William Hamilton Osborne

“ But it was not given to Murgatroyd to know that he was the subject of her perplexities; nor could he read, as he should have, any hope in the words which she now spoke:—
"And if I am out of your reach—it's your own fault. If you had been half the man I thought, you would never have listened to me. But you never cared for me, even though you said so," Shirley said, casting her eyes down, not daring to look him in the face. "What you did, you did for yourself and not for me. You were weak from the start. Any man who would surrender his honesty even for a woman is not a man. ”

“ But on his face was the dull flush that results from the strain of enthusiasm, of excitement, of overwork. He looked fagged out, and his eyes were restless, though they glowed with steadiness of purpose. From time to time he glanced quickly about him, taking in every detail of the room, studying the people in it, and even peering through the palms that hid the girl, as though he wondered what interloper had had the temerity to rob him of his lair. One thing, however, impressed her more than anything else: his demeanour toward Broderick. ”

“ Graham Thorne then approached the prosecutor and exclaimed:—
"Prosecutor, we have wondered all along just what your price might be. Now we know."
"The last dollar that a woman has," sneered Peter Broderick.
And still Murgatroyd gave no sign. It was only when Shirley Bloodgood approached him and he heard the tremor in her voice that the man trembled imperceptibly.
"Mr. Murgatroyd," she declared, "I am forced to believe all that Miriam has said. Oh, Billy, Billy, it is inconceivable that you are the man that I have respected all these years! You have lost the one thing I admired most in you." ”

“ Thorne paused.
Suddenly he assumed a dramatic pose, and now turning toward a beautiful and fashionably gowned young woman with a bar of sunlight streaming down her face, who occupied a seat underneath the third high window in the court-room, he riveted his gaze on her, all eyes following in that direction.
"There," he said, his voice sinking to a whisper, but a whisper that could be heard all over the court-room, "is the woman in the case—the real culprit! A temptress! A vampire! A Circe! A woman who has made a mess of the lives of two men, and only God knows how many others! ”

“ For an instant Challoner was stunned. His wife had never looked at him like that; there was something in the catch of her breath, too, as she ended, that meant denial, he was certain. But he took courage and renewed his attack; and meeting with no success, he turned to imploring, begging for the money. Did she not know that he would not ask her if he did not have to have it? Women never could understand why men had to have money—she didn't understand. If she would only let him have the money, he would pledge himself to mend his ways, anything—but he must have money. ”

“ The thousand and one little mannerisms that were so large a part of the girl's attractiveness were all there, but the voice was no longer the mirthful voice of the Shirley that he knew and loved. She spoke as though in a trance:—
"Can you understand me when I say that I have got to have something more than love? I am too practical, Billy, to fool myself—or you! Perhaps I'm cursed with the instincts of my kind—of the American girl. Oh, let me tell you how it is!" she exclaimed impulsively. "All my life I've been surrounded by men who were failures. ”

“ Shirley smiled again in spite of herself.
"You haven't an ounce of diplomacy in your whole body!"
"Not if you call obeying orders from Peter Broderick, diplomacy."
Still the girl was merciless.
"You hit from the shoulder wildly; it lands on and hurts your opponent, but it kills you. You're only honest, Billy, nothing else."
Murgatroyd swung about nervously and glanced out of the window as he cried:—
"Only honest! Doesn't that count with you—doesn't it signify?"
"It's easy enough to be honest, but it is great to make your honesty save and not destroy you. ”

“ I even told Murgatroyd, once, that though I loved my father, I could never admire him, respect him."
Miriam raised her eyebrows and protested mildly:—
"You never told me that, Shirley."
"No!" exclaimed the girl; "my friends don't know the worst side of me! My father a failure! Fortunately in these three years I have come to look upon things differently—have come to know that he was a success, simply because he was real. Money! What is money? My father was a man!"
Miriam rose suddenly and went over to her and kissed her.
"I'm glad, Shirley," she said with feeling, "that you found it out. ”

“ And now turning to the girl: "Patricia, I didn't know you could be so interesting...."
The maid gasped with relief as she left the room in obedience to a dismissing wave of her mistress' hand.
"Well, why don't the rest of you come in?" Challoner growled, fastening his eyes on the woman.
Letty Love opened her blue eyes wide—eyes that could look the innocence of a child or the wisdom of the ages—and feigned not to understand. And then as if his meaning had dawned upon her, she said with a good-natured smile:—
"Oh—why, I'm alone!"
"It's a good thing you are," he told her pointedly. ”

“ To Miriam Challoner, it was indeed a treat to hear their good-natured banter. Presently she asked with interest:—
"What are you doing now, Stevens?"
"He's a shofer, ma'am," spoke up Foster quickly with pride.
"A what?" inquired Mrs. Challoner.
"A showfure, ma'am," corrected Stevens with dignity. "She'll learn in time.... I'm working for Bernhardt, the brewer—a hundred dollars a month, ma'am."
"Indeed! So you're a chauffeur, and earning one hundred dollars a month!" exclaimed Miriam Challoner. "Why that's fine!" And a hundred dollars never seemed larger to any one's eyes. ”

“ Thorne." She paused a moment and then, as if speaking to herself, said: "But some day I shall meet the man I'm looking for—some day——"
"When you do, Shirley Bloodgood," he was quick to remind her, "it's an even chance that he won't care for you."
Shirley lost no time in retorting:—
"It's a chance I'm going to take! I can love," she went on wistfully, "yes," and then blushing, added very tenderly: "I am laying my soul bare to you, William Murgatroyd, because I believe somehow that you have a right to see it. Again I repeat: Look at Mr. Thorne!—a prospective United States senator!" ”

“ One day after the affirmance, the jail doors were opened, and he was free—that's all—and he came back to me."
"Surely Murgatroyd knows," said Shirley.
"Oh, yes, of course he knows; but we have never asked any questions. Why should we? I shall never forget Murgatroyd though—I remember him in my prayers. He was honest; he kept his word——"
Shirley smiled a grim smile.
"Murgatroyd, the man with a price! Well, I suppose it's just as well that there are people in this world who can be bought now and then."
"I have never forgiven myself," sighed Miriam. ”

“ Murgatroyd was visibly affected.
"Thank you," he said simply; and then added: "Only one thing more remains to be done. Mrs. Challoner, I must ask you to break these seals."
Miriam demurred.
"Oh, no, Mr. Murgatroyd!" she said. "Surely you must know that I believe you!"
But Murgatroyd insisted; and obeying him finally, Miriam broke the seals, and presently she showed to them the securities, undisturbed, just as Murgatroyd had taken them, dollar for dollar, bond and bond.
Suddenly Murgatroyd felt a touch on the arm.
"And I believe you, Billy," said Shirley contritely. ”

“ Mrs. Challoner rose, staggered across the room to the girl and threw her arms about her.
"Shirley, Shirley, I'd have gone mad, I think, if you hadn't come!" she cried, and fell to sobbing; but after a moment she straightened up again. There was a defiant look in her face now, a tremor in the voice that said: "I don't care what he's done—I want Laurie to come back, do you understand? I want him back—I want him...."
Shirley Bloodgood bit her lips.
"I know, I know, Miriam—I do understand——"
"Oh, but you can't understand," she persisted; "you haven't a husband and you don't know ..." ”