Page 478 (1/1)

"Ruin you?" she sotten your address I'd have followed you and shot you like a dog!"

"I am not surprised," he said, cal you intended to do it with"

Her startled eyes crawled from his face to the piano She strode to it, threw back the scarf, and stood facing hi pocket "Yes, I rih; well, so have I I have sown le aroundmy vacation I made up one too far for that sort of thing I couldn't marry you--"

"You'd rather die than do it, hadn't you?" The woman's voice broke "Well, I can't blame you I really can't" Her breast rose and shook "The devil is in me, Dick It has been in ood to talk about that I am down and out"

"What do you mean?" He sank into one of the chairs heavily, his despondent stare fixed on her softened face "Younow"

"Oh, it is a fa over it, but it has thoroughly undone ed "Why not?"

Eyes downcast, she hesitated a moment Then: "You've heard me speak of my brother Hal, who is in business in Texas You know he and I are the only ones of my family left He is still a boy to me, and I have always loved hi h him his house has lost ten thousand dollars I've had six appealing letters from his wife--she is desperate"

"Oh, I see," Mostyn said "That is bad Is--is he in prison?"

"No--not yet" Marie choked up "The firm has an idea that his friends may help him restore the ood He has been hoping to get help out there a his wife's people, but has failed The time is nearly up--only two days left, and I--My God, do you think I can live after that boy is put in jail? It has made a fiend of one to Texas with hiht not have happened There is a streak of bad blood in our faood He was like you, able to dodge the law, that's all But poor Hal didn't cover his tracks"