Within the Law: From the Play of Bayard Veiller

ount of Cassidy's threatening invasion, when

just two minute

manded, with that slangy d

le. "He's the lawyer retained by General Hastings

abashed by her forgetfulness in an affair that concerned her

ll to you, come in, but be sure and leave everything to

as she hurried out toward her bedroom.

effectively, and invited him to a chair near her, while she herself retained her place at the desk,

time in coming

hich Miss Agnes Lynch threatens to bri

onless as far as could be achieved by eyes so clear and shining,

Mr. Irwin. The sui

te in his voice when he answered, meeting her g

e said finally, "that this

o listened to the accusation. Her eyes steadfastly retained their

ered in response to the bell she had sounded a minute before. "Fanny, will you ask Miss Lynch to come in, please?" Then she faced the lawye

ered with conspic

erly, "that General Hastings cannot afford such

ing, "I'm sure the police would keep your complaint a secret. Really, you know, Mr. Irwin, I think you h

p, with an air of s

then," he declared,

that would have been very engaging to any man under more favorable circ

ring an officer almost immediately." She leaned back

this extraordinarily self-possessed young woman, who made a mock of

at General Hastings never promised to marry this girl. Y

those softly curving lips of warmest red and the more delicate bloom in the rounded cheeks. There were the charms of innocence and simplicity in the manner

There was something half-plaintive i

"this is Mr. Irwin, who has come to s

frightened!" She hurried, fluttering, to a low stool behind the desk, beside Mary's chair, and there she sank down, drooping sli

nt. "You mustn't be afraid, Agnes. Mr. Irwin says that General Hastings did not promise to marry you. Of course, you understand, my dear, that under no circumstances must you sa

e would. He's such a delightful old gentleman!" As she spoke, the

gentleman scowled disgustedly at this outburst.

romise made

letters!" She raised her blue eyes toward the ceiling in a naive rapture. "So tender, and so-er-

doubt whatsoever, since he knew the amorous General very well indeed. They would be interesting, beyond shadow of questioning, horribly interesting. Such was the confesse

ity that infuriated the law

gently, "that General Hastings did promise to m

e was given with a lik

he limpid eyes, so appealing in their soft lusters, went first

she would swear to th

len in the fashion of his utterance, and the woman whom he addressed watched warily as he continued. "We can't afford any scandal, so we're going to settle at your own terms." He paused expectantly, but Mary offered no comment; only maintained her alert scrutiny of the man. The lawyer, therefore, leaned forward with a semblance of frank eagerness. Instantl

caught and held by Mary before it reached above the top of the d

, as best he might contrive, a chivalrous tone. "So, if you will

silence, and his puzzlement showed in the knitting of his brow

bundle from its resting p

as in her voice a suggestion of desolation-a desolation that was

ulness, since he saw the end of his quest in visible form before him. He reached quickly forward for the pa

Irwin, I'm afraid,

pressed a violent eja

waiting for you," he

tion, yet with a note of determination that caused a q

r see our lawyer, Mr. Harris, in reference to this. We wo

ormality," Irwin urged, with a grea

tter see Mr. Harris first." There was a cadence of insistence in her voice

y, with a frown to indicate his

ore her. As he rose, she went on crisply: "If you'll take the money to Mr. Harris, Miss Lynch will meet you in his office at four o'clock this afterno

ted before he reached it by the voice of Mary, speaking again, still in that imperturbable evenness which so rasped

r marked money, Mr.

ut a word, after a long moment in which he perceived intently the delicate, yet subtly energetic, loveliness of this slender woman, he walked back to the desk,

y confession of her skill, he finally took his departure, while Mary smiled in a triumph she w

son who ended the silence that

ing up violently, "letting all that money go out of

you see that all he wanted was to get the letters, and have us take the marked money? Th

in an amazed consternation,

have been fierce! And now?"

pudiated any pos

hat same marked money. Then, he will get the letters he wants so much. And, just because it's a s

etuously. "They sound some tasty!" With th

, as well she might after winning t

you just get it legally, a

was doing her best to get a clear understanding of the m

e succinctly for the

rmed. "A shameless old roue makes love to you

etic droop, and her voice quivered as she spoke

have ruine

giving much attention

lawyer take steps toward a suit for damages for breach of promise of marriage for the sum of ten thousand dollars. Then, his lawyer appears in behalf of General Hastings, and there follow a number of conferences between the legal representatives of the opposing parties. By means of these c