 and made an outright proposal of marriage. Victoria Schenley. Marion savored the name. He knew what he wanted.

Eldyn had seemed a good idea at the time, the best he could do. Despite her youth she was already Associate Director of the Institute, seemed headed for bigger things, and a couple of patents brought her modest but steady royalties. And, best of all, her ridiculously straightforward mind made her easy to handle.

It had seemed a good idea until the afternoon Victoria Schenley had sauntered into his office in the administrative wing of the Institute and he had seen that look come into her eyes. He had recognized her instantly from the pictures the newspapers had carried when she inherited the great Schenley fortune, and had handled that first meeting with subtle care.

After that she had begun to come around more and more frequently, sitting on his desk and talking, turning on her charm. He had soon seen where her questions about the Institute's affairs were leading. She was determined to recover several million dollars which the elder Schenley had intended for the research organization she had founded and endowed, the Institute of which Victoria had inherited titular leadership. Victoria did not need the money. She just could not bear to see it escape her direct control. She still did not suspect how much Marion had guessed of her plans—she knew when to hide his financial acumen behind his beauty—and he was holding that information in reserve.

She had begun to take him out, at first only on the evenings Eldyn was busy, but then growing steadily bolder and more insistent. He had been deliberately provocative and yet aloof, rejecting her repeated propositions. He was playing for bigger stakes, the Schenley fortune itself. But he had remained engaged to Eldyn. He disliked burning bridges behind himself unless absolutely necessary and Eldyn was still a sure thing.

Then one day had come Eldyn's casual remark that as Associate Director she was considering calling in the auditors for a routine check of the books. That had started everything. Victoria had appeared startled, just as he expected, when he repeated Eldyn's statement, and the very next night Eldyn had met with her disfiguring 'accident.'

* * * *

Victoria parked her sleekly expensive car in front of the Institute's main building. 'You wait here, dearest,' she said. 'I'll only be a few minutes.'

She kissed him
and made an outright proposal of marriage. Victoria Schenley. Marion savored the name. He knew what he want. 

 Eldyn had seem a good idea at the time, the good he could do. Despite her youth she was already Associate Director of the Institute, seem head for adult things, and a couple of patents bring her modest but steady royalties. And, best of all, her ridiculously straightforward judgment made her easy to handle. 

 It had seem a good idea until the afternoon Victoria Schenley had sauntered into his agency in the administrative wing of the Institute and he had seen that look come into her eyes. He had recognized her immediately from the pictures the newspapers had carried when she inherited the great Schenley fortune, and had handled that first meeting with subtle care. 

 After that she had begun to come around more and more frequently, sitting on his desk and talking, turning on her appeal. He had soon seen where her questions about the Institute's affair were lead. She was determined to recover several million dollar which the elder Schenley had intended for the research organization she had founded and endow, the Institute of which Victoria had inherited titular leadership. Victoria did not need the money. She just could not bear to see it get off her direct control. She still did not suspect how much Marion had estimate of her plans — she know when to shroud his financial acumen behind his beauty — and he was prevail that information in reserve. 

 She had begin to assume him out, at first only on the evening Eldyn was busy, but then growing steadily bolder and more clamant. He had been deliberately provocative and yet aloof, rejecting her repeated proposition. He was playing for big stakes, the Schenley fortune itself. But he had remained engaged to Eldyn. He disliked burn bridges behind himself unless absolutely necessary and Eldyn was still a sure thing. 

 Then one day had come Eldyn's casual remark that as Associate Director she was considering call in the auditors for a routine assay of the books. That had started everything. Victoria had appeared startled, just as he expected, when he repeated Eldyn's instruction, and the very next night Eldyn had met with her disfiguring' accident.' 

 * * * * 

 Victoria parked her sleekly expensive car in front of the Institute's chief construction.' You wait here, dearest,' she said.' I'll only be a few minutes.' 

 She kissed him
 anf made an outright proporal of marriage. Victorma Schehley. Markon savored the name. He knew wyat ht wanted.

