White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-08-19
CHAPTER VI-Continued

4AOlA ACACs \ NoAlC W 1AhClASO W iOon
after him-he had been horribly
neglected-and l find him entangled
In some network Of crime. 1 made
him admit 1t was something with dan
ger in 1t. At dinner you all tried to
deceive me, and you would have sue
ceeded If hadn't happened to know
something about oil. You want him
because of his courage, and because
ne Is strong and goot shot and boxes
well. He isn't clever and scheming
as you are, and won't have him
made use Of"
"Nita, Nita," groaned her father,
you've got everything wrong"
Il think I have misjudged your fa-
ther," Milman said. II am very glad
to find what you did was not at his
suggestion. I think there is much for
you to explain. You are guest I'M
der my roof, and there are certain
laws of courtesy and consideration
not less binding on you than me. You
have chosen to break them. You have
spied upon us. You have not be-
haved as I should have expected
gentlewoman of your family to do.
Why3"
i've told you," she cried. IT know
you are trying to make my father help
you in something desperate, and l
don't choose to have him run risks for
other men,"
you are absolutely wrong" the
miserable Barnes asserted.
"Prove It," she retorted. "You are
silent. You dare not tell me the
truth. knew you wouldn't, so 1
climbed out Of the window to listen to
what you were talking about. I'm not
going to make any silly fuss by telling
the police. All I want is to take my
father away. I'm going to make a
success Of him."
"He is free to co. said Peter Mil
man YEARLY. He looked at Malet and
Pradney. $50 are you. I suppose
did lure you here under false pre-
lenses. In the beginning 1t seemed so
simple"
Nita looked about her in amaze
ment. She did not understand why 1t
seemed they had forgotten her. Even
her father turned from her to Peter
Milman.
II shall go only when you have no
further use for me-" said Bradney
"When I have done what I prom
ised I'll go. Not before" This from
Malet.
"There were no false pretenses in
It," Neeland Barnes cried. II came
willingly, and I'll be id If I CO."
"What does it all mean?" the girl
whispered. There was no doubling
the friendship, almost the affection,
with which the other men regarded
Mr.. Milman. There was sterner air
about her father when he faced her
than she had ever seen before.
"Nita," he said, with one exception,
all the hurts I've received, all the bad
hurts that is,. have been from pals
who thought they were acting for my
good. You've been dangerously near
doing that tonight. You've got every
thing twisted. You have made me
appear N very poor light among
men respect"
There were tears dimming her vio-
let eyes when she looked at him.
"Oh, daddy" she murmured, II only
wanted to help you. When you came
to my room said, My father and his
friends, right or wrong I meant It,"
"You did not know what you were
promising" Milman declared. "Do
you mean that If you found your IA
Their engaged in doing something the
world thought wrong you would take
his part?"
IF thought he was Justified, /
would"
lis 1t fair to involve herr" Bradney
broke in.
"Certainly not" Malet decided.
perhaps you are right" Milman
sighed. II only know that you might
have been great figure in the world
of art, and Mr.. Bradney world famous
as scientist, and I myself with for
tune and home, but for the malevo.
lence of one man."
"Did that man injure my fatherY'
she demanded.
"But for this man your father would
not have been warned Off the turf.
But for him the clubs that he had to
resign from would have welcomed
him."
"Wait, watt" she begged. II want
to think" Naturally 1t was of her
father she thought. She had always
defended him against her aunt, but
she had never been able to dismiss
the accusations as worthless. She had
fought because she loved him; not be-
cause she believed in him. And now
to learn that. after all, his past was
not disgraceful, filled her with hope
and courage. She was ashamed OF
herself that she had ever doubted him.
There was no sacrifice he demanded
II her she would not fulfill gladly.
"Will you tell me all about it7" she
pleaded. mo, daddy, not you. You
always wander into the bypaths OF
narrative. Let Mr.. Milman tell me-"
Very concisely he laid before her
what he had told the other men of
Paul Raxon and his way Of life. AS
she listened she saw clearly that 1t
was to the malignity Of one man that
three lives had been ruined and Il
fourth brought to penniless old age
She listened attentively to the futile
plans they had elaborated and re-
jected. Perhaps to her fresher and
more alert mind these plans seemed
commonplace, and doomed to failure
But she knew 1t was not to common
place men she listened.