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WITHIN
THE LAW
By MARVIN DANA
FROM THE PLAY OF
BAYARD VEILLER
Copyright. 1913, by the H. K. Fly
company.
sturt of incredulity from Garson.
"Yes." Mary repeated evenly, “I was
married to him this morning. That
was my important engagement." she
added with a smile toward Aggie.
Aggie sat erect, her baby face alive
with worldly glee
“Oh. gee. what luck!" she exclaim
ed noisily. “Why. lie's a king fish, he
is Gee. hut I’m glad you landed him!"
"Thank you," Mary said with a smile
that was the result of her sense of hu
mor rather than from any tenderness.
It was then that Garson spoke. He
put a question of vital significance.
"Do you love him?”
The question caught Mary all unpre
pared. hut she retained her self con
trol sufficiently to make her answer in
a voice that to the ordinary ear would
have revealed no least tremor.
“No.” she said. She offered no ex
planation. no excuse: merely stated the
fact in all its finality.
“Then you won’t leave 11s?" Garson
asked. “We’re going on as we were
before?" The hint of dejection in his
manner had vanished. "And you won’t
live with him?"
“Live with him?” Mary exclaimed
emphatically. "Certainly not!”
Garson was still patient, in his deter
mination to apprehend just what had
come to pass.
"Does he understand the arrange
ment?" was his question.
“No. not yet." Mary admitted, with
out sign of embarrassment.
Garson was intently considering an
other phase of the situation, one sug
gested perhaps out of his own deeper
sentiments.
“He must think a lot of you.” he said
gravely. "Don’t he?"
"I—l suppose so.”
Garson spoke very softly, but with
an intensity that left no doubt as to
the honesty of his purpose.
“I’d say throw up the wiiole game
and go to him. if you really care."
There fell a tense silence. It was
broken hv Mary.
“1 married him to -t even with his
father.” she said. uat's all there is
to it. By the way. I expect Dick will
tie here in a minute or two. When he
comes just remember not to—enlighten
him.”
"Mr. Gilder." Fnnnie announced.
"Any one with him?"
“No. Miss Turner," the maid an
swered.
"Have him come in." Mary ordered.
Garson made hasty excuses and
went out on the heels of the maid.
Aggie, however, consulting only her
own wishes in the matter, had no
thought of flight, and. If the truth he
told. Mary was glad of sustaining
xireacnceaif another jvoma'n. JShe got !
Bvritor has Ball Bearings at all frictional points ||
res a Good Operator I
the business world to-day is neat, 1
lilt to produce this kind of “copy.” M
this machine all lead to Type- m
ise—the carriage, the typebar M
tion, durability and efficiency. MS
Tip slowly and stood silent, while Ag
gie regarded her curiously. A moment
later the bridegroom entered. He was
still clean cut and wholesome. Some
sons of wealthy fathers are not after
four years' experience of the white
lights of town. And the lines of his
face were firmer, better in every way.
It seemed, indeed, that here was some
one of a resolute character, not to be
wasted on the trivial and gross tilings.
: He caught Mary In his arms with
j "Hello, dear!" smothered in the kiss he
j implanted on her lips.
Marv strove vainly to free herself.
"Don't, oh. don't!" she gasped.
Dick released his wife and smiled
i the beatific smile of the newly wed.
"Why not?" he demanded, with a
smile.
“Agnes!" It was the sole pretext to
which Mary could lurn for a mouien
' tary relief
The bridegroom faced about and
perceived Amies. He made a formal
iiow and spoke quietly.
"I beg your pardon. Miss Lynch,
but"—a smile of perfect happiness
shone on his face—"you could hardly
"Just one,” Dick pleaded.
expect me to see any one but Mary
under the circumstances. We were
married this morning."
Aggie accepted the news with fitting
excitement.
“Goodness gracious! How perfectly
lovely!"
“You bet it's lovely!" Dick declared.
He turned lo Mary, his face glowing
with satisfaction.
"Mary,” lie said, “I have the honey
moon trip all fixed. The Mauretania
sails at 5 in the morning, so we will” —
“Where is your father?" the bride
asked, without any trace of emotion.
"O Lord! I had forgotten all about
dad. I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll
send dad a wireless from the ship, then
write him from Paris."