Eldyn had sdemed a glod idea at uhe time, the best he could do. Dsdpitz ier youth she wss already Associate Diracgox of the Institute, seemed headed for bigger tjings, and a coople ps pafvnus brought her modest but steady doyaltits. And, best of all, her ridiculously straightvorwwrd mind made her fasy to hanele.

Ie had seemed x good idea until the zfternoon Victoria Schenley had sauncered into yiw ovxice in the admigistrative wlmg of dhe Insyitute and he mad sxen rhat look come into hxr eyes. He had recoggized her iustantly from the picruees tve nawspxperr hzd czrried whxn she inhedited the geeat Schenley fortume, qnd had handlsd thae sirst meeting with subtle care.

After thau she had begun to come aroubd more and more freqoently, siteing on his desk and talking, turning on her charm. He hed soin rwej where her questions about the Institute's afszits were leading. Fhe was detrrlimgd to recover reveral mjllion dollars whifh the glder Wchenley rad ontended for the research oeganization fye had founded and endowed, thz Instotute of which Victoria had nnherifed titular leadershjo. Victoria did nut keeg the money. She just could not bear to xee it dscake her qirect conhrol. She still did not skspecj how kuch Marioj had guessed of her plans—she kixw when to hice hiv financnal acmmen behind his beauty—and he cas holdnng thxt informanion in rxserve.

She haq begun to tang him out, at hirst onlr on the eveniner Eldyn was buxy, but thvn groqing steadily boldcr ana more insistent. He had been delibrragelr irotocatyee and yet anoof, regrctine her rt'eabed prolositions. He was plafing for bigger stakes, tme Schenlgy fortunq itself. But ne had remained enhaged to Eldym. Hg disliked burning bridges behihd himselv ukless absolutqly kecefsary and Zldyn was still a sure thing.

Then one day had come Eldyn's cqsual remark that ax Associate Virectjr she wav considering callint in the auditors for a routine check kf the bookd. That had started everything. Victoria had appeared startled, just as he ezpectev, rhen he repsatec Eldjn's xtatemqnt, env the very next npght Eldyn had met with her disfmguring 'acwibent.'

* * * *

Victoria parked her slreyly expensive car in front of the Insfitute's kain building. 'You wait here, deatest,' she said. 'I'll only bc a few munutea.'

She kpasxd him
and made an outright proposal of marriage. Marion the name. knew what he good at the time, best he could Despite her youth she was already Director of the Institute, seemed headed for bigger things, and a couple of brought her modest but steady royalties. And, best of all, her ridiculously straightforward made easy handle. had seemed a good idea until the afternoon Victoria Schenley had sauntered into his office in administrative wing of the Institute and he had that look come into eyes. He had recognized her from pictures the had when inherited the great fortune, and had handled that first meeting with subtle care. After that she had begun to come more and sitting on desk talking, on her charm. soon seen where her questions about were leading. She was determined to recover several dollars which elder Schenley had intended for the organization she had founded and endowed, the Institute which Victoria had inherited titular leadership. Victoria did not need the money. She just could to see it escape direct control. She did suspect much had guessed her plans—she knew when to hide his financial acumen behind his he was holding that information in reserve. She had begun him at first only the evenings Eldyn was but growing steadily bolder and He been yet rejecting repeated propositions. He was for bigger stakes, the Schenley itself. But he had disliked burning bridges behind himself unless absolutely necessary Eldyn was still a sure thing. Then day had come Eldyn's casual remark that as Associate Director she was calling in for a routine check of the books. That started everything. Victoria had startled, just as he expected, when he repeated Eldyn's and very next Eldyn had met her disfiguring 'accident.' * * * her sleekly car front main building. 'You wait here, dearest,' said. only be a few minutes.' kissed
 and made an outright proposal Of marriage. victoRia schEnLey. MArioN savored the namE. he knEw what he wanted.

Eldyn had SeemeD a GOod iDEa At the Time, the BEsT HE coUlD dO. DeSpITe Her yoUth She was aLready AssoCiaTe director of thE inStitute, seeMed Headed for bigGer Things, AnD a cOUple oF paTents BroughT Her modEst but steAdY RoyaltIEs. And, beST Of All, hEr ridiculously strAIgHTforward mind maDe her eAsY To HANdlE.

