THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA,
AUCTION
REX DECfi
SYNOP8IS.
G
I'otcr Knight, dcfcntod for political of
fice In his town, docklos to venture New
York In order that tho family fortuneH
might bonctH by the expectod rise of Ml!)
chiirmlnK (laughter, Ixrrlol. A well
known critic Interviews Ixirnlci ICnlglit,
now stago beauty with Ilergman's Ilovuc,
for a Hpcclal article Her coin-hunting
mother outllncx I;rclel'n atnhltlotiH, but
HlonNoii, the press nKent, Inter uiIiIh Ills
Information. Lorelei attends Millionaire
Hammon's Gorgeous entertainment. Hho
moots Morkle, a wealthy dyspeptic. Hob
Wharton comes uninvited. IorcIcl din
coverw a blackmail plot against Hammon
In which her brother Is Involved. Merkle
arid Lorelei huve an nuto wreck. Tho
blackmailers besmirch her good name.
Xyirolel supects her mother Is an unscru
pulous plotter. Sli8 llnds In Adorco Dem
urest a reul friend.
Moot mothers deserve all the
lovo and kindness their children
can bestow on them, but occa
sionally a mother Is a heartless
beast. Would a young woman
bo Justified In seeing her moth
er go to the poorhouse If she
discovered t,'nnt the mother had
plotted literally to sell her to
a wealthy, drunken profllg?te7
CHAPTER IX Continued,
"Mnylie Mr; Mcrlclc "
"We'll leave film out of this." de
clared Lorelei; "he's too decent to linve
rt person like tne foisted upon him
and there's no reimon whatever why lie
should he he'd responsible for my
notoriety." ffte turned nwny from
tho dining roon with u Bhuddor of dls
taHte. "I dont want any breakfast. I
think I'll get Home nlr."
As soon as kIio was out In the street
she turned southward Involuntarily,
and set off toward the establishment of
Adoree Demorost
Mrs. Knight dried licr eyes and be
gan to dress hrrseif carefully, prepara
tory to n Journey Into the Wall street
jicrtion of tho city, for the hour was
drawing on tofnid threo o'clock.
Meanwhile !lw, having transaeteil
his business at QoJdberg's ofllce, sought
n more familiar haunt on one of the
side streets among the forties. Here,
Just off Broadway, was a famous bar
lir shop a spotless place, with white
Interior and tiled walls. Six Italians
In stiff duck coats practiced their arts
at a row of will-equipped chairs. A
wnsp-walstod frl sat at the manicure
tablo next tho front windows. Ah .11m
entered she was holding the hand of
a Jaded person In n light-gray suit, and
murmuring over It with an occasional
upward glance from it pair of bold,
dark eyes. "Tony tho narber," en
saged in administering a shampoo,
nodded at .11m, and from force of
lablt murmuro-l politely: "Next!"
Then, with n meaning glance, he hull
rated a door at tho rear of the shop.
In the third chlr ,11m recognized Max
Molchor, although tho face of tho sport
ing man wao awathed in steaming
cloths.
Jim passed on rind Into a rear room,
where ho founrt three men seated at a
felt-covered table. They were well
dressed, quiet persons ouo a book
maker whom the racing laws had re
duced from allluenco to comparative
penury; another, n tall, pallid youth
with bulging eyes. Tho third occupant
of the room urns an ex-llghtwelght
champion of tho ting. Young Sullivan
by name, nis trim waist and power-
"Hush I It's Campbell Pope, the Critic.1
ful shoulders bstoVeued his trade. His
Jaw was tlrm, and a caulltlowcr ear
overhung hi collar like a fungus.
Jim dr"v up a chair and chatted Idly
until the bookmaker yawned, rose, and
went out. Then Jim and the others re
luxed.
"(Sec, he's a stlckcrl" exclaimed tho
pug'llst "I (bought he'd broke his
back "
"Mas is getting his map greased,"
the pop-eyed youth explained. Taking
a pasteboard box from his pocket, ho
removed a heroin tablet tliercfr-oin and
crushed It; the powder he held In the
Indentation between the base of his
closed thumb and flrst linger, known
as "the thimble;" then, with a quick
Inhalation, he drew the drug up his
nostrils. "Have an angel?" he In
quired, offering the box.
Jim accepted, but Young Sullivan
declined.
"What's the news?" tho latter In
quired. "I've seen Ooldy," replied Jim.
