Part 15 (1/2)

”I know,” she went on, ”just how you tried to impose upon my uncle--how you tried to rob me, and tonight I have invited the reporters to my house to give them the facts.”

With a cry Vera ran to her.

”No!” she begged, ”you won't do that. You must not do that!”

”Let her talk!” growled Vance. ”Let her talk! She's funny.”

”No!” commanded Vera. Her voice rang with the distress. ”She cannot do that!” She turned to Miss Coates. ”We haven't hurt you,” she pleaded; ”we haven't taken your money. I promise you,” she cried, ”we will never see Mr. Hallowell again. I beg of you--”

Vance indignantly caught her by the arm and drew her back. ”You don't beg nothing of her!” he cried.

”I do,” Vera answered wildly. She caught Vance's hand in both of hers.

”I have a chance, Paul,” she entreated, ”don't force me through it again. I can't stand the shame of it again.” Once more she appealed to the visitor. ”Don't!” she begged. ”Don't shame me.”

But the eyes of the older girl, blind to everything save what, as she saw it, was her duty, showed no consideration.

Vera's hands, trembling on his arm, drove Vance to deeper anger. He turned savagely upon Miss Coates.

”You haven't lost anything yet, have you?” he demanded. ”She hasn't hurt you, has she? If it's revenge you want,” he cried insolently, ”why don't you throw vitriol on the girl?”

”Revenge!” exclaimed Miss Coates indignantly. ”It is my duty. My public duty. I'm not alone in this; I am acting with the District Attorney.

It is our duty.” She turned suddenly and called, ”Mr. Winthrop, Mr.

Winthrop!”

For the first time Vera saw, under the gas jet, at the farther end of the hall, the figures of Mannie and Winthrop.

”No, no!” she protested, ”I beg of you,” she cried hysterically. ”I've got a chance. If you print this thing tomorrow, I'll never have a chance again. Don't take it away from me.” Impulsively her arms reached out in an eager final appeal. ”I'm down,” she said simply, ”give me a chance to get up.”

When Miss Coates came to give battle to the Vances, she foresaw the interview might be unpleasant. It was proving even more unpleasant than she had expected, but her duty seemed none the less obvious.

”You should have thought of that,” she said, ”before you were found out.”

For an instant Vera stood motionless, staring, unconsciously holding the att.i.tude of appeal. But when, by these last words, she recognized that her humiliation could go no further, with an inarticulate exclamation she turned away.

”The public has the right to know,” declared Miss Coates, ”the sort of people you are. I have the record of each of you--”

From the hall Winthrop had entered quickly, but, disregarding him, Vance broke in upon the speaker, savagely, defiantly.

”Print em, then!” he shouted, ”print em!”

”I mean to,” declared Miss Coates, ”yours, and hers, she--”

Winthrop placed himself in front of her, shutting her off from the others. He spoke in an earnest whisper.

”Don't!” he begged. ”She has asked for a chance. Give her a chance.”

Miss Coates scorned to speak in whispers.

”She has had a chance,” she protested loudly. ”She's had a chance for nine years; and she's chosen to be a charlatan and a cheat, and--” The angry woman hesitated, and then flung the word--”and a thief!”