"What was your promise? I told
you that I wouldn’t go with you until
you had brought your father to me and
he had wished us happiness."
"Mary,” Dick said reproachfully,
"you are not going to hold me to that
promise?”
“I am going to hold you to that prom
ise. Dick.”
"All right. You park up what things
.you need, .girlie- Jusl u few., because
, tTiey sen clothes in Paris. AndYhean
time I'll run down to dad's office and
have him back here in half an hour.
You will be all ready, won't you?”
“Yes. yes. I'll be ready. Go and
bring your father.”
“You bet I will!” Dick cried hearti
ly. He would have taken her in his
arms again, but she evaded the caress.
"Just one!” Dick pleaded.
“No." the bride replied with deter
mination.
There was silence in the drawing
room until the two women heard the
closing of the outer door of the apart
ment. Then, at last, Aggie relieved
her pentup emotions in a sigh that
was near a groan.
"Ob, gosh!" siie gasped. "The poor
simp!"
Garson. learning from the maid that
Dick Gilder had left, returned just as
Mary was glancing over the release
with which General Hastings was to
be compensated, along with the return
of his letters, for his payment of $lO,-
000 to Miss Agnes Lynch.
Mary spoke crisply to Agnes. “And
now you must get ready. You are to
be at Harris' office with this document
at 4 o’clock, and remember that you
are to let the lawyer manage every
thing."
“I don’t see the use of all this mon
key business.” she protested. "All I
want is the coin.”
“Listen. Agnes. The last time you
tried to make a man give up part of
his money it resulted in your going to
prison for two years."
“But that was so exciting."
“And this way is so safe.” Mary re
joined sharply. “Besides, my dear,
you would not get the money. My
way will. Your way was blackmail.
Mine is not. Understand?"
“Oh, sure!" Aggie replied grimly, on
her way to the door.
“Mr Griggs.” Fannie announced
There was a smile on the face of the
maid, which was explained a minute
later, when the visitor was shown into
the drawing room, for his presence
was of an elegance so extraordinary
as to attract attention anywhere—and
mirth as well from ribald observers.
Meantime Garson had explained to
Mary.
"It's English Eddie. You met him
once. I wonder what lie wants? Prob
ably got a trick for me. We often
used to work together.”
"Nothing without my consent,’' Mary
warned.
"Oh, no. 110, sure not!" Garson
agreed.
Further discussion was cut short by
the appearance of English Eddie him
self, a tall, handsome man in the early
thirties, who paused just within the
doorway and delivered to Mary a bow
that was the perfection of elegance.
Mary made no effort to restrain the
smile cause by the costume of Mr
Griggs. Yet there was no violation
of the canons of good taste, except
in the aggregate. From spats to hat,
from walking coat to gloves, every
thing was perfect of its kind. Only
there was an overelaboration, so that
the ensemble was flamboyant. And
the man's manners precisely harmoniz
ed with his clothes, whereby the whole
effect was emphasized and rendered
bizarre. Garson took one amazed look
and then rocked with laughter.
Griggs regarded his former associate
reproachfully for a moment and then
grinned in frank sympathy.
"From your costume." Mary sug
gested. "one might judge _that this is
COFFEE COUNTY PROGRESS
purely a social call, is It?"
"Well, not exactly," Griggs answered
with a smile.
"So I fancied,” his hostess replied.
"So, sit down, please, and tell us all
about it”
English Eddie wasted no time
"Now, look bore,” he said rapidly,
"I’ve got the greatest game in the
world. Two years ago a set of Gothic
tapestries worth $300,000 and a set of
Fragonard panels worth nearly as
much more were plucked from a cha
teau in France and smuggled into this
country."
"Are them things really worth that
much?" Garson exclaimed.
"Sometimes more." Mary answered
"Morgan has a set of Gothic tapestries
worth half a million dollars.”
Griggs went on with his account.
“About a month ago the things I was
telling you of were hung in the lib
rary of a millionaire in this city.” He
hitched his chair a little closer to the
desk and leaned forward. lowering his
voice almost to a whisper as he stated
his plan.
“I/pt’s go after them. They were
smuggled, mind you. and no matter
what happens he can’t squeal. What
do you say?"
Garson shot a piercing glance at
Mary.