"Mother and I will call on Merkle at
three. I llnally got her to consent."
Sullivan shook bis head. "He might
fall, but I doubt It. How does your
sister feel?"
"That's the trouble. She's square,
.ml we can't uso her," Jim explained.
"Some doll!" admiringly commented
A
rmlsteild, the third member of the
group. ArmlHtcad had once been
fat
med In vaudeville for dancing, but
tl:
e drug habit had destroyed his en
durance, and with It his career. "She's
i perfect thirty-six, all right. She
wild rip n lot of coin loose if she
rled."
At this moment Mr. Melcher. freshlv
perfumed ami talcumed, entered the
room. Ills white hair waa imimL'pl
lith scrupulous nicety; bis pink race,
s umvrinklod as his immaculate at
ire, Was beaming with good-humor.
"Wei!, boys, I'm the pay-car," ho
smiled.
"Hammon came through, eh?" Sulll
an inquired eagerly.
"Not exactly; wo compromised. Quick
sales and small profits; that's busi
ness."
"How strong did ho go?" queried Ar-
mlstcad.
'Sow, what's the difference, so long
as you get youru? Photography is a
paying business." Melcher laughed
agreeably.
"Surol I'll bet Sarony Is rich."
I'oung Sullivan carelessly accepted the
oil of currency which Melcher tossed
him, and the others did likewise.
I sunon that's curtain for us."
Jim said, regretfully.
"It Is. The rest Is Lllas" affair."
"Say, will the old man fall again?"
queried Armlstead.
"He's going to marry her!" Tho
three others stared at him In amaze
ment. "Itlght!" continued Molchor.
She's got a Htrangle hold on him."
"Ilm-inl Maybe we haven't lost the
ast car yet." Sullivan ventured.
Jim seconded tho thought. "She's
got an ace buried somewhere. There's
a lot more In her head than hairpins.
i wish Merklo would marry my sister."
"Not a chance." Melcher declared.
"You'll bo lucky to shako him down for
a few thousand. How nbout Wharton?
Will she stand for him?"
Jim frowned, and his volco was
rough as bo replied:
"I'll make her stand for him if it's
a marry."
"He's n lush; if you got him stowed
ho might go that far. It. has been done;
nut, of -course, It's all up'to tho girl.
.Ynyliow, if ho balks at the altar wo
might get him for something else."
"I'm not Hiiro I'll need any heln in
Ihls." Jim looked up coldlv. "If bo
marries her, that ends Us if wo have
to frame blm. of course I'll split."
How are you going to framo him.
with a square damo like Lorelei?"
asked Armlstead,
"Frame both of thorn." Melcher said.
shortly, "By the way, he's a gambler,
too, isn't he? Bring him in somo
night, Jim, and I'll turn for him my
self." "Save Ills cuff buttons for mo."
laughed Young Snlllvnn, Idly riming
the cards, "(lee! Money comes easy
to some folks. Don't von kuvs never
expect to do any honest work?"
CHAPTER X.
Jim's appearance when he nntoroii
the dressing room that night was a sur
prise lie Was C ad ill faultless nrnnlni.
attire.
"Why tho barbaric fmleudnr?" In.
quired Lorelei. "Do you want me to
dress, too?"
"Sure thing. Look vour best, nmi
make mo think I'm a regular John."
liergmau dronned In tn koo m n.
night," she told him. after thin- hmi
gossiped for a moment. "I don't llko
the way he talked. Ho thinks he owns
the girls who work for him."
Jim replied, carelessly; "Illow him
and his Job. You can get on at the
l'alace dardeu."
"There's my contract: he can (lis
charge me, you know, but I can't
quit that's ono of the peculiarities Of
a theatrical contract, Well he insist
ed on taking me to supper."
"A brother Is a handy thing, once
in a while, but for every-day use you
need a 'steady with a kick In each
mitt," suggested Jim.
"I wish you would punch him."
"Who? Me? And go Joy-rldlng with
u square-too? Nix. I'm too retlned.
Did you see tonight's papers?"
"There wasn't much In them."
JllU Bintlod Wlselv "Thorn wnnlil
have been if things hadn't gone right.
, fin glad for your sake."
"Oh, the harm's done, I suppose,
ftut there's one good thing about it
Mob Wharton hasn't bothered me this
evening."
.11 m, with an expressionless face,
tried to speak to Lllas Lynn, who bad
Just come In. When Ills sister came
down after the last act, he was wait
ing at the door and helped her Into n
cab, despite her protestations that she
would much prefer to walk.
"What are you going to do with nil
the coin you save? Slip It to the shoe
makers?" he laughed. "I don't go out
often; you'd better spring me good."
As they seated themselves In the
main room at Proctor's, he appraised
hr with admiring eyes. "You're the
candy, sis. There's class to that lay
out." "It's part of the game to look well
In public, but I'd have enjoyed myself
more If we had gone to Hilly the
Oystcrman's and dressed the part."
She surveyed the gaudy dining room,
with Its towering marble columns, Its
tremendous crystal festoons, shower
ing a brilliant but becoming light upon
the throngs below, then nodded here
and there to casual greetings.
Proctor's was a show place, built
upon the site of a former resort the
fame of which had been nation-wide;
but the crowds that frequented It now
were of a different type to those that
had gathered In "the old Proctor's."
Prices were higher here than else
where; the coat rooms were robbers'
dens, Infested by Italian mafloM; tips
were extravagant and amounted in ef
fect to ransom. Hut New York dearly
loves to be pillaged. Nothing speeds
the Manhattan sleep hater more swift
ly to a change of scene than the knowl
edge that lie Is getting Ids money's
worth.
"Speaking of clothes," Jim contin
ued, staring past his sister to another
table, "there seems to be a strike
breaker In the room. Pipe the gink
with the nightshirt under his coat and
the shoestring tie. There must be a
masquerade Say! He's bowing to
you."
"Hush! It's Campbell Pope, tho
critic."
Mr. Pope had risen and was slouch
ing toward them. He took Lorelei's
hand, then shot a sharp glance at her
escort ns the girl Introduced them. Ac
cepting Jim's mumbled Invitation, he
seated himself and instructed a waiter
to bring his coffee. Jim watched the
nearest entrance with some anxiety,
for the reviewer's presence did not fit
well with his plans. As ho tlnlshod
ordering he heard Pope say:
"I was sorry the story got out, Miss
Knight; but It was pretty well smoth
ered In this evening's papers. Of
course you were dragged In by the
hair to afford a Koman spectacle; wo
all saw what It meant when It came
to us."
"What did it mean?" queried Jim,
with brotherly interest.
"Blackmail. The word was written
all over it. Melcher's connection with
the affair was proof of that; then the
way It was handled! Nobody touched
It except tho Dispatch, and, of course,
it got Its price."
"I thought newspapers paid for
copy," innocently commented Jim.
"Yes. real newspapers; but the gang
had to publish tho stuff somewhere. It
Is reported that Hammon paid fifty
thousand dollars to pro vent Melcher
from filing suit. 1 dare say things will
be quiet around Tony tho Harbor's
now."
''You press people certainly have got
a lot up your sleeves." James' invol
untary start of dismay did not pass
unnoticed. Ho did not relish tho gleam
lu Pope's eyes, and ho hastily sought
rofugo In a goblet of water, notwith
standing his distaste for the liquid.
"Wo sometimes know as much as
tho police, and wo Invariably tell
more," continued Pope. "Yes, a busi
ness man can get a haircut In Tony's
without fear of family complications
now. I suppose Armlstead Is smoking
hop; Young Sullivan Is probably laying
an alcoholic foundation for a wife
boating, nnd tho others nro spending
Hammon's money in tho cafes."
Jimmy Knight paled, for behind
Pope's genial smile were both mockery
and contempt; a panic swept him lest
this fellow should acquaint Lorelei
with the truth. Jim lost interest in
his clams and thereafter avoided con
versation with tho wariness of a fox.
Ho was still glowing Avlth resent
ment when Itobert Wharton paused at
tho table and greeted its occupants
cheerily. In response to Jim's Invita
tion Hob drew up n fourth chair, seat
ed himself, and began to beam upon
Lorelei. Noting the faint lino of an
noyiiiice between her brows, he
laughed,
"Uetreat is cut off," he announced,
complacently. "Kseapo Is hopeless.
I've left orders to havo the windows
barred and the doors walled up."
"Kh? What's the idea?" inquired
Pope,
Wharton answered sadly: "My van
ity has suffered tho rudest Jolt of its
young career; I mourn tho death of a
perfectly normal and healthy sclf-con-celt,
age twenty-nlno. Services at
noon; friends and relatives only."
"Oho! You've heard the seductive
song of tho lthlno maiden?" Popo's
eyes were twinkling.
"Kh? I'm tangled up like a basket
of ticker tape. You see, Campbell, I
drink; candor compels me to acknowl
edge that much. In a moment of folly
I was Indiscreet, and ever slnco I have
been trying to apologize. In short, I'm
In Dutch, and there sits the adorable
cause of my sorrows."
In spite of Wharton's reproachful
toue, the gazo he bent upon Lorelei
was good-humored, and she saw that
he was in a mood different to any she
had ever seen him In. Strange to say, he
whs sober, or nearly so, and he was
plainly determined to make her like
him,
"Has ho annoyed you, Miss Knight?"
asked Pope.
"Dreadfully."
Wharton explained further. "The
first time we met I deserved to be
slapped, and I was. You see, I was
ruder than usual. Hut I have sobered
up purposely to npologlze; I have re
pented, and well, here we are, thanks
to brother James."
"Thanks to Jim?" Lorelei raised
her brows.
Pope turned to young Knight nnd
said, politely, "That Is my foot you are
stamping on,"
Ignoring Jim's mule anneal. Wluir-
ton ran on. smilingly: "He promised to
shackle you to a table until I could
stammer out my halting anoloeles. nnd
now that I've done so In the presence
of press nnd public won't you forgive
me and help mo to bury the hatchet In
a Welsh rabbit?" He was speaking
directly to her with n genuine appeal
"Are You Stuck on the Boob?"
In his handsome eyes. Now that she
saw him In his right mind, it was un
expectedly hard to resist him, for he
was very boyish and friendly quite
unlike tho person who had so grievous
ly offended her.
When she and Jim had first entered
the restaurant they had received a po
lite but casual recognition from the
head waiter, but there attentions had
ceased. With Wharton ns a member
of tho party, however, there came a
change. Mr. Proctor himself paused
momentarily at the table and rested a
hand upon Wharton's shoulder while
he voiced n few platitudes. Then In
somo Inexplicable manner Robert
found himself not only ordering for
himself but supplementing Jim's menu
with rare nnd expensive viands. As a
great favor, he was advised of a newly
imported vintage wine which tho pro
prietor had secured for his own use.
Of course Mr. Wharton wished to
sample such n vintage, any vintage, In
fact, since n thousand fires were con
suming him, and his nerves were on
edge from the night before. The flrst
draft electrified him, his spirits rose,
and ho swept his companions along
with his enthusiasm. From surround
ing tables people accosted him; men
paused In passing to exchange n word
about stocks, polo, scandal, Newport,
tennis, Tuxedo; nono were In the least
stiff or formal, and all expressed in
one way or another their admiration
for Lorelei. Women who slip knew
Avcrc not of her world beamed and
smiled at tho young millionaire. It
was a new experience for the girl, who
felt, herself, as tho supper progressed,
becomlug conspicuous without tho
usual disagreeable ncconipanlincnts.
Men no longer openly ogled her; wom
en did not nudge each other and whis
per; her presence In company with n
member of the Idolized rich was caus
ing gossip, but gossip of a Mattering
kind.
All this attention, however, had quite
the contrary cffec,t upon Campbell
Pope. Much to Jim's relief, he ex
cused himself shortly, whereupon tho
former, after allowing Wharton to pay
tile score, suggested a dance, breezily
swoeping nsldo his sister's mild objec
tion. Of courso Hob was delighted,
nnd soon tho trio had set out upon a
round of the dancing cafes.
Hob Wharton hud drunk heavily, but
up to this time ho had shown llttlo ef
fect from his potations beyond a grow
ing exhilaration; now, however, the
wine was taking toll, nnd Lorelei felt
a certain pity for him. With Itobert
Wharton liquor intensified a natural
ngreeableness until It cloyed. III?
amenities were monstrously magnified;
he became convivial to tho point of of
fenslveness. In the course of thv
motn,inorphosIs he was many things,
and through such a cycle ho worked to
night whilo tho girl looked on.
Overcoming his niggardly Instincts,
Jimmy Knight, ns the evening pro
gressed, assumed the burden of enter
tainment. He, too, adopted a spend
thrift gayety and encouraged Whar
ton's libations, although ho drank little
liliusolf.
