out to the car and wait for me-" she commanded. Luke's muf1ed, heavy voice went on i; moments while he fought for breath | interrupted 1t.
 "You hear me, you d-n Injini |. | You go tell Ben Corvet I want my thousan' dollars, or make 1t two nex' | timeI You hear me; you go tell Ben Corvet You let me go, you d-n Injin I"
 Through the doorway to the library they could see the doctor force Luke back upon the couch; Luke fought him furiously; then, suddenly as he had stirred to strength and fury, Luke col lapsed again. His voice went on a moment more, and rapidly growing weaker:
 "You tell Ben Corvet I want my money, or I'll tell He knows what I'll tell. You don't know, you Injin devil. .. Ben Corvet knows, and I know. Tell him I'll tell I'll tell I'll tell l' The threatening voice stopped suddenly.
 Constance, very pale, again faced Alan. "Of course, understand" she said. Uncle Benny has been paying blackmail to this man. For years, per haps. :" She repeated the word after an instant in a frightened voice, ''Blackmaill''
 Wont you please go, Miss Sher- rill?'' Alan urged her. 'It was good of you to come; but you mustn't stay now. He's-he's dying, of course"
 She seated herself upon a chair. "Pm going to stay with you," she said simply. It was not, she knew, to share | the waiting for the man in the next | room to die; in that, of itself. there | could be nothing for him to feel. It | was to be with him while realization | hi foF ho6 fo upon him, liberalization of what | this meant to him. He was realizing | that, she thought; he had realized it; 1t made him, at moments, forget her while, listening for sounds from the | other room, he paced back and forth ! beside the table or stood staring | away, clinging to the portieres. He left her presently, and went across the hall to the doctor.
 els he dead?" Constance heard him ask.
 Mot yet" the doctor answered; ''but It won't be long, now"
 There's nothing you can do to make him talk-bring him to himself long enough so that he will tell what he keeps threatening to tel1?''
 The doctor shrugged. ''How many times, do you suppose, he's been drunk md still not told? Concealment is his habit now. It's an inhibf- ion; even in wandering, he stops short 1 If actually telling anything
 Alan came back to Constance. Out Jide, the gray of dusk was spreadi | md within the house 1t had grown lark. It was very quiet in the library; he could not even hear Luke's breath ng now. Then the doctor came out to hem.
 "It's over," he said to Alan. ''There's law covering these cases; you may ot be familiar with it. I'll make out | he death certificate and weak heart with alcoholism. But the office have to be notified at once; you :, ave no choice as to that. I'll look . fter those things for you, if you 7ant." Thank you; if you wtn.'' Alan went yith the doctor to the door and saw : i'm drive away. Returning, he drew ne library portferes; then, coming ack to Constance, he picked up her ruff and collar from the chair where he had thrown them, and held them | ut to her. You'll go now, Miss Sherrf1,'' he aid. Indeed, you mustn't stay here . your cars still waiting, and-you !, lustn't stay here in this housei" ', Wont you come over home with :. e," she said, land wait for father . lere till we can think this thing out S ,getherf" n Her sweetness almost broke him own s4ThfS fopefherf Think | II