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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 18, 1916)
THE SEMIAVEEKLV TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. AUCTION BLOCK REX EEA 8YN0P8I8. 8 rotor Knight, dofcated for political of fice In his town, decides to venturo New York In ordor that tho family fortunes might benefit by tjio expectod rlso of Ills charming daughter, Lorelei Knight, known crltlo Interviews Lorelei Knight, now stage benuty with Hcrgman's Ilevue, for a special article. Her coin-hunting mothor, outlines Lorelei's ambitions, but 8I0BB011, tho preHS agent, litter adds his information. Lorelei attends Millionaire Ilammon's gorgeous entertainment, Hho mpolH Mcrklo, a woalthy dyspeptic. Hob "Wharton comos uninvited. Lorelol dls coverH 11 blacltmnll plot against Ilammon, In which her In other Is Involved. Merklo and Lorelei have an auto wreck. Tho blackmailers bcsmlreh lior good name, Lorelei learns her mother Is an unscru pulous plotter. She finds In Adoreo Dem urest a real friend, nnd finds Hob Whar ton Is llkntilo. Lorelei leaves hor family nnd goes to llvo nlono. Greater tragedy stalks Into T Lorelei's life. She Is besmirched by vile men and women urged on by her mother and brother. The memory of one night's expe rience was a horror burned Into her mind for life. Her only friend In this crisis Is n drunken profligate, and he makes her III with his attempted caresses. How she solved one problem, how she was trapped Into taking the biggest step of her life Is described with vivid detail In this Installment. Lorelei has been taken to a "swift" restaurant by her employer who has designs on the girl. She Is badly frightened and helpless. At this point Bob Wharton appears. She sees In him a protector. CHAPTER XII Continued. Miss Wycth tittered; tho Bophomoro with tho bristling pompadour uttered a bark of amusement. Mooting Bob'B questioning glnuce, Lorelei seconded the Invitation with a nod and a quick look of appeal, whereupon Ills de meanor changed nnd ho drow a chair between her und Nobel Bergman, forc ing tho latter to move. IIIh action was pointed, almost rude, but tho girl felt a Burgo of gratlturto sweep over hor. Thero was an lntorludo of Idle chat ter, then tho orchestra burst Into full clamor onco more. Much to tho cha grin of her escort, Lorelei roso and danced awny with tho newcomer. "Why tho distress signal?" queried Bob. "Mr. Bergman has-been drinking." "Rum is poison," ho told her, with mock Indignation. "Ho must bo a low porson." "ITo'g getting unpleasant." "Shall I tulco hi in by tho noso nnd run around tho block?" "You can do mo n favor." Ho was serious In un Instant "You were nice to mo the other night. I'm eorry to see you with this follow." "He forced ho deceived mo Into coming, and he's taking advantage of conditions to bo nasty." Bob missed a step, then apologized. His next words were facetious, but his tone was ugly: "Whero do you want tho remains sent?" "Will you wait and Beo that uilno are Bufely sont home?" Sho leaned back, nnd hor troubled twilight eyes bo nought him. "I'll wait, novcr fear. I've been look Ing everywhere for you. I wanted to find you, and I didn't want to. I'vo been to every cafe In town, now in tho world did you fall in with tho old bell-cow nnd hor ealf ?" When Lorelei had explained, ho hod ded his complete understanding. "She's just the Bort to do a thing Uko that." Wharton Ignored Bergman's bcowIs; bo proceeded to rnonopollzo tho iimna get's favorite with an nrrogauce that secretly delighted her; he displayed tho assurance of one reared to Bullish ox actions, and his rlvnl writhed under It But Bergman was Blow to admit do feat. Dawn was noar when tho crowd separated and tho hostess was driven uwny, leaving Lorelei nt tho door of a taxlcnb in company with two or her ad mlrers. Tho girl bade them each good ilght, but Bergman Ignored her words, nnd, stepping boldly In after her, spoko to the driver. Bob had imbibed with n magulllccnt disregard of consequences, and ns 11 result he was unsteady on his feet, nis hat wub tilted back from his brow, his Blender stick bent beneath tho weight he put upon It. "Naughty, naughty Nobel I" ho Aided. "Coino out of that cab; you nnd I journey arm and arm Into tho purpling cast." "Drlvo on," cried Bergman, forcing Lorelei hack Into her scat, as she half nose. Bob leaned through tho open cab window, murmuring thickly: "Nobol, you aro drunk. Shockednay, grieved as I nm at seeing you thus, I shall take you home." "Get out, will you?" snapped the mauuger, undertaking to slam tho door. "I'm tired of your Insolence. 