There camo a time when Hob could
no longer dance when, In fact, he
could barely walk and then It was
that Jim proposed leaving. Hob read
ily agreed havlnx reached a condition
of mellowness where he agreed enthu
siastically to anything and Lorolel
was only too glad to depart. Sho had
witnessed tho pitiful breaking down of
Hob's faculties with a curious blending
of concern and dismay, but her pro
tests had gone unheeded. Having had
a glimpse of his real self earlier In the
evening, and being wise lu the ways of
t Intemperttiice, sho felt only pity for
him now ns the three made their way
downstairs.
While Jim went in search of their
belongings, Hob propped himself
; ngainst the wall and regarded her ad
miringly through eyes that vcre filmed
j and unfocusable.
"Fairy piince-,s, you are more ador
able every lulnule," he said, thickly.
"Yes! A thousand yeses. And I'm
your llttlo friend, eh? No more slaps,
I nn mnrn 111 vatnrfmic nrlfu ivlmV
"That depends upon you."
"I'm behaving finely." he vaunted.
"I usually act much wore than I have
tonight, but I like you. I like you dif
ferently understand? Not like tho
other girls. You're so beautiful! Makes
me dizzy. You forgive my little Joke
eh?"
"What joke?"
"Meeting you the way I did tonight.
Jim's nice boy obliged to blm."
"I see. Then it was all planned?"
Ho nodded vehemently and nearly
lost his balance.
"How much did you pay him?" Lo
relei queried, witli dllllcuity.
Mr. Wharton waved his hand In a
magnificent gesture. "What's money,
anyhow? Somebody's bound to get It."
"Fifty dollars?"
Ho looked at her reproachfully.
"That's nn Insult to Jim he's a busi
ness mnn, he is. More than that Oh,
yes, and I'll take care of him again
this very night. I'll stake blm. Ho
knows n place."
"Will you do meu favor?" she asked,
after a pause.
Wharton assured her with abnormal
emphasis that her lightest wish was
law.
"Then go straight home f.rom here,"
sho pleaded.
"I say, that's not fair." Hob looked
ludicrously shocked. "I promised Jim
Wouldn't have me break a sacred
promise, would you? We're expected
a llttlo game all arranged where we
can bust It quick. If you hear a loud
noise that'll be Melcher going broke."
"Melcher!" Lorelei looked sharply
at her brother, who was approaching
with her wraps, and noted that he was
perfectly sober. A moment later sho
checked Bob in the act of giving di
rections to the cab driver:
"Walt. Where do you live, Mr.
Wharton?"
"The Chariovol.f " It was the most
expensive bachelor apartment building
In the city.
"Drive to tho Charlevoix," she told
the chauffeur.
"Hold on. sis." cried Jim. "We're
going to take you homo first."
"No."
"Hut" Jim saw in his sister's face
something that brought a smothered
oath to his lips. Drawing her out of
hearing, he muttered, angrily, "Mind
your own business; I've got something
on."
"I know yon have." She met his
eyes unflinchingly, "nut you shan't
rob him."
Jim thrust his thin face close to hers,
and she saw that it was distorted with
rage. "If you don't want to go home,
stay here. He's going with me."
"We'll see."
She turned, but he seized her rough
ly. "What nro you going to do?" he
demanded.
"I'm going to tell him he's being
tnken to a crooked gambling house,
and that you're working for Max Mel
cher. ne Isn't too drunk to under
stand that."
ner brother clenched his list menac
ingly, but she did not recoil, and he
thought better of his Impulse.
"Are you grand-standing?" he quer
ied, brutally. "Are you stuck on tho
boob? or do you want your bit?"
Without reply she walked back to
the cab, redirected the driver to the
Charlevoix, then seated herself beside
Wharton, who was already sinking
into n stupor. Jim slunk in behind her,
and they were whirled southward.
It was a silent ride, for the besot
ted young millionaire slept, nnd Jim
dared not trust himself to speak. Lo
relei closed her eyes, nauseated, disil
lusioned, miserable, seeing more clear
ly than ever the depths into which she
had unwittingly sunk, nnd the infamy
to which Jim had descended.
At his hotel Wharton roused himself,
and Lorelei sent him reeling into the
vestibule. Then she and Jim turned
homeward through the deserted streets.
CHAPTER XI.
During tho last net of the matinee on
tho day following Lorelei was sur
prised to receive a call from John
Merkle. "The Judge" led him to her
dressing room, then shuttled away,
leaving him alone with her nnd Mrs.
Croft.
"I hope I haven't broken any rules
by dropping in during your ofllco
hours," he began.
"Theatrical rules are made to be
broken: but I do think that you are In
discreet. Don't you?"
