White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-10-21
The ReCluse of Fifth Avenue

stand That ne cannot prosecute u.s."
Floyd Malet had said little. He
was watching the girls sensitive face.
He did not understand how 1t was the
others did not realize she was suffer.
ing. They had assumed that she was
wholly with them and as eager as they
to win. 1t was because Malet loved
her that he knew what was passing In
her mind. He had seen her with
Robin. He knew certainly that she
loved the lad and suffered torture at
the thought that she was going to aid
in giving Paul Raxon the whip hand
over him.
1t was plain to Floyd Malet that
this love of his for a girl, whose
beauty had first attracted him be-
cause it was Of rare and finer sort,
must be kept secret. What has the
world to offer but scorn for the mid
dle-aged and unsuccessful lover?
But love, he reflected, If it Is genu-
inc, finds its reward In service. How
could he help her? Was 1t possible
to bring her happiness and Robin1
The other men were talking about
Robins father.
"He will suffer-" said Mr.. Milman
impartially. "And his family will
suffer. 1 am sorry for them; but in
this case our interests weigh down
the balance. McKimber, at all events,
has money and an assured position"
'Why not offer to sell the letters to
him, them" Malet cried. you will
get your money just the same and
you will be defeating Raxon?" He
noticed that Nita listened eagerly for
the reply.
"There are two reasons against 1t.
One, that we" know Raxon to be
crook used to chicanery, fraud, and
blackmail. He will not protest, no
matter how we obtained these letters.
He will probably pay. With McKim-
Der it is different. How shall we con-
vince him that If he buys these let
tiers he is safe from subsequent black
mail? He will know that his secret
Is shared by many others and he will
never feel safe. AS he probably won't
run for office now, he may make
fight Of 1t. He has money. He can
retain the best counsel, while we are
handicapped from the start. 1t is not
a matter of choosing to benefit one at
the cost of the other. Personally, 1
am inclined to be sorry for McKimber.
With us all it is merely the easiest
and safest way to get the money we
have been defrauded Of from the man
who did it."
"Who's to bell the cat?" Barnes
asked. How are you going to talk
1t over with Raxon?'
II think If l telephone to him he
will come"
"But he might bring gang Of thugs
with him. Barnes objected. "He can
get bunch Of gunner any time he
needs them. What's to prevent him
going through this place and getting
the lettersY
ut is not a house easy to break
into, as you know. He will not be
admitted If he does not come alone.
If he is as desperately anxious for
those letters as believe, he will come
at once and alone. / shall not men
ton them when / speak to him, but
he will be thinking Of nothing else"
Malet had the opportunity to get
few words with Nita later in the eve
ming.
"a few mornings back" he said
softly, "you met young McKimber in
the grounds at Great Rock. You had
few minutes with him and then left
him. You said you thought you had
been breaking your heart. Nita, what
did you mean?"
She smiled at him. ibid say
that? How silly. Doesn't one exag-
gerate before breakfast?'
"You can't deceive me like that"
he answered you are fond of
Robin and you are torn between two
emotions, your love for him and your
LOYALTY to your father. What you
would like to be able to do Is to take
those accused letters and give them
to Mr.. McKimber without letting his
wife or son know they ever existed"
II would rather do that than any
thing else" she admitted. She saw
that 1t was useless to conceal it from
the sculptor. And she knew, too, that
this middle-aged genius with the worn
face and quiet ways, loved her. ut
is hard, Uncle Floyd" she said, and
smiled whimsically, ito feel one Is be-
traying where one loves"
you are not he protested.