"It’s up to her." he said. Griggs re
garded Mary eagerly as she sat with
eyes downcast.
Mary shook her head decisively.
"It's out of our line.” she declared.
"1 don’t see any easier way to get
half a million." Griggs said aggressive
ly.
"If it were fifty millions it would
make no difference. It’s against the
law."
"Oh. I know all that, of course,”
Griggs returned impatiently. “But if
you can”—
"My friends and I never do anything
that’s illegal. Thank you for coming
to us. Mr. Griggs, hut we can’t go in.
and there’s an end of the matter.”
"But wait a minute." English Eddie
expostulated. “You see, this chap Gil
der is”—
"Gilder?" Mary exclaimed question
ingly.
"Yes. You know who he is—the dry
goods man."
Mary, however, had regained her
self control, and her voice was tran
quil again as she replied:
"1 know; but. just the same..it’s ille
gal. and I won’t touch it. That’s a'.l
there is to it."
"But half a million!" Griggs exclaim
ed disconsolately. "There’s a stake
< flf lip
JR 11
| :
■ - • , .... *
"English Eddie" Griggs.
worth playing for. Think of it!" He
turned pleadingly to Garson. “Half a
million. Joe!"
The telephone rang, and Mary ex
cused herself. The instant she was
out of the room Griggs turned to Gar
sou auxiously.
"it’s a cinch, Joe,” he pleaded. “I’ve
got a plan of the house." He drew a
paper from his breast pocket and hand
ed it to the forger, who studied it with
iuteut. avaricious eyes.
"It looks easy." Garson agreed.
"It is easy. What do you say?"
“1 promised Mary never to”—
"But a chance like this! Anyhow
come around to the back room at Blin
ley's tonight and we'll have a talk
iViil you?"
“What time?"
"Make it early, say 0."
"I’ll come." Garson replied half
guiltily. And in the same moment
Mary re-entered.
Griggs rose and spoke with an air of
regret.
"It's 'follow the leader.’ ” he sa'd.
“and since you are against it that set
tles it.”
CHAPTER X.
Garson’s Noiseless Gun.
SOMETHING of what was in his
mind was revealed in Garson's
first speech after Griggs' going.
"That’s a mighty big stake !
he's playing for.”
"And a big chance he’s taking!"
Mary retorted. "No. Joe. we don't
want any of that. We'll play a game
that's safe and sure."
The words recalled to the forger
weird forebodings that had been j
troubling him throughout the day.
"It's snre enough," he stated, “but I
is it safe?"
“What do you mean?”
Garson walked to and fro nervously
as he answered.
“S'pose tlie bulls get tired of you
putting It over on 'em and try some
rough work?"
"Don't worry. Joe. I know a way to
stop it.”
“Well, so far as that goes, so do I,” |
the forger said, with significant em-
phasis.
"Just what do you mean by that?'
Mary demanded, suspiciously.
“For rough work." he said. "I have
this." Ele took a magazine pistol from
his pocket. It was of an odd shape,
with a barrel longer than usual and
a bellshaped contrivance attached to
the muzzle.
"No. no. Joe,” Mary cried. "None
of that—ever!"
“Pooh!" The forger exclaimed.
“Even if I used it. they would never
get on to me. See this?" He pointed
at the strange contrivance on the muz
zle
I**!-’''’’''
■r
Inspector Burke.
"What is it? I have never seen any
thing like that before.”
“Of course you haven’t. I’m the
first man in the business to get one.
and I'll bet on it. 1 keep up with the
times.” He was revealing that fun
damental egotism which is the char
acteristic of all his kind. “That’s one
of the new Maxim silencers. With
smokeless powder in the cartridges,
and the silencer on, I can make a shot
from my coat pocket, and you wouldn't
even know it had been done. And I’m
some shot, believe me."
“Impossible!" Mary ejaculated.
“No. it ain't Here, wait I’ll show
you."
“Good gracious, not here!” Mary ex
claimed in alarm. “We would have
the whole place down on us.”
Garson chuckled.
“You just watch that dinky little
vase at the table across the room there
’Tain't very valuable, is it?"
“No," Mary answered.
In the same instant, while still her
eyes were on the vase, it fell in a cas
cade of shivered glass to the table and
floor. She had heard no sound, she
saw no smoke. Perhaps, there had
been a faintest clicking noise. She
stared dutnfounded for a few seconds,
then turned her bewildered face to
ward Garson. who was grinning in
high enjoyment
"Neat little thing, ain't it?” the man
asked, exultantly.
“Where did you get it?” Mary asked.
"In Boston, last week. And between
you and me. Mary. It’s the only model,
and it sure Is a corker.”
That night in the back room of Blin
key's English Eddie and Garson sat
with their heads close together over a
table.
"A charn-e like this.” Griggs was say
ing. "ii chance that will make a for-
TYPE POR SALE
On account of having installed a type
setting machine we have for sale
1 50 pounds 9 point Century
1 00 pounds 8 point Century
Practically new which we will sell for
20 cents pei pound, cash with order.
Coffee County Progress
Douglas Georgia
tune tor all of us." ,
"It sounds good." Garson admitted,
wistfully.
“Well.” urged Griggs, "what do you
nay?"
"How would we split it?”
“Three ways would he right." Griggs
answered. "One to uie, one to you
and one to be divided up among the
others.”
Garson brought his fist down on the
table with a force that made the glass
es jingle.
"You're on." he said, strongly.
“Fine!" Griggs declared, ami the two
men shook hands. "Now, I’ll get”—
"(Jet nothing!" Garson interrupted.
"I'll get my own men. Chicago Bed is
in town. So is Daeey. with perhaps a
couple of others of the right sort. 111
get them and we'll turn the trick to
morrow night.”
"That's the stuff." Griggs agreed,
greatly pleased.
But a sudden shadow fell on the face
of Garson. He bent closer to his com
panion and spoke with a tierce inten
sity that brooked no denial.
“She must never know.”
Griggs nodded understandingly.
Mary had gone to her bedroom for a
nap She was not in tlie least sur
prised that Dick had not yet returned,
though he bad mentioned half an hour.
At the best there were many things
that might detain him—his father's
absence from the office, difficulties in
making arrangements for his project
ed honeymoon trip abroad which
would never occur —or the like. At
the worst there was a chance of find
ing his father promptly. and of that
father as promptly taking steps to
prevent the son from ever again see
ing the woman who had so indiscreet
ly married him.
Yet somehow Mary could not believe
that her husband would yield to such
paternal coercion. Bather, she was
sure that he would prove loyal to her
whom he loved through every trouble.
At the thought a certain wistfulness
pervaded her and a poignant regret
that this particular man should have
been the one chosen of fate to he en
tangled within her mesh of revenge
There throbbed in her a heart torment
ing realization that there were in life
possibilities infinitely more splendid
than the joy of vengeance. She would
not confess the truth even to her in
most soul, but the truth was there and
set her atremble with vague fears.
She had slept, perhaps, a half hour
when Fannie awakened her.
“It's a man named Burke," she ex
plained as her mistress lay blinking.
“And there’s another man with him.
They said they must see you.”
By this time Mary was wide awake,
for the name of Burke, the police in
spector. was enough to startle her out
of drowsiness.
She got up. slipped into a teagown.
ha tiled her eyes in cologne, dressed
her hair a little and went into the
drawing room, where the two men
had been waiting for something more
than a quarter of an hour—to the vio
lent indignation of both.
“Oh. here you are. at last!” the big.
burly man cried as she entered.
"Y'es. inspector,” Mary replied pleas
antly. as she advanced into the room.
She gave a glance toward the other
visitor, who was of a slenderer form,
with a thin, keen face, and recognized
him instiTntly as Deinarest. who had
taken part against her as the lawyer
for the store at the time of her trial,
and who was now district attorney.
She went to the chair at the desk and
seated herself in a leisurely fashion
that increased the indignation of the
fuming inspector. She did not ask
her self invited guests to sit.
"To whom do I owe the pleasure of
this visit, inspector?” she remarked
coolly. It was noticeable that she
said whom and not what, as if she
understood perfectly that the influence
of some person brought him.
“I have come to have a few quiet
words with you,” the inspector de
clared. Mary disregarded him, and
turned to the other man.
“How do you do, Mr. Demarest?”
she said evenly. “It’s four years since
we met. and they’ve made you district
attorney since then. Allow me to con
gratulate ««*«*•”
(Continued next week)