The Frame Up | Page 8

"Exhibit A,"
presented in evidence by the defense, he was studying the card she had
given him. He stuck it in his pocket.
" I'll go to him at once," he said.
To restrain or dissuade him, the woman made no sudden move. In level
tones she said:
"Your brother-in-law asked especially that you wouldn't do that until
you'd fixed it with the girl. Your face is too well known. He's afraid
some one might find out where he is-- and for a day or two no one must
know that."
"This doctor knows it," retorted Wharton.
The suggestion seemed to strike Mrs. Earle as humorous. For the first
time she laughed. "Sammy!" she exclaimed. "He's a lobbygow of mine.
He's worked for me for years. I could send him up the river if I liked.
He knows it." Her tone was convincing. "They both asked," she
continued evenly, "you should keep off until the girl is out of the
country, and fixed." Wharton frowned thoughtfully.
And, observing this, the eyes of the woman showed that, so far, toward
the unfortunate incident the attitude of the district attorney was to her
most gratifying. Wharton ceased frowning. "How fixed?" he asked.
Mrs. Earle shrugged her shoulders.
"Cutler's idea is money," she said; "but, believe me, he's wrong. This
girl is a vampire. She'll only come back to you for more. She'll keep on
threatening to tell the wife, to tell the papers. The way to fix her is to
throw a scare into her. And there's only one man can do that; there's
only one man that can hush this thing up--that's you."

"When can I see her?" asked Wharton.
"Now," said the woman. "I'll bring her." Wharton could not suppress an
involuntary "Here?" he exclaimed.
For the shade of a second Mrs. Earle exhibited the slightest evidence of
embarrassment.
"My room's in a mess," she explained; "and she's not hurt so much as
Sammy said. He told her she was in bad just to keep her quiet until you
got here."
Mrs. Earle opened one of the doors leading from the room. "I won't be
a minute," she said. Quietly she closed the door behind her.
Upon her disappearance the manner of the district attorney underwent
an abrupt change. He ran softly to the door opposite the one through
which Mrs. Earle had passed, and pulled it open. But, if beyond it he
expected to find an audience of eavesdroppers, he was disappointed.
The room was empty, and bore no evidence of recent occupation. . He
closed the door, and, from the roller-top desk, snatching a piece of
paper, scribbled upon it hastily. Wrapping the paper around a coin, and
holding it exposed to view, he showed himself at the window. Below
him, to an increasing circle of hens and pigeons, Nolan was still
scattering crumbs. Without withdrawing his gaze from them, the
chauffeur nodded. Wharton opened his hand and the note fell into the
yard. Behind him he heard the murmur of voices, the sobs of a woman
in pain, and the rattle of a door-knob. As from the window he turned
quickly, he saw that toward the spot where his note had fallen Nolan
was tossing the last remnants of his sandwich.
The girl who entered with Mrs. Earle, leaning on her and supported by
her, was tall and fair. Around her shoulders her blond hair hung in
disorder, and around her waist, under the kimono Mrs. Earle had
thrown about her, were wrapped many layers of bandages. The girl
moved unsteadily and sank into a chair.
In a hostile tone Mrs. Earle addressed her.

"Rose," she said, "this is the district attorney." To him she added: "She
calls herself Rose Gerard."
One hand the girl held close against her side, with the other she brushed
back the hair from her forehead. From half-closed eyes she stared at
Wharton defiantly.
"Well," she challenged, what about it?"
Wharton seated himself in front of the roller-top desk.
"Are you strong enough to tell me?" he asked.
His tone was kind, and this the girl seemed to resent.
"Don't you worry," she sneered, " I'm strong enough. Strong enough to
tell all I know--to you, and to the papers, and to a jury--until I get
justice." She clinched her free hand and feebly shook it at him. "
THAT'S what I'm going to get," she cried, her voice breaking
hysterically, "justice."
From behind the arm-chair in which the girl half-reclined Mrs. Earle
caught the eye of the district attorney and shrugged her shoulders.
"Just what DID happen?" asked Wharton.
Apparently with an effort the girl pulled herself together.
"I first met your brother-in-law----" she began.
Wharton interrupted quietly.
"Wait!" he said. "You are not talking to me as anybody's brother-in-law,
but as the