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"She is at the theatre--with the Fernmores Graydon is one of the party Didn't you know?" she asked suddenly

"I do remember it now He left the apartment quite early Then I have Fernmore to thank for--we are alone" He leaned forward in his chair and flicked the cigarette ashes into the fire, his black eyes looking into hers with unmistakable intentness

"You assured e cally

"I ah

"Why did you say to-day that I had nothing to fear fro to fear Why should you fear me? For twenty years your face has not been out of my memory Why should I seek to hurt you, then? Why should I not rejoice in the tie that binds our interests--our lives, for that matter? Come, I ask if I am not fair?"

Her face became pale, her heart cold She understood The mask was off He veiled his threat in the sireedy disdain for grace

"I can offer no more than I offered to-day," she said

"Do you suppose I would accept money in payment for my son's peace of mind?" declared Bansemer, with finely assumed scorn "You offered me ten thousand dollars You will never kno that hurtfrom you Money? What is money to me in an affair like this? I care ers than all the money in the world! You--and you alone, can mould every iiven rain of love I must have it For years you have not been out of my rily "You have no right to say such things to me You have been in my mind all these years, but oh, how I have hated you!"

Like a flash, his ed He had her in his power, and it was not in his nature to permit his subjects to dictate to him Craft and coercion always had been his allies; craft could not win a woht crush it into subame after it had been fairly started

"Now listen to me," he said distinctly "You cannot afford to talk like that You cannot afford to make an enemy of me I mean what I--"

"What would you do?" she cried "You have pro shall happen to e Is it worthless? Is it--"