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"How could you indorse it?" she interrupted coolly, now unconvinced again and suspicious

"I'll tell you if you'll stop that fool tongue a moment The cheque was made to 'L Mortimer,' wasn't it? So I wrote 'L Mortimer' on the back Now do you know? If you are L Mortiins with L; so does Leroy, doesn't it? I didn't iraph I put my own fist to a cheque made out to one L Morti as Plank can stand it Now put up your nose and howl, if you like"

But under her sudden pallor he was taking fright again, and he began to bolster up his courage with bluster and noise, as usual: "Howl all you like!" he jeered "It won't alterat? Do you suppose I'm not sorry? Do you fancy I don't knohat a fool I've been? What are you turning white for? What in hell--"

"How much have you--" She choked, then, resolutely: "How much have you--taken?"

"Taken!" he broke out, with an oath "What do you mean? I've borrowed about twenty thousand dollars Now yelp! Eh? What?--no yelps? Probably some weeps, then Turn 'eed to cross one bulky leg over the other and lean back, affecting resignation, while Leila, bolt upright in her low chair, every curved outline rigid under the flowing, silken wrap, stared at hiood for it, aren't we?" he said threateningly "If he's going to turn ugly about it, here's the house"

"My--house?"

"Yes, your house! I suppose you'd rather raise so come out in the papers"

"Do you think so?" she asked, staring into his bloodshot eyes

"Yes, I do I'"

"You mean that you are not inclined to stand by me?" he demanded

"Yes, I mean that"

"You don't intend to help an to show his big teeth, and that nervous snickering "tick" twitched his upper lip

"How about the courts?" he sneered "Do you want to figure in them with Plank?"

"I don't want to," she said steadily, "but you can not frighten hten you! Perhaps you think you'll et a decree? Do you? Well, you won't for several reasons; first, because I'll name other corespondents and that will make Plank sick; second, because Plank wants to marry somebody else and I'm able to assist him So where do you come out in the shuffle?"