"Yes," interjected the mother, "and I wish to thank you also."

"Do not thank me for that which is the duty of every man, to stand by the wronged and friendless; if you have been benefited by my advice, that more than repays me, and now your child will be left Gerald's small fortune."

"Gerald's fortune," interrupted Lillian's mother, in astonishment.

"Yes, I attended to this at the time Father Gebhard and I made out the papers for the child's support, and this will provide for a liberal support and education for your son."

Clasping the child closer in her arms, Lillian again began to cry, exclaiming earnestly:

"I love my dear baby and my only wish now is that he will be a good man."

"God will help you, Lillian, as he has done before. Now I am going to ask a favor of you, Lillian."

"Oh! I would be so happy to do anything in my power for you."

"Then listen. I want you to help me to carry out a plan that has occurred to me concerning Frances. Her case is most serious. Unless her mind can be diverted from the tragedy when she awakens tomorrow, I'm afraid she will never regain her reason. If little Jerry were there, he might arouse her interest, his resemblance to Jerry and his helplessness might appeal to her. If I can make her feel that the child is dependent upon her now that he has no father, it might give her a normally, healthy interest in place of her morbid, hopeless state. If so, it will be necessary for the child to be with her for a few days, until she regains her balance. What do you say? Would it be too much for you and the boy to come and remain here in the hospital? I would not ask it if it were not the only hope I had of restoring Frances' sanity."

"Sure we'll come," replied Lillian unhesitatingly. "Poor lady, I will only be too glad to do it if it will help her, and after all you have done for me, too. When shall we come?"

"Be here at nine tomorrow. I'll see the manager about your absence. You will be recompensed for any loss of time, and your expenses while in the hospital will be cared for. And now I must go, as they will want to take charge of the body."

In the corridor Adoni found a group of newspaper men waiting to interview him. The case had gained wide publicity and he was besieged with a storm of inquiries. He finally eluded them and proceeded to direct arrangements for the funeral, then he secured an appointment with the other trustee for the purpose of going over the financial affairs of the dead man. By a wise provision of their father's will, both Frances and Gerald had been prevented from using anything except the income from the estate, which their father had left in the hands of Adoni and one other, as trustees, who were to act in this capacity until Gerald should have reached the age of fifty years, when it was to be given to them unreservedly. In the event of the death of either, the other would inherit the whole estate.

Adoni realized that this would leave Lillian's boy unprovided for and it was a two-fold motive that had prompted him to try and interest Frances in little Jerry. In going over the matter with the other executor, it was found that after all expenses incidental to the tragedy were settled, five thousand dollars would be left; this would revert to Frances.

It was late when Adoni finally turned his steps toward his hotel. In the press of the day's demands he had neglected to eat and in passing the lighted cafe adjoining the hotel, he suddenly realized that he was hungry. He entered and was at once shown to a table. While waiting to be served, his eye wandered over the gay groups seated at the various tables. It was the usual after-theatre crowd; the scene was brilliantly animated, there was a riot of color, beautiful women gorgeously gowned, men in correct evening attire, the gleam of white shoulders and the barbaric blaze of innumerable jewels, music, mirth and the clinking of glasses mingled together in gay revelry.

One group seated at a table on the opposite side of the room was especially hilarious, the faces of the women were flushed and their voices pitched in a hysterical key. One of them, a dashing beauty, scantily attired in the filmy folds of a gold spangled creation, seemed bent upon outdrinking the others, passing off glass after glass of sparkling liquid with easy nonchalance. Presently she arose, somewhat unsteadily, half dragging her protesting escort to his feet and daring him there and then to dance the tango with her. It took the combined arguments of the whole party to dissuade her. As the waiter brought his dinner, Adoni overheard a man on his left say to his companion: "Lemoine seems to be celebrating the death of young Manning in characteristic fashion. I believe she actually looks upon the affair as a good advertisement for herself."

So that was the woman for whom Gerald gave up his life? Adoni surveyed her long and earnestly, and marveled at the perverted taste that could prefer this vain, heartless creature to the modest and trusting Lillian; wondered that any man should become a criminal to gratify the vulgar extravagance of such creature as Marie Lemoine. He asked himself why it was that nature, which never makes a mistake, had inflicted upon the world this vampire type of woman whose sinister lure rouses the basest in man and whose selfishness accepts all and gives nothing. Could it be nature's way of revenging itself upon men for the misdeeds of some dead, forgotten past? Thus soliloquizing, Adoni sat at the table long after he had finished his meal, until he was greeted by several old friends who were greatly surprised at his return from the Orient. Wishing to evade any question that might be asked in regard to the tragic death of Gerald Manning, Adoni bade them a hasty "goodnight" and left the pleasure seeking throng amid the music, laughter and dazzling lights.

The following morning Adoni arose at a late hour. He had barely time to eat a hurried lunch before it was time to go to the hospital. Arriving there, after the appointed hour, he was met in the reception hall by the house physician, who bade him "good morning" in a grave manner.

"You are too late, Mr. Bourdalone."

"How so? Has my wife already awakened?" The doctor shook his head sadly! Then quietly handed Adoni an empty bottle marked: "Poison."

"This, said the doctor, was found under Mrs. Bourdalone's pillow."

"My God!" gasped Adoni!------"Frances also a murderess!"

Two days later a small group of mourners stood around two open graves. Two caskets bearing the bodies of a brother and sister were slowly lowered! Clods of earth fell drearily upon the tenements of clay - covering with it, - the remains of "Life's Tragedy."

The Reverend Adoni Bourdalone spoke briefly:

"Oh, death, where is thy sting? Oh, grave, where is thy victory?"

"The wages of sin is death, But the Gift of God is Eternal Life"

Little Jerry and his mother dropped a few flowers on papa's grave, and said: "Good-bye!"