The Bad Man

New York, in the heart of the great financial district, was like a telephone exchange-he the central who controlled the wires, put in and drew out the plugs, and played the fascinating gam

face the guns of battle. If his pillow was not always a restful one at night; if he tossed more than he should at his age-he was but thirty-eight-no one knew it. His conscience smote him now and then. In his earlier days he had tricked a widow and caused her to be separated from her last penny. Afterwards, he learned she had committed suicide. He shuddered. In fact, he suffered a little for two long years. Then he forgot abou

women were concerned. He must give his wife the proper background, do all the necessary things; furnish the right setting for his jewel. Children? Bah! They were not essential. He had no pat

ian villa on the north shore of Long Island. He pressed a button, ordered his secretary to get in touch immediately with his architect; and a half-hou

women; but Lucia Fennell was the only one who set his pulse beating a little faster. He felt it a

type of woman who never loved but once, and then with all her strength beyond her own high dreams of what love should be. But though Pell could appraise men, judge them swiftly and surely, he was a fool where a girl was con

he had traveled a great deal, and known the world in strange places. She was very young when she met the one man of all men for her. Like all women of great beauty she had known many men who were infatuated with her. T

like many another; and when her lover, too proud to ask her to share his poverty with her, stayed behind when she went back to New York, and failed to write to her, she almost died of grief. But life had to be faced. On

ed long, in secret, and would go nowhere. Her aunt, with whom she lived, could not rou

is faith in himself and his power to win her, swept her temporarily off her feet. At their second meeting he asked her to become his wife. Why not? She would

he did not say so. He was just wise en

all the ardor he could put into his voice.

id her best to keep her part of a bad bargain. She made herself lovely, and Pell was proud of her physical charms. The jewel was worth the finest settings, and these he supplied, with no thought of the cost. He had someone at the head of his table of whom he was very proud. The world need never know the

s a consummating blow. Pell soon reached the point where he told Lucia he had bought her, body and soul. He had determined to win her love. When he saw that he could not, he swiftly

itely to the gutter. He became irritable with her. Nothing she did pleased him. He found he could not wound her sufficiently when he was sober; so he

nous life. She blessed those hours when he mercifully remained awa

sdom of a legal separation. It was foolish to go on in

dear," he sneered. He always added that "my dear" to a

ly gracious hospitality. Let her go? Lose all this? Not at all! He brutally told her so again and again. And finally she made up her mind, for the

d friends-those that Morgan allowed

icularly surprised when

trip out West? You look peake

it business, or-" Her sense of humor made it imp

e else I get." They were dining alone, at home, and he

as a matter of fact she was tired of Long Island, and if she could ki

lk things over with me at Bisbee. I want to get started in a day or two. Don't take your maid. It's a rough country, but you'll be all right. Just old

"And I've alwa

champagne. "It's right next door to Mexico, you k

prospect of the journey. She knew she would probably be "shown off" to the

ryone. I want to add to our little pile, Lucia," Pell went

id, and meant it. "But why do we need a

antly; and his eyes became two

d he was not going to get into one

s anyone could reasonably want.

ve." The butler had tactfully withd

to all that again, Morgan. We've had

ked. "If I thought there was.

ere isn't,"

ich just matched her eyes, her throat adorned with a string of

y as you can be so cold," he said

ly adventuresses who dare to face danger.... But let's talk about Arizona. How good it will be t

han we do in all our pitiful lives. You've got to live clo

d of it, Morgan. Maybe down there we'll come to

hoping. So you'd

's all. But I won't mind that. A

there would come long, weary levels of sand that gleamed in the sun; and far away she would behold tremendous buttes. The valleys they passed through were verdant and lovely. Cattle grazed here in a calm peace. It was as if the rest of the world were shut out, and in this quiet land a special blessing had come down. The peace of it, the stillness of it crowded in upon her. She had been to California, but always she had traveled by a northern route, and had missed the wonder of this part of the world.

" she said at last. "It takes somet

orange, pink, and crimson; and as they sped south the

promised well; and the young chap on it was in money difficulties. A good chance to step in. There had been rumors that a neighbor had taken up his mortgage; but maybe this was not so. Perhaps they weren't too late. He had telephoned over, and the youngster had agreed that Pell and his wife could come and stay with him and his invalid uncle for awhile. Of course he knew nothi

nt face at once. He was full of enthusiasm for the country, loved the outdoor life. "Mr. Jones has h

!" Luc

" Giddings replied.

een in love, and was this to be one of his subtle punishments? He had told her not to bring her maid, and he had been mysterious, she remembered now, as to their exact destination. But Sturgis had made it clear, on the contrary, that he had accidentally learned of Jones's ranch. Mayb

been here?" Luc

to the low house, and Lucia did not realize it at the time, but he slowed up the car. Presently a young girl came out on the stone terrace and waved to him. She was like a prairie flower. "Red" Giddings became another man in t

s?" said Morgan

girl in this territory!"

e Jones ranch. "There she is

where the boundary of Arizona stopped and the unseen border of Mexico began. The two countries simply merged in the mist. It was as if a battalion of petrified soldiers kept eternal guard in the sun, half the line loping over into another camp, but never caring at all. In the still heat of the afternoon, sagebrush

hatless. A gray flannel shirt and a flowing tie, high leggings tha

him if indeed he turned out to be that one man in the world. Calmly, yes. She was sure now that Morgan knew and suspected nothing. It was simply a coincidence that they should be coming to the adobe of t

ws how. Fortunately, Morgan wanted to go directly to his room.

Red" rattled down to the home

there in the path for a moment

a then found herself say

of a dreamer, she thought. The steel-gray eyes were full

there to do? We shall not be here many days.

He doesn't know anything? You're sure? Oh, Lucia!"

ess of the situation. "Don't-don't, Gilbert

. "Forgive me. There shall be absolutely nothing said. Not even a gestu

It isn't as if we were chi

had never left her face. Never h

d place up. But what's that to you?" There was

were rosy, and his abundant white hair was brushed back from a forehead of fine moulding. His eyes were penetrating-as young as G

s. Pell. Come out and me

her to it. Quick as a billiard-ball he had reached her s

d, and put out a white hand.

aughed. "As long as she and

ou'll give 'em enough to eat!" And before anyone could say

entric sometimes. Maybe he's got one of his moods to-day. I never know. Tomorrow he'll be all right-perh

ade that led to a dark blue door. On the walls were some beautiful Navajo blankets, and a tiny alcove off to the right seemed to lead to another part of the long low house. The windows were brightly curtained, and all the furniture had

he saw little touches she could give to the place. But she had to confess that the improvements she could suggest were not at