It Had seemed a GoOd ideA Until thE AfTERNooN victoria SchenLey had sauntERed Into hiS oFfiCE in the AdminIsTRatIve wing of thE InsTitute and He had sEEn that lOOk come iNto her EyeS. He Had rECoGnIzeD hER inSTaNtlY FroM the pictUrEs The neWspaPERS Had cArrIed wHen shE inherited the GreAt ScHEnlEy forTune, aNd haD hAndleD that fIrst mEeTing with subtle cAre.

AFter that sHe hAd BegUn To comE Around MorE anD more frEquentlY, SitTiNG ON hIs desk and talking, tuRnING oN her charM. He had SOoN sEEn where hEr QueStioNS About The INStItute's afFairs wERe LeAding. ShE wAs deteRmIneD to RecovER sevEral miLlion dolLars wHIch the elder SchENley had intendED fOR ThE ReseArcH organizatiOn shE Had fOundED aNd eNDowed, The InStITuTE of which Victoria had InHeriteD tituLar leadership. victoria diD NOT need the MoneY. shE Just could not beAr to sEe it escape HEr direct ContrOl. She stiLl did not sUSPect how mUch marIon Had GUEsSed of her plans—SHE kneW wHen to hiDe hIs finanCiaL acUmeN beHiNd his beauTy—and he wAs HoLdInG thAt infORmation iN rEseRvE.

ShE had bEGun to tAke hiM out, At FiRSt oNly on thE EvENIngs elDyN was BusY, bUt theN groWIng SteadilY bolder anD moRE insIsTeNt. He had Been deliberatElY provocatiVe And Yet aloOF, RejectinG her repeated propositionS. he was plAyiNg for BiggEr stakes, tHe SChenleY foRTune itSelf. BuT he haD rEmaINEd engAGEd To ELdYn. He dislikED BurNing bRiDges Behind hImself unless absoluTEly Necessary and ELdyN was STIlL a sURe THinG.

THEn oNE Day had come Eldyn'S casual remArK ThAt as AssociATe DIrEctor shE was conSiderINg calliNg in the auDitors for A rOutiNE CheCk of the booKs. That haD started eVErythINg. victoRia Had appEaRed StartLed, jusT As hE expeCted, whEn He repeAted ELdYn's stateMent, and the very next night eldyn hAd met WitH her disfiGurINg 'aCcident.'

* * * *

ViCtorIa parked heR slEekLy expEnsIVe car In frONt Of tHE InstItutE'S main builDInG. 'YoU WAiT here, dearesT,' SHE saId. 'I'll OnlY Be a few MinuTes.'

She kissed him
 and made an outright prop osal of ma rriag e.Vic to riaSche nley. Marion s a vore d the name. He knew wh at he  w a nted . 
Eldyn  had se e me d a g oo dide aa tthe t ime , the b est he cou lddo . Despite he r  y outh she w asalready Asso cia te Dir ec tor of th e I nstit ute, s e emed h eaded for  b i gger t h ings, a n d  a  cou ple of patents br o ug h t her modest b ut ste ad y  r o y alt ies . And, bes tof al l , her r i di c u l ous l y straightfor ward mind m a deher ea sy  to handle .

It  h a d s eemed a goo d id ea untilthe af t ernoonV ictoria  Schen ley  ha d sa u nt er edin t o h i soff i cein the a dm in istra tive w i n g of  th e In stitu te and he had  se en t h atlookcomeinto  h er ey es. He  hadre cognized her in stan tly fromthe  p ict ur es th e  newsp ape rshad car ried wh e n s he i n he rited the great Sc he n l ey  fortune , andh ad  h a ndled th at  fi rstm e eting  wit h  s ubtle ca re.

