Nogales international., 1935-04-13


was finding il difficult to get away
There were two cars now but they
where always in use And the saddle
horses had been turned out somewhere.
Cleo saw the new car come IN. ana
Pctry and that woman Martha 60
around to the back of the house. She
met Gage with pout.
'I'm awfully glad you've come; I'm
getting terribly lonely up here. How
is Nancy"
She's going to live His voice was
dry. Come in, have something to
show you"
In the living room he took a wallet
from his pocket, and from it extracted
a neat oblong of paper. Cleo came
close to a gasp Of surprise, but she
checked it in time.
1t was a check for FIVE thousand
dollars, drawn to the order OF James
NJ. Kennedy.
Kennedy! Why, that's my name on
iti He's been forging it for FIVE thou
sand dollars He was one Of our chauf-
feurs, but | discharged him. Thank you
so much!"
She held out her hand. but Gage
tucked the check back in his wallet.
mo thanks. I'll keep it as evidence.
l have a signed statement from Ken
nedy, too I'm going to put them both
in safe deposit"
For a few seconds Cleo felt very,
very cold. And very angry, but she
merely moved a petulant shoulder.
You're terribly mysterious. I'm
afraid I don't follow you"
Think hard" he suggested, "and
maybe you'll remember. It's not such
an everyday matter to pay somebody
ten thousand dollars to get another
woman out of your way"
"You are simply outrageous!' Her
face was flaming now, but fear was
crowding her close. That's ridicu'
lous thing to say. And do you think
that anyone would doubt my wore
against that of discharged chauffeur
"a broken-down gambler and" Shs
stopped. realizing that she had said toe
much. Gage gave her brief smile
you're we'll posted on his record
aren't you? And you didn't discharge
him, he left. I have evidence of that
too. I also have detailed affidavit!
covering some of your conversation
with Kennedy. One of them is particu
| larly instructive. That was the tin.
you tried to buy back this check from
him. Maybe you recollect that you'd
had a new footman recently, who
didn't stay very long, He was an
operative from a detective agency.
Really Perhaps you'll! tell ne that
Kennedy was a detective too! It's too
bad that he was shot the same night
that your wife's sister staged iron:
page exit ever that cliff"
"Maybe he was. Bu: be little more
careful of your speech. please"
young woman, you've been playing
a risky game. and you've lost it. 1t was
worse than risky, it was dirty game,
and it the story ever came out yoa
would be a long time living It down.
And If your father should get wind Of
it. and the way you've let yourself III
for blackmail, he'd pack you off some
where Ambrose is pretty easy with
you. but he has his limits"
Il shouldn't think you could afford
to talk about blackmail" Cleo biazed
at him. Il suppose you mean that you
are going TO hold YOUR precious docu-
nlents over my head to keep me from
telling"
Cali it anything you please. But ge:
this idea firmly in your llead--tlis
thing is going to stop right here. You
are going to keep quiet about the
whole business. | haven't told Duane
yet about your attempts to railroad his
wife. but at the first indiscretion he
Is going TO get the whole nasty story.
Il I should die before you. the sealed
papers will so to Nancy. Have ] rsiade
myself clear?"
Gage had found the one weak spot in
her hard little armor. OF ali the people
in the world, she could least endure
to have Barry know what she had done
to get him.
At the door he paused There's an
express that goes through the Junction
at seven. I've wired for compartment
for you, and Petry will take you over.
Martha is packing your trunk now. /
told her to. Goodbye"
The door closed behind him.
+ &
When Nancy awoke it was mid
afternoon and someone was sitting on
an absurdly low stool beside her bed
He was bent over, with his head rest
ing on his hands, and the stool was
so low that the bowed head was only
little way from her finger tips. where
they rested Imply on the bed. 1t was
brown head, with thick hair rough
ened in the way she had loved. 1t
couldn't be real. She moved her hand
to touch it.
"Oh-hello p He tried so hard to be
matter of fact-not to frighten her.
ITS pretty nice to see you awake
again"
mice" She repeated it with dreamy
content. Her hand went UP slowly. and
touched his cheek, and he caught hold
Of It and held it closer, turning his
head to bury his lips in soft palm.
Sweet little Nancy II YOU will lust