The banker had been using "nis eyes
with an Interest that betrayed his un
familiarity with these surroundings.
"I was on my way uptown and pre
ferred not to telephone." He looked
meaningly at Croft; ami Torelel, Inter
preting his glance, sent the dresser
from tho room on some .riand. "ell,
tho gamo worked," said Merkle. "Mrs.
Hammon has loft home and com
menced suit for divorce. If our friend
Miss Lynn had set out to ruin Jarvls
socially and perhaps tlnandalry she
couldn't have played her cards better."
"Is that what you came to tell mc?"
Merkle hesitated. "No," lie admit
ted, "It isn't; but I'm a bit embar
rassed now that I'm here. I suppose
your mother told about seeing me?"
"My mother?" Lorelei's amazement
was convincing, and his keen eye
softened "When did you see mother?
Where?"
"Yesterday, at my oflUv Didn't y$u
know that she and your brother hni!
called?"
Lorelei shook her head; she felt Rick
with dread of his next words.
"It was very unpleasant, I fear, for
all of us."
"What did they want?" The girl
was still smiling, but her Hps beneath
the paint were dry.
"They felt that I had cr involved
you in It great deal of notoriety. From
what they said I Judged that you
shared their feelings." He paused awk
wardly once more, and she motioned
him to continue. "We didn't get on
very well, especially your brother nnd
I; for he presumed to criticize my re
lations with you and er my motlvo
In taking you to ride the other night.
I believe I was quite rude to him; In
fact, I had the watchman eject him,
not daring to trust myself,"
"They asked for money?" Lorelei
averted her face, for she could not
bear to meet his frank eyes.
"Yes what I considered a great deal
of money. I understood they repre
sented you. They didn't Insist, how
ever: they offered mo a choice."
"Choice! Of what?"
"Well I Inferred that marriage
would undo the wrong I had "
"Oh-h!" Lorelei rose with a gasp.
Bravely she stilled the tremor of her
lips. "Tell mc the rest."
"There isn't much more. Your moth
er was quite hysterical and noisy. To
day a lawyer came to see mo. He
offers to settle the whole matter, but
I prefer dealing directly with you."
"Do you think I knew anything
about It?" she cried, Indignantly.
"No, I do not think so now. Yester.
day I was too much surprised and too
angry to know just what I did think.
It's perfectly true, however, that I was
to blame for the unfortunate outcome
of the ride, nnd I want to mako
amends for any Injury "
"Weren't you injured, too, by tho
publicity?"
Merkle showed bis teeth in a mirth
less smile.
"That's neither here nor there."
"Please leave me, and let me
think this over. I must do something
quickly, or I'll smother."
"I'm glad I came," snld he, rising.
"I'm glad I made sure."
"So am I. What you havo told mo
has made a great difference in every
thing. Don't allow them to" Sho
hesitated and her voice broke. "I
can't say it. You must think I'm
unspeakable."
He shook his head gravely. "No, I
merely think you are very unfortu
nate. I think you need help more than
any girl I ever knew."
"I do. I do."
"But I am not the one to give It
at least not the kind of help you need."
"I'll need help more than ever after
tonight."
"Yes? Why?"
"Because, I'm going to leave home."
Lorelei's head was up,- and she spoke
with a note of defiance.
"Then perhaps I can do something."
Ho seated himself again. "You will
need money."
"Oh. no. I have my salary and the
other revenues you know about. I
have kept my family for two years."
"Work won't hurt you, but why
force yourself to go on with those
other things? They're not to your
liking, I'm sure."
"My mother and father must live.
There Isn't enough don't you see?
r
"Make an End of It. I'll Finance You."
There Just isn't enough for all of us
unless I graft llko the other girls."
Merkle broke out Impatiently: "Make
an end of it. I'll finance you." She
laughed n little harshly. "Don't think
for an Instant that I'd venture to ex
pect anything in return. I won't
trouble you; I won't even see you.
Nobody will ever know. I wouldn't
miss the money, and I'd really lovo to
do It. You tried to do me a favor "
"There's no uso arguing."
"Well, don't bo stubborn or hasty.
You could use suy, ten thousand dol
lars. It would keep you going very
nicely, and really it's only the price
of a now auto."
Do you believe that Merkle ia
perfectly truthful and decent
in his offer to give Lorelei
financial aid? Is she doing the
right thing In deserting her
people, even though they are
using her simply as a tool?
(TO UH CONTINUED.)