Blackthorn Farm

voice scarcely ro

ped until it hung limply by his side. His grip relaxed and the revolver fel

e writing-table and locked it up. Then she drew a chair forward and sat

Ruby had arrived at the critical moment. Thirty seconds more and she would have been

e in his final examination, coming upon the victory and subsequent disqualification of Paulus, had made him see the hopelessness of his position. It was a lightning flash; illuminating the horizon o

, saw what was passing, and what had passed, in

rd before in her life. She unde

"It's no use, old girl; it's

r head. "A c

and disgraced my father. The shame will fall on him. I'm his only son, and he was going to turn me into a gentleman. Well, when a gentleman has done a shameful th

d. The little, light actress had become merged, as it were, in the

of some other woman's son, and

an't d

d is ma

etly and calmly. She knew it had not been a sud

them. Outside the newsboys stil

Rupert for a little while. When she turned she was smiling, and she

her voice, though a little un

carcely dry on it. It was lying on a sheet of clean whi

lost it this afternoon. I suppose some beggar will cash it. Don't much matter n

per

at her. Perhaps something

ive pounds to put on Paul

ro. "It doesn't make any d

t on Amb

w staring at her, frowni

to one." Ruby was laughing now.

said unsteadily. "It's no

t dare tell you, dear-in fact, when the news of the objection ca

pened. "I saw you draw some mo

ade with Barrett. They have an office in Piccadilly, London. If

rds her. His legs gave way at

undred

s!" He poured himself out a glass of water from the sideboard and tos

was with Barrett they'll pay up all right. T

sure him she was

an effort. "Why the devil didn't you tell m

ant air. I can't realise it.... My God, five hundred pounds! I'm saved." He opened

he front door bang. She stood at the window and watched him walk do

ind. Then she sat down at the writing-table

one of the long white gloves. Picking it up she unfold

undred