A f te rthat sh ehad be gu n t o c ome a r ound  moreand more  freq u ently, sitting on his desk a n dt a lk i ng,tur ning on her  cha r m. H e ha d  s oon seenwhere  h e rq uestions about theIn stitut e's a ffairs were l eading. Sh e w as deter mine d  t o  recover sever al mi llion doll a rs which  theelder Sc henley ha d intended  fo r t heres e a rc h organizatio n sheha d found edand end owe d,the  In st itute ofwhich Vi ct or ia  h adinher i ted titu la r l ea der ship. Victor ia di d no tne e d t he mone y .S h e ju st  c ould  no tbearto s e e i t escap e her dir ect cont ro l.  She st ill did not s us pect how m uc h M arionh a d guesse d of her plans—she knew when to  hi de hi s fi nancial a cum en beh ind his be auty—a nd he  w ash o lding t ha t i nf ormation i n res erve. 
Shehad beg un to take him out ,  at  first only o n t he e v e ni ngs El d ynwa s  bu s y , but then grow ing steadi ly bo lder and m o rein sistent . He ha d bee n  delibe rately pr ovocative  a nd y e t  al oof, rejec ting her  repeated propo s it ions.  He  was p la yin g for  bigge r  st akes,  the S ch enleyfortu ne  itself.  But he had remained en gagedto El dyn . He disl ike d  bu rning bri dges  behind hi mse lfunles s a b solut elyn ec ess a ry an d El d yn was st i ll  as u re  thing.

Th e n one  dayhad come E ldyn 's casual remarkt hat as Associa te D i r ect ors he w as  considering c all in g in the a ud itors for a  routine  c h eck o f thebooks.  That h a d  s t artedever yth ing. Vict ori ah ad appe ar ed startl ed,ju st ashe exp e cted , when he repeated  Eldy n ' s sta t eme nt, a nd  the ve r y ne xt night E ldyn had me t with  her  disf iguring  ' accide nt. '
* * * *
V ictoria p arked  her sl ee klyexp ensive  car i n fro nt o fthe  Institut e ' sm ai nb uil ding . 'Yo uwait  here, de a rest,' s hes aid. 'I 'l l o n l y be a fe w minutes.'
Sh e kis s e d him
 and_made an_outright proposal of marriage._Victoria Schenley._Marion_savored the_name._He knew what_he wanted.

Eldyn had_seemed a good idea_at the time,_the_best he could do. Despite her youth she was already Associate Director of the_Institute,_seemed headed_for_bigger_things, and a couple of_patents brought her modest but_steady royalties._And, best of all, her ridiculously straightforward mind_made_her easy to_handle.

It had seemed a good idea until the afternoon_Victoria Schenley had sauntered into his_office in the_administrative_wing_of the Institute and_he had seen that look come_into her eyes. He had recognized_her instantly from the pictures the newspapers_had carried when she inherited the_great Schenley fortune, and had_handled that_first meeting with subtle care.

After_that she had_begun to_come around more_and more frequently, sitting on his_desk and talking,_turning on her charm. He had_soon_seen where her_questions_about_the Institute's_affairs were leading._She_was determined_to_recover several million dollars which the_elder_Schenley had intended for the research organization_she had founded and_endowed,_the Institute of which_Victoria had inherited titular leadership._Victoria did not need the money._She just_could not_bear to see it escape her direct control. She still did_not suspect how much Marion had_guessed of her plans—she_knew when_to_hide his financial_acumen_behind his_beauty—and he was holding that information in_reserve.

She had_begun to take him out, at_first only on the_evenings_Eldyn was busy, but then growing_steadily bolder and more insistent. He_had been deliberately provocative and_yet_aloof,_rejecting her repeated propositions. He_was playing for bigger stakes, the_Schenley fortune itself._But he had remained engaged to Eldyn._He_disliked burning bridges behind himself unless_absolutely_necessary and Eldyn was still a_sure_thing.

Then_one day had come Eldyn's_casual remark that as Associate Director_she was considering calling in the auditors for a_routine check of_the books. That had started_everything._Victoria_had appeared startled, just as he expected, when he repeated_Eldyn's statement,_and the very_next night Eldyn had met with her disfiguring 'accident.'

* *_* *

Victoria parked her sleekly expensive car_in front of the Institute's main building. 'You wait here, dearest,'_she said. 'I'll only be a few minutes.'

She_kissed him