“I was so astonished at this for a moment I was helpless, and in that moment there was a flash of light that blinded me.
“The woman laughed gayly, and, jumping up, ran into the other room. A moment later she returned, saying:
“‘Come, Papa Cary. I don’t give my pleasant company for nothing. You’ve enjoyed my society for two or three hours. You must pay for it. Come! Shell out!’
“‘What is this?’ I cried, ‘blackmail?’
“‘Some unpleasant people call it that, I believe,’ she said. ‘But whatever it is, you must submit.’
“‘Not by any means,’ I said. ‘You have attacked the wrong person.’
“Again she laughed, and, springing up, ran into the next room, to return in a moment, bringing with her a photograph plate.
“‘You may look at that,’ she said, holding it up before me. Over the rim she pointed a small revolver.
“I looked to see that a photograph of myself, with her on my lap, her arms about my neck, had been taken.
“I fairly staggered back in alarm, and with a merry, mocking laugh, she hurried with the plate into the other room. When she came back, she said: