as later。 If anything can be saved out of the wreck … my wreck … go to it！
Shoot； kid！ Tell the worst！ I'll stand the gaff！〃
〃Well； that makes it easier；〃 resumed Blossom。 〃We were going to be
married； but she got in with a fast crowd； and I couldn't stand the pace。 I
admit； I wasn't sport enough。〃
〃I'm glad you weren't；〃 murmured Minnie； her breast heaving。
〃The result was；〃 went on Blossom； 〃that she and I separated。 It was
as much her wish as mine … toward the end。 And she married a
Frenchman with whom she seemed to be fascinated。〃
〃Yes； he sure had me hypnotized；〃 agreed the blonde woman。 〃It was
more my fault than yours； Lee。 Perhaps if you'd taken a whip to me； and
made me behave … Some of us women need a beating now and then。
But it's too late now。〃 Of a sudden she seemed strangely subdued。
LeGrand Blossom went on with the sordid tale。
〃Well； the marriage didn't turn out happily。 It was … 〃
〃It was hell！ I'm not afraid to use the word！〃 interrupted the blonde。
〃It was just plain； unadulterated hell！ And I went into it with my eyes
open。 That's what it was … hell！ I've had such a lot here on earth that
maybe they'll give me a discount when I get … well； when I get where I'm
going！〃 and she laughed； but there was no mirth in it。
Minnie shuddered； and drew nearer to LeGrand。 And it did not seem
to be because of the chill night wind； either。
〃It was the same old story；〃 went on the clerk。 〃No need of going
over that； Minnie。 It doesn't concern the question now。 In the end the
Frenchman cast her off； and she had to live； somehow。 She came to me；
and I； for the sake of old times； agreed to help her。 I didn't think I was
doing anything wrong； but it seems I was。 I thought the rare and
expensive book publishing business she said she was in was legitimate。
Instead it was … 〃
〃Yes； it was a blackmailing scheme！〃 interrupted Morocco Kate； not
without some curious and perverted sense of pride。 〃I admit that。 I got
you in wrong； LeGrand； but it wasn't because I hated you； for I didn't。 I
really loved you； and I was a fool to take up with Jean。 But that's past and
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gone。 Only I didn't really mean to make trouble for you。 I thought you
might be able to wiggle out； knowing business men as you did。〃
〃Instead；〃 said the clerk； 〃I only became the more involved。 It began
to look as though I was a partner in the infernal schemes； and she and
those she worked with held the threat over my head to extort money
from me。〃
〃Believe me； LeGrand； I didn't do that willingly；〃 interrupted Morocco
Kate。 〃The others had a hold over me； and they forced me to use you as
their tool。 They bled me； as I； in turn； bled you。 Oh； it was all a rotten
game； and I'm glad the end's at hand。 I suppose it's all up now？〃 she
asked Blossom。
〃The end is； as far as it concerns you and me；〃 he said。 〃I'm going to
confess； and take my medicine。 Minnie； I've lied to give this woman
money to prevent her exposing me。 Now I'm through。 I've told my last
lie； and given my last dollar。 Thank God … who has been better to me
than I deserve … thank God！ I'm still young enough to make good the
money I've lost。 The lies I can't undo； but I can tell the truth。 I'm going to
confess everything！〃
〃Oh； LeGrand！〃 cried Minnie； and she held out her hands to him。
〃Not … not everything！〃
〃Yes； the whole rotten business。 That's the only way to begin over
again； and begin clean。 I'll come through clean！〃
〃Oh ！〃 murmured Minnie。 〃It will be so … so hard！〃
〃Yes；〃 and LeGrand gritted his teeth； 〃it isn't going to be easy； but it'll
be a bed of roses compared to what I've been lying on the last year。 This
woman had such a hold on me that I couldn't clear myself before … that is；
clear myself of grave charges。 But now I can。 This is the end。 I can
prove that I wasn't mixed up in the Roswell de luxe book case； and that's
what she's been holding over me。〃
〃The Roswell case！〃 faltered Minnie。
〃Yes； you don't know about it； but I'll tell you； later。 Now I'm free。
