Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY 9 Agnes," he said, turning to her, "I 't like to say this, but I think I ap,i;iate your circumstances. If I can anything — money ?" (he rose, breast heaving, eyes flashNo," she said quietly. "Not that — please God — never \" was late when Vinton left, prom|g to call soon. Nor was his prombroken. His visits were frequent, on every opportunity he urged ies to accept his generosity. So inent was he, and so sincere, that jies many times felt herself overpe with indecision. Then times bee harder than before. With increasfervor, Vinton pressed her to ac There will be no obligation, Agnes," "reiterated. "And it is for the sake the old days. Look, now I have ething to offer. Why not come as private secretary?" gnes' heart gave a leap. Truly here an opportunity. She would be giv value for her services. Why not? J knew Vinton. And Harry needed er attention. : inton turned aside to hide a maliis smile at the struggle Agnes was ing in her mind. She was lost, he w. . — I want to thank you, Philip," she slowly, "and — and I shall accept." •yith a lighter heart than she had in some time, Agnes took up her * jes. Vinton was pleasant, and his erity could not be doubted. But lly each morning Agnes began to J flowers or candy on her desk. She • [aed with herself that she should |est, but her deep love for her hus|d prompted her to disregard these 1 e gifts of Vinton. From time imnorial she had had a fear of her loyer, yet she could not tell just why. haps it was his cruel eyes; perhaps | way she had noticed him glancing er, but she could not tell. She put ' -elf on her guard, and made no men " I of these facts to her husband. . ;! ]:> capable did she become that Vincalled her his right hand, 'f it weren't for you I don't know t I would do," he laughingly said, ut to all his efforts to establish a idship, Agnes turned her back His \ luations went for naught, for Agnes beginning to become afraid of him. ; 'oming in one day from lunch, she 5 ':ed that his door was closed and that a mumble of voices came from the room. Inside were a lady and Vinton. She was Madame de Lestranges, who was looking for her niece Agnes Hunt, who had fallen heir to an immense fortune. The last heard of her, she had lived in New York, but no trace of her had been found, and, learning that Vinton was extremely successful in locating missing persons, she applied to him. "If the lady is dead," she said, "and if there are any children, the fortune is theirs. 1 have no other information, monsieur; none but this." And she pulled a medallion from her bag, passing it to him. "There, monsieur, is a medallion of her mother. She looked very much like her. That is all I can tell you." At the mention of the name, Vinton had pricked up his ears. Now, when Madame de Lestranges presented him with the medallion, he smiled to himself. There could be no doubt Agnes Hunt Grey was the lady sought. "I will do everything in my power to find her," he said, rising and bowing the lady out of his private office. Busy at the typewriter, Agnes did not look up as the lady passed. Inside, Vinton danced like a foolish youngster. "Ah," he gloated, "now comes my chance. Harry is ill ; he takes morphine and is unable to get along without it. That is where I start. Then to cause a breach between the two, after that — divorce; and if Agnes then refuses to marry me, ah, then " His teeth showed from between his beard, and a fiendish grin overspread his face. Ingeniously he forced his way into the good graces of his former rival. Not a night passed but what he did not spend an hour or so with him and administer the medicine. But, with his plan in mind, each time he increased the dose, until, after three weeks, Harry became a morphine fiend, unknown to himself. "Now," cried Vinton softly the next Quickly Agnes grasped his upstretched arms, and dragged him away.