San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-25

II expected visitor, that night
- Lord Purton. He had heard
of Tina's return from Portugal
and he was anxious to see her be-
fore Humphrey should arrive. Mi
randa left them together in the
drawing-room.
"Will you accept me as a friend
and well-wisher?" he asked of her.
81 have heard of this affair in
Portugal. Are you surprised?"
81 don't think | shall be sur
prised at anything in the future.
she said. Although it is remark
able that Lady Pinter should have
lost SO little time in informing
YOU"
ct have not seen that person."
said Purton. "My information
comes from a recent friend of hers
and yours: young Sarling."
81 wasn't aware that you were
acquainted" said Tina. 81 said
goodbye to him in Lisbon"
"He tells me so. | knew his
people and tried to interest myself
in his dramatic work. He's
on his way to Indiar'
"Really" in disinterested
tone of voice.
''He has told me the whole of the
sorry story" said Purton, "hoping
that | might be able to explain
things to poor Humphrey"
81 purpose telling my husband
everything" said Tina. "After
that"
"You'd better let me see him
first. / know him so WELL"
"Better than II" She made a
wry face, the truth was so I'M
palatable. How ironical that a
friend from outside should know
more than the wife of the charac-
ter of John Humphrey.
81 might-might soften things"
said his lordship. "You see, l was
one of the first to warn him
against this woman, Pinter; she
ruined the son of a very dear
friend of mine. | shall not be
stirred to any sense of chivalry on
her account. Since receiving this
letter from Sarling | have made
one or two inquiries, and | mean
to save Humphrey from anything
in the nature of blackmail."
81 had just begun to suspect
blackmail," said Tina, "but in
spite of all she has done I cannot
bring myself to believe that she
would be so base"
"They are talking about divorce
between Charlton and his wife
but | should say it was only part
of the scheme. Most certainly
they will get no money out of
Humphrey if l can prevent it."
Tina said: ado you think that
| would allow him to pay hush
money? 1t is an insult to suggest
it."
"You would fight them in the
court if they dared to take it
there?"
"To my last BREATH" said Tina.
Lord Purton was quiet for a
moment. Then:
eff know my man." he said, at
last, Humphrey would rather part
with his last shilling than have
your name or his sullied by pub
licity. 1t means so much in-in
business"
Tina's eyes were glistening.
"Don't make it harder for me to
bear" she said, biting her neither
lip so that she might suppress the
emotion by which she was con-
trolled. az don't dispute that
through by own foolish actions
my insane idea of independence
I have brought all this trouble on
him. But if it is possible for the
woman to pay the price, I'll pay it"
81 didn't come here to hurt your
feelings or doubt your loyalty"
said Purton. 81 wanted to say that
if John Humphrey deemed it adj
visable to shut their mouths with
money-and if he were not in the
position at the moment to find that
money, I would like him to hand it
over to my lawyers.
"Thank you, Lord Purton."
Then the big eyes stared in half
suspicion. "You forget my hus-
bands position. Very rich.
Very proud. Thank
you, nevertheless"
"Of course, I was forgetting"
said Purton, slowly. He looked
away from her lest she should read
his thoughts through his ewes.
Only two days before he had
learned of the reverses which
Humphrey had suffered. Stuart
Carteret himself had confessed
how far he had contributed to the
debacle. "All the same, I'd like
to go down to Southampton with
you if you have arranged to meet
the boat"
81 shall remain herew said Tina.
Perhaps you are WISE" said
Purton. "Still Pm glad came
down to see you. If between now
and tomorrow afternoon you have
any of the set coming down here,
take my advice and refuse to see
them save in the presence of an
other person. | am going down to
Southampton tonight"
Circumstances prevented his
meeting Humphrey before he dis
embarked. By the time he reached
the landing stage the liner had dis
charged her passengers and the
first train to London was gone.
III tAaA 4 1.