Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-23
THEDOUBLE CHANCE
FGsG'g Romaee of Wrongly accused Hero and Loyal Sweetheart
BV J. s. FLETCHER

Quinton laid down the tube and
shook his head.
IL philIipa Mannersley had been
surprised by Marshall Stead's. con-
duct at the castle. Marshall Stead
was infinitely more surprised by
Phillipa Mannersley's behavior AT
the counting house.
He was, in fact. so much surprised
that when she walked out with her
cheeks afiame, her fine eyes blazing,
and her head in the air, he felt as If
he had been turned to stone, and for
the moment stood staring at the
door through which she had vanish
ed with eyes which certainly did not
see it Or anything. If he had been
n man of more perception, IL he had
understood the language of the prize
! ring, he would have known that he
was completely knocked out.
But the truth was that Marshall
Stead, in spite of ALL his cleverness,
was neither more nor less than that
worst OF all fools-a conceited one.
He was sly, vain, and naturally
bumptious; but he had early found
, out the advantages of concealing all
sorts OF feelings and qualities under
a mask OF smoothness.
He had got round the late Sir
q
politeness, difference and strict at
tention to business; he had won the
applause Of most people by steady
conduct and regular attendance at
church. And he had gradually come
to regard himself as so clever as to
be able to deceive everybody.
That he had overshot his bolt in
tackling Miss Phillipa Mannersley
came as a regular revelation to him.
He knew nothing. and never had
known anything, of the world outside
his own narrow limits; he knew just
as little of women as he knew of
the world.
His mother. the only woman he
ever had really known. was an old
fashioned, easy-going woman, whose
sole idea, from the time he remem-
bered her, was q perpetual devotion
to the service of Sir Robert, who
had so befrisnded her at q time of
need. She was an easily managed,
soft -natured woman; when lie him
self had grown UP he had bullied
her. In his foolishness he believed
that all women were like her; you
had only to COW them, to let them
see that you held the upper hand,
and they would come up to heel like
ours who fear the whip.
And now to find that this girl
this proud young beauty, whom he
had fondly believed would agree to
anything simply because he had
| threatened her. had dared to ignore
the promise he had forced out of
her. and had treated him as IL he
were mere dirt. was to him such a
shock as he had never expected to
receive. He had thought himself
secure. simply because his cheap
slyness had placed him in possession
of a secret, and he had forced the
pace. And now
He shook himself together at last.
! and realized that he had made a
| mess of things. And at that he
| smiled eyilly.
Never mind" he said. "she shan't
have all her own way"
Then, remembering that Phillipa
had gone to Quitton, and knowing
that Quinton now was in full Dos
session Of power. he hustled into
activity. Putting on his light over
coat he hastily filled the inside
pockets with certain papers and
documents. He took a check book
from n drawer OF his Desk. and
departure from the room. he, too, de-
stiiN SCI VA AL thC ACStlOu
OF the village.
A new set of thoughts and feelings
Rad suddenly entered into Stead's
imagination. The ineradicable
vanity in him was urging him to
show the proud daughter of a long
line Of baronets that whether she
could keep her word or not. he, her
summarily discharged servant. could.
And with that end in view he made
his way to the house in which In
spector Cortelyou had taken lodgings.
While Stead was thus journeying
toward the queer little man from
Scotland Yard, that astute person
| age was making a late breakfast, and
at the same time interviewing Per-
rett. Naturally enough. the cashier
was the subject OF their converse
tien.
Nothing much to do, EN-. Perrett?'
said the inspector pleasantly. "Ah,
| wen. that's rather for me to decide.
isn't 1t? What have you to report ?"
Perrett pulled out a notebook and
consulted some memoranda. Il went
on at noon when Stevens went off,"
he said. "stead came out OF the Of
Aces at the ususl ttme--one o'clock;