The Little River news., 1923-05-09
The Man Behind
 Her
By MIRA CURTIS LANE
 lG, 1Qo2 Waatarn Newana ner IIninn

Beverley entered. She was pretty young woman of twenty-seven and had been Symons' confidential secretary for four years. In the office with Symons was his son, Edward, a rather disso- lute-looking young man of thirty, and the apple of his fathers eye. By means of the E. P. patent old Symons had built up a nationwide business and become a millionaire. Whenever he looked at his son he thought of his own humble beginnings and vowed that Edward should never experience hardship in life. Miss Beverley came in. "Take a chair, Miss Beverley" said old Symons. Agnes Beverley sat down. She looked at him and saw the storm gathering. Old Symons was a tiger in his out bursts of almost frantic frenzy some times.
 Miss Beverley" he began, in an om- inous, soft purring note, with regard to that product of the Atkinson con- pany, which has been worrying us so long,-rve been following up my inves- tigations."
 'Yes, MT. Symons?"
 We've narrowed the field down cop- siderably. We have proof positive that the person who betrayed our plans to them Is one of our force. We've elimi- hated the workshops. We know who 1t is."
 Miss Beverley leaned forward breath 1occ1x, Nvoc Hu 0v,ro~naN
 It's you!" thundered the old man, smashing down his fist upon the table
 And his keen eyes bored into her face.
 "It's you-you whom placed in a position of trust and confidence. You who have betrayed me! The choice lies between two persons alone, who have access to our plans-you and my son, It is needless to say which of them 1t Is.
 T have never been deceived in any one before, but was deceived in you I paid you good salary-an enormous salary. You are not, so far as know, in need. There was no temptation.
 Miss Beverley, treachery Is the one act that never forgive. If 1t had been my son"-he cast look on the young man which made him drop his eyes in embarrassment-"thOugh he is all have in the world, I would have flung him into the gutter like a dog.
 "I do not wish, however, to be a hard man. I want to understand this action of yours. What motive induced you to betray me? How much did they pay you for it?"
 TT am not allowed to answer"
 You admit it, of course?"
 Miss Beverley said nothing, but If ever guilt was written on any persons face 1t was on hers.
 "You nave already admitted 1t by your last remark. You sold me, then, for money. What was your need of money? Some lover in the Atkinson frm?'
 "Mr. symons. will not stay to be insulted."
 q say there was q man behind 1t. Some man who induced you to commit this act of awful treachery. I want to know his name"
 Miss Beverley was still silent.
 T will pay you"-the great fist thumped on the table again-''fve thou sand dollars for his name. Will you ac- cept2' ..
 "No."
 "YOu betray one man-why not an. other? You have some spark of de cency in you, then?"
 Miss Beverley said nothing at all. but she was staring hard at Symons out of her tear-filled eyes.
 And will not prosecute. will only horsewhip the cur as he deserves. Ten thousand, and my last offerY'
 "No" Miss Beverleys voice was hard and clear. She got up from her chair.
 "Mr. Symons, I have neither admit ted nor denied this charge of yours. Whether 1t Is false or true, 1t Is ob- vious that can no longer remain in your service"
 "Oh, you see that?" asked old Sym ons, with a sheer.
 'I see that, and am going"
 ''Go!" He svore at her. Let me try to forget that have made mis- take in trusting any one."
 Miss Beverley went out, but she lin gered at the door and, by peculiar slight movement of her head, conveyed the intimation to young Symons that she would wait outside for him. After while he came out, hurriedly.
 "You are brick! To do this for me" ,..4
 "For you?" she echoed, contemptu- ously. DO you think did 1t for you? I did 1t for him-for the man who be- lieved in me. did 1t for him. because 1t would have broken his heart to know that the traitor was the one human be- ing on earth he loved. That's why did itl"