Year: 1879

ueaith WIN meulclne, ana nope WIN
Baird" / cried. But do 90 on"
lie paused moment, then spilled few
drops from his glass. held it out from him,
and said in tone of suppressed enthusi-
asm 81 pour and drink to Walter Mel
tons precocious smartness. Bless the an
tique boy


And to his noble hospitality, y cried the
little man with mischievous twinkle as
he emptied his glass s


Well resumed Baird with sigh, as
though the duty of narration pressed heav-
lily upon him, "Langton increased the base
of the isosceles triangle, his legs made
with the hearth-rug and said You have
come for the purpose of meeting your
wife and trying to induce her to make
over on you money which otherwise will
go to that child Is not that so p


IL thought Langton's manner simply
brutal


"'Sr,' said Ryland, glancing from
Langton to me. we are not alone He
did not show the least sign of haste or
temper. but smiled as gently as though |
were his sweetheart, and he were asking
me to Withdraw in order that papa and he
might talk over the business aspects of
his successful love suit


II rose to 90. but Langton turned sharp
| ly upon me and said, Neither nor my
client has sought this interview. neither
nor my client desire secrecy. Ii it does
not answer the purpose Of this man that
You should be present he can go. idesire,
Baird, that you should remain.


''By George, Melton. but I thought
there would be blood Langtons voice
was full of threat and command, sit down
| must and did.


"At that moment the door opened and a
woman carrying baby in her arms came
in. Indeed, she was one Of the planest
women ever saw. She wore hideous
cold green plaid shawl and an old yellow
straw bonnet trimmed with faded violet
ribbons -..-s..a


"Eh ?"


"Cold green plaid shawl, old yellow
straw bonnet with faded blue or violet rib
bons. Why did you stop me p"


WAS her complexion bad and her nose
sunken much below the forehead at the
bridge?n


"Yes; at least think 50. Give me II
moment. 1t was.h rsa


"And she held the child to her bosom
as though it were part of her own body
that felt cold and needed all the heat of
her arms and her bosom ?"
| "All fond mothers hold their babies so.
| Do you know herp' aas


''Was the hair of her forehead irregular?
Did it grow lower, much lower, at one
side than the other ?''


"Yes, it did. Did you ever meet herr"


''She was in the carriage came by to-
day. Go on" es


when the woman saw Ryland she
shuddered and drew the child closer to
her. | was watching every movement
and look most closely. Langton went to
her, spoke to her, and taking her by the
hand led her to a seat with as much gal
lantry and Difference as though she were
the finest woman and the first lady in Lon
don. Ryland stood in the middle of the
room with one hand on the back of chair
and the other still holding his hat in front
of his waistcoat.
He bowed and smiled family as she
crossed the room. After the first look she
never glanced toward him again during
the whole interview.


after a few words by Langton in low
voice to the woman to which she made no
reply, he sat down to his writing-table and
spoke out.


MRS Ryland, of the money YOU in
/
ca. four months after your marriage, YOU
have already assigned away to this man
half or about two thousand five hundred
pounds. on the condition that he was to
keep away from you forever. This money
having been left to your private use in
such manner that he could have no claim
whatever on penny of it, although he is
your husband--you, against my advice,
made over to him the moiety of that for
tune. He has been gambling again, and
it is all gone


Operating on the stock exchange put
in Rvland, in soft voice, as though more
desirous to keep things accurate than to
shield or excuse himself.


'One-half of your fortune has been
gambled away, and this--man now wishes
to have the opportunity of dissipating-
"'Of operating with broke in Rv-
land


"'Of dissipating more of it. Your de-
cision-a decision which has my full con-
currence-is that you retain the money for
yourself and your child and that If he
gives any further trouble, YOU seek d.
vorce on the ground of cruelty.
"'But shall get back all l have lost if
can command only another thousand.
Only a thousand There will still be some
left her and her boy, and shall win all
back. ~'et-a


mot with my approval one penny
said Langton, hotly. .s


But have right am her hus-
band @ ~


I'VE won't discuss law with YOU. Mrs.
Ryland declines to give You the money.
The law is open to all. You can appeal
to it if You please. That is your answer.
You can leave now a


But too want to secure something
for her son. said Ryland. His face was
now deadly pale, and | saw his fingers
tighten and whiten on the brim of his hat
until the brim was crushed fiat against the
side. The pleasant smiles were all gone
now. and deadly sinister leer4 covered
his handsome features, his1 lips fell back
from his white teeth like towards at
bay.


'''Out at once.' cried Langton, spring.
ing to his feet angrily. and do believe he
would have used violence had not Ryland
hastily Withdrawn. closing the door very