The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14

side?" ..,,
 q hadn't begun to do anything till en- gagged with Nadine-.the dressmaker' you know-to be one of her models on board the Monarchic so as to get my passage free. I thought should be sure to make a fortune in New York"
 "There's more than one way for girl to make fortune. Maybe you and can do business. So you were one of those models when you first met my son?"
 Win would not have been flesh and blood if that shot had not told. She quivered, and a bright color stained her cheeks. Never theless, those peering eyes found no guilt Tn her look.
 "Yes," she answered bravely.. "He bought a dress from us for his sister,"
 'What else did he do?"
 "Gave us patent medicine. We were all dreadfully seasick."
 -"You don't mean to tell me he fell in love with you when you were seasick?"
 q don't mean to tell you that he fell in love with at all, MT. Rolls."
 q guess you didn't mean to. But, you see, made you own up."
 'There Was nothing to tell"
 "Well, the murders out, anyhow. And that brings us back to a point 1 want to make. I've been thinking of giving you a reward-that is, if you deserve it. I'm not thinking about medals or lockets silver cups for saving lives. I mean humping sum for saving my son: No disrespect to you. want CO put lC OellcaLely, miss. OaV- ing him from mistake"
 "You have a . strange idea of putting things delicately!" she cried. "You offer me areward if I-oh, 1 can't say it!' ',
 q can," volunteered the old man cooily. "And I'n tell you just how much offer. Maybe that'll help your talking apparatus. I'll give you $10,0O0:" difference" the girl flung at him.
 "Sav. YOU set a high value on my son Peter. But if he marries you, my girl, ne won't be forth red cent. fouo Deteer nick up my offer while it's going ana orop Peter. Maybe with .s1o,0oo or your own t;ns Gns of your young cousins, the earis' nisne Aii'u you worth while." fl,
 "PIease don't go on," she warned him. Il suppose you don't quite realize how hldeous, ly you're insulting me. A man who coulo say such things wouldn't. You can save your son and your pocket, too. NelCher are in danger from me-"
 .sThat ain't the way the boy feels about it." Peter senior slipped the words in slyly. If he did, wouldn't have sent for you."
 This was the last drop in the cup.
 "What?" cried the girl, towering over tne shrunken figure in the revolving char. ; "Your son asked you to send for me! Then he's as bad, as cruel, as you are"
 A red wave of rage swept over her. nne no longer knew what she was saying. Her one wish-her one object in life, 1t seemed lust then-WaS LO UOtu CISto'
 q hate himw she exclaimed. NEverythlng I've heard about him is true, after all. Hes a false friend, a dangerous, cruel man to women, just as was warned he was."
 "Stop right there," broke in Peters tath- CT. "That's damn nonsense, and you know it. Nobody ever warned you that my boy was anything of the kind" ,5
 "Iiwas warned" she beat him down, that it was habit of your son to win girls confidence with his kind ways and then de- ceive her."
 "Then it was damned lie and no one but a damned fool would believe it." shouted Peter Rolls ST. "My boy would die any death sooner than harm woman."
 The girl laughed fierce little laugh; "You tell me this? You defend him to me!
 "No, it ain't policy" he confessed, "but guess it's human nature. You tell me who said these things about him!"
 ''I will not tell you"
 "You are an impudent young hussy."
 Perhaps. You deserve worse, sir. A mo ment ago, I hated you. But now l can't help admiring something big in you that makes you defend your son in spite of your self, when it was policy to let me loathe him."
 "Loathe' is no word to use for my boy" the old man caught her up again. 'I don't want YOU to marry him, no! But, whatever