111 Bergman never (Intuited bis sentence, for In his rage ho committed a grave bluudor ho struck wildly ut the lushed face so close to his, and the zn mmu TI T IT 11 1 Mi next instant was jerked bodily out of his seat Lorelei uttered n cry of fright, for tho whole side of tho cab seemed to go with her employer. There was a brief Hcufllo, a whirl of flying arms, then Ilcrgman's volco roso In a strangely muffled howl, followed by nasal curses. With n bellow of an guish he suddenly censed ills struggles, and Lorelei saw that Hob was holding him by the nose. It happened to bo n large, unhandsome and fleshy mem her, and, securely grasping it, Berg man's conqueror hold him at a painful and humiliating disadvantage. Boh was panting, hut lie managed to say, "Come! Wo will dance for the ludy." A muffled shriek of pain was the an swer, hut the street was empty save for Bonio grinning chauffeurs, who of fered no assistance. "Bo a good fellow. I insist, my dear Nobel." "Drive on, quickly," Lorolel im plored, but tho chauffeur cranked his motor reluctantly. A moment passed, then another; ho cranked onco more. Bcrgmnn was sobbing now like a woman. Bob paused and wheezed: "Urnvol You done noble, Nobel. We've learned somo new steps, too, eh?" All power of resistance had loft tho victim, who seemed upon ho verge of collapse. "I say we've learned some now steps; haven't we, Bergy?" no tweaked tho distorted member In his grasp, and Bergman's head wagged loosely. "Oh, please please " Lorelei cried, tremulously. "Don't " "Canter for the kind lady," Whar ton Insisted. Bergman capered awk wardly. "Mr. Wharton! Bob" Lorelei's agonized entreaty brought her admirer to tho cab door, but ho fetched his pris oner In tow. "Let him go or wo'll bo arrested." "I'll let go if you Insist. But it's a grand noso. I love it. Never was thero such a nose." Bergman, with a desperate wrench, regained his freedom nnd staggered nway with Ills face In his hands. "It actually stretched," said Bob, as ho regretfully watched his victim. "I daro say I'll never And another noso llko it." Lorelei's cab got under way at last, but barely In time, for a crowd was as- Bcmbllng. Not until sho was safely inside her llttlo apartment, with the chain on tho door, did she surrender; then Bho hurst Into n trembling, chok ing lit of laughter. But her estlmato of Wharton had risen, and for tho first tlmo ho seemed not entirely bad. CHAPTER XIII. Jimmy Knight felt his sister's deser tion quite as keenly as did his mother and father, for his Bchemes, though In choate, were ambitious, and his heart was set upon them. Lorelei's obsti nacy was exasperating a woman's unaccouutablo freaklslmoss. no confided his disappointment to Max Melcher. "It's pretty tough," complained Jimmy. "I had Mcrkle go Ing, but she crabbed it. Then just as "Canter for the Kind Lady." that boob Wharton was gottlng dalller over her every day sho gots hor back up and tho wholo thing Is cold." "You mean It's cold so far as you're concerned," Melcher Judicially amend ed. "Sure. She's Boro on mo, and tho wholo family." "Then this Is just tho tlmo to marry her off. Now York Js a mighty lone Homo placo for a girl like her, Suppose I take a hand." "All right." "Will you declare me In?" "Certainly," Melcher eyed his associate coldly. "There's no 'certainly' about It. You'd throw your own mother If you got u. chance But you can't throw mo, un derstand? You try a cross and tho cold-meat wagon for yours. I'll have you slabbed at the morgue." Jimmy's reply left no doubt of the genuineness of his fears, If not of his intentions. Strange stories were told In the Tenderloin tales of treachery punished and ingratitude revenged. Jimmy know several young men who appeared out of the East side at Mel Cher's signal. They were Inconspicu ous fellows, who boro fanciful dime novel names and no rustler's strong hold of the old-tlmo western cattle country ever boasted more formidable outlaws than they. Jim know these 'iuimen well; he had no wish to know tnem worse. "I can't .promise anything definite when she's Boro on me," ho declared. "He's about ready to ask her she's tho one to tlx. She hates