SIDE HIM.
_Page 273._]

"Then you are going to let him know?" she said slowly. "You're not
going to give me a single, solitary chance?"

The plaintive tone in her voice touched him. He hated such scenes, and
would willingly have overlooked anything to avoid one. But there was a
limit to a man's patience. Perhaps, however, he had been a bit brutal.
He did not trust himself to look up, but his voice was less harsh as he
replied:

"I'll give you every chance that you deserve when he knows. Then he can
do as he pleases, but there must be no more deception, that's flat."

Approaching the chair in which he sat, she laid a hand on his shoulder.
Gently, she said:

"Then you must let me tell him."

Brockton turned away impatiently. She sank down on her knees beside
him.

"Yes--you must," she went on imploringly. "If I didn't tell him before
I'll do it now. You must go. If you ever had any regard for me--if you
ever had any affection--if you ever had any friendship, please let me
do this now. I want you to go--you can come back. Then you'll
see--you'll know--only I want to try to make him understand that--that
maybe if I'm weak I'm not vicious. I want to let him know that I didn't
want to do it, but I couldn't help it. Just give me the chance to be as
good as I can be----"

Brockton turned and looked straight at her. She did not flinch under
his severe, critical gaze. Impulsively, coaxingly, she went on:

"Oh, I promise you I will tell him, and then--then I don't care what
happens--only he must learn everything from me--please--please, let me
do this--it's the last favor I shall ever--ever ask of you. Won't you?"

This last appeal, uttered hysterically, was followed by a flood of
weeping. She had controlled herself as long as she could, but at last
her nerves could not stand the strain, and she broke down completely.
Brockton rose, and for a moment stood watching, as if mentally debating
himself what was the best thing to do. Finally, he said:

"All right; I won't be unkind. I'll be back early this afternoon, but
remember--this time you'll have to go right through to the end." With a
significant warning gesture, he added: "Understand?"

Drying her eyes, she said hastily:

"Yes, I'll do it--all of it Won't you please go--now?"

"All right," he replied.

The broker disappeared into the bedroom and almost immediately entered
again with overcoat on his arm and hat in hand.