E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Hélène de Mink, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) THE LAST WOMAN COVER FRONTISPIECE THE LAST WOMAN by ROSS BEECKMAN AUTHOR OF "Princess Zara" FRONTISPIECE BY HOWARD CHANDLER CHRISTY NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1909—by W. J. WATT & COMPANY Published August Copyright THE THEME If I could have my dearest wish fulfilled, And take my choice of all earth's treasures, too, And ask of Heaven whatsoe'er I willed— I'd ask for you. There is more joy to my true, loving heart, In everything you think, or say, or do, Than all the joys of Heaven could e'er impart, Because—it's YOU. CONTENTS THE PRICE ONE WOMAN WHO DARED A STRANGE BETROTHAL THE BOX AT THE OPERA BEATRICE BRUNSWICK'S PLOT A REMARKABLE MEETING THE BITTERNESS OF JEALOUSY BETWEEN DARKNESS AND DAYLIGHT PATRICIA'S COWBOY LOVER MONDAY, THE THIRTEENTH MORTON'S ULTIMATUM THE QUARREL SALLY'S GARDNER'S PLAN PATRICIA'S WILD RIDE ALMOST A TRAGEDY THE AUTOMOBILE WRECK CROSS PURPOSES AT CEDARCREST MYSTERIES BORN IN THE NIGHT RODERICK DUNCAN SEES LIGHT THE LAST WOMAN THE REASON WHY THE MYSTERY BOOKS ON NATURE STUDY BY CHARLES G. D. ROBERTS FAMOUS COPYRIGHT BOOKS