The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-11-02
GOD" The exclama-

M ton was barely audible.
The two men sat star
ing at one another. motionless,
silent.
Prentiss' face suddenly ,jerked
spasmodically. and he rose to his
feet.
"I wanted to make sure" he said
thickly.
what makes you think SOP
Philip leaned forward with shut
fists.
81 know" the other answered
with finality. He faced Philip
abruptly.
Didn't he tell you anything
about it? Didn't he give you .
hint?"
Before heaven, Gerald. he never
said word to. me. I don't know
where they could have gone to.
Ny Godr' He sank back into his
+. chair as there rushed upon him a
realization OF consequences
ST wasn't home night before
last" Prentiss said stonily. "She
knew I wasn't coming home, and
last night I was at the club, play
ing bridge. It was q bad evening
for me all round / didn't get
home until late. This morning
found she'd gone. Shed fired the
nurse and the cook before she left.
The kids bed hadn't been slept in"
He put his fist on the desk and
emphasized what he said next with
firm impact Of his closed hand.
The Threat
You tell him, Phil. to keep ont
Of my way-tell him to stay OUT.
I'll shoot him at sight. He ought
TO know that. He's welcome to her
--he can have 'em both-I don't
give damn. But he can't rob me
OF my wife and child and then
come back here to Frisco and
make monkey out Of me-.fore
everybody. I'll kill him, s'help me
God" His voice shook little as
Its pitch increased. .sYou under
stand that. do " Baldwin? Y'tell
him when you find out where he
~ to stay away from here. He
can't make a monkey out of me
and. laugh in my face. No one
can make a show of me and get
away with itt'' His chin trem-
bled. and he clipped off his final
words as he clenched his jaw.
There's just one more thing"
he said after a moment. There's
no use in letting the papers get
wind Of this. You won't want 10,
viii you? I don't give a damn
about them. but I don't want to
be made q laughing stock-get
me?"
Certainly, Gerald-of course. I
ehan't want anyone to know on
account Of Mrs.-for Lucy's sake.
No. there's no need of it."
'All right. You keep your
mouth shut. and they'll get moth
ing out Of me-"
He stood staring at Philip a mo-
Hnent longer as IL trying to remem-
Der II there was anything more 10
say, then turned abruptly ami
walked from the room, clapping
the frail office door closed behind
him with a smart slam.
Philip sat on. stunned, motion
less. Over and over he kept re-
peating: 81 don't believe tt
tust don't believe It." No sound
escaped him; his lips Barely form
Cd the words. Yet with crushing
force the conviction grew upon
him, IT was true. One predominant
ing emotion then laid hold of him.
Wilbur had failed to confide in
him, had left him without a word,
without even saying goodbye. He
was struck to the heart, stabbed
with what seemed to be his
friends and partners base deser-
ton.
Presently he jumped to his
feet, and quickly passed into
Wilbur's office. shutting the con-
Meeting door behind him. He
sat down at the desk and began
to go through it. jerking open
, drawers. fumbling their contents.
He could find no sealed envelope,
no fnessage,-nothing. He rang
for Miss Glaspell.
did Mr.. Lansing say how.