This is the end。 I came here to…night to tell her so。 How you happened
to follow me I don't know。〃
〃I didn't follow； LeGrand。 It was all an accident。〃
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〃Then it's a lucky accident； Minnie。 This is the end。 From now on …
〃
〃Yes； it's the end！〃 bitterly cried the other woman。 〃It's the end of
everything。 Oh； if I could only make it the end for Jean Carnot； I'd be
satisfied。 He made me what I am … an outcast from the world。 If I could
find Jean Carnot … 〃
And then； with the suddenness of a bird wheeling in mid air； the
blonde woman turned and rushed away in the darkness。
For an instant Colonel Ashley hesitated in his hiding place。 And then
he murmured：
〃I guess you'll keep； LeGrand Blossom； and you； too； Minnie Webb。
Morocco Kate needs watching。 And I think； now； she'll lead me right
where I've been wanting to go for a long time。 The darkness is fast
fading away；〃 which was a strange thing to say； seeing that the night was
blacker than ever。
Back on the desolate moor； near the bridge under which the black tide
was now hurrying； murmuring and whispering to the rushes tales of the
deep and distant sea； stood two figures。
〃Do you believe in me； Minnie？〃 asked the man brokenly。
There was a pause。 The murmuring of the tide grew louder； and it
seemed to sing now； as it rose higher and higher。
〃Do you？〃 he repeated； wistfully。
〃Yes；〃 was the whispered reply。 〃And； Lee； I'll help you to come
through … clean！ I believe in you！〃
And the tide washed up the shores of the creek so that； even in the
darkness； the white sands seemed to gleam。
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CHAPTER。 XXIII
MOROCCO KATE； ALLY
〃Who are you？ Who is trailing me？ Is that you； LeGrand？〃
The challenge came sharply out of the darkness； and Colonel Ashley；
who had been following Morocco Kate； plodding along through the sand；
stumbling over the hillocks of sedge grass； halted。
〃Who's there？〃 was the insistent demand。 〃I know some one is
following me。 Is it you； LeGrand Blossom？ Have you … have you … 〃
The voice died out in a choking sob。 〃She's gamer than I thought；〃
mused the detective。 〃And； strange as it may seem； I believe she cares。〃
Then he answered； almost as gently as to a grieving child：
〃It is not LeGrand Blossom。 But it is a friend of his； and I want to be
a friend to you。 Wait a moment。〃
Then； as he came close to her side and flashed on his face a gleam
from an electric torch he always carried； she started back； and cried：
〃Colonel Ashley！ Heavens！〃
〃Exactly！〃 he chuckled。 〃You didn't expect to see me here； did you？
Well； it's all right。〃
〃Then you're not after me for … 〃 She gasped and could not go on。
〃That last deal was straight。 I'm not the one you want。〃
〃Don't get Spotty's habit； and throw up your hands just because you
see me； Kate；〃 went on the colonel soothingly。 〃I'm not after you
professionally this time。 In fact； if things turn out the way I want； I may
shut my eyes to one or two little phases of your … er … let us call it career。
I may ignore one or two little things that； under other circumstances； might
need explaining。〃
〃You mean you want me for a stool pigeon？〃
〃Something like that； yes。〃
〃And suppose I refuse？〃
〃That's up to you； Kate。 I may be able to get along without you … I
don't say I can； but I may。 However it would mean harder work and a
delay； and I don't mind； seeing it's you； saying that I'd like to get back to
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my fishing。 So if you'll come to reason； and tell me what I want to know；
it will help you and … Blossom。〃
〃Blossom！〃 she gasped。 〃Then you know … 〃
〃I may as well tell you that I was back there … a while ago；〃 and the
colonel nodded vaguely to the splotch of blackness from whence Morocco
Kate had rushed with that despairing cry on her lips。
〃I'm a friend of LeGrand Blossom's … at least； I am now since I
overheard what he had to sa
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