men, though, and that Mcrkle Btory made her crazy." Melcher pondered for several mo ments. "I think I know Lorelei better than you do," ho stated, deliberately, "and I believe wo can pull this off, pro vided Wharton really wants to marry her. Anyhow, he's so rich It's worth the odds, and she's Just the sort to fall for It, Meanwhile I want It un derstood with your mother that I share In what comes her way." "I'll fix that," promised Jim. no found It, In fact, no very difficult task to regain at least a part of his sister's lost esteem, though tho process took time. He went about It with tho lazy, catllko patience of his kind, be haved himself, "kept his mouth shut, and assumed just enough of an Injured air to bo plausible. Ho enlisted tho aid of his mother and of Lilas Lynn, and meanwhile made himself ns agree able as possible to Robert Wharton. Melcher was as good as his word, and Uioro shortly mmcared In tho Dis patch an unpleasant rehash of the for mer story. It was published in con nection with tho Ilntmnon divorce pro ceedings, news of which was exciting comment, and It further sinlrched Lo relei's reputation. Jim was appropri ately Indignant, but helpless, nnd Mrs. Knight unweiuicdly blamed everything upon her daughter's desertion of tho family circle, predicting more evil to follow unless Lorelei came homo at onco. She also dwelt upon tho fact that Peter was steadily falling and was In Immediate need of both medical and surgical attention. Tho doctor had pronounced sentence, prescribing n to tal change of living and a treatment by foreign specialists. In somo unaccountable way tho story of Nobol Bergman's humiliation' be came public and afforded tho basin for a newspaper artlclo that brought him to Lorelei's dressing room in a flno fury. Even nfter she had convinced him of her innocence his resentment was bo bitter that sho expected her dls missal nt nny time. Other press stories followed; tho girl suddenly found herself notorious; scarcely a day passed without somo disagreeable mention of her. Adoreo Domorest, as Indignant as Lorelei her self, declared finally that her friend must bo the object of n premeditated attack directed by somo strong baud, and once this suspicion had entered Lorelei's inlnd It took root in spite of its seeming extravagance ncr good sense argued that she was of too llttlo consequenco to warrant such an ns snult, but hor relatives seized tho sug gcstlon so avidly as to more than half convince her. Mrs. Knight attributed this injustice first to Bergman, then to Morkle, whom sho hated bitterly slnco her unCortu nnto attempt nt blackmail; Jim wns inclined to ngreo with her. Mrs Knight, ns always, ended her sympa thetlc rcassurauces by saying, "If you wore only mnrried, my dear, that would end all our "troubles." Tho cllmnx of these annoyances camo one night after u party nt which Lorelei had been presented to an old friend of Miss Lynn's. Lilas had In troduced tho man as one of her girl hood chums, and Lorelei had tried to bo nice to him; then In somo way- ho arranged to take her home. Tho mom ory of that rldo was n horror. Sho knew now that sho was hunted; tho man had told her so. Sho felt like a door cowering in n brake with tho hounds working close. This first at tack left hor trembling nnd wary, ncr cover seemed pitifully insecure. Thus far Max Melcher's campaign had worked even better than ho had expected; and mcauwhllo ho had cm ployed Jim In assiduously cultivating Bob Wharton and arranging as many meetings as possible between Bob nnd Lorelei. A short experience hnd taught Jim to avoid his victim In daylight, for In. Bob's Bobor hours tho two did not agree; but onee mellowed by Intoxlca tlou, Wharton became Imbued with a carnival splrl. and welcomed Jim ns freely as ho welcomed everyone. In cldeutnlly tho latter managed to reap n considerable harvest from tho asso clatloui for Bob was n habitual gum bier, nnd tho courteous treatment ho received nt Melcher's place seemed to reconcile him to tho loss of his money When, on the morning after her dls tresslng adventure, Lorelei sent for her brother and demanded vengeance upon her assailant hu decided that It was tlmo to test the Issue. Ho pretended of course, to ho ferociously enraced but on lenrifoig over the telephone that tho wretch hnd left tho city ho declared that thero was nothing to bo done ex cept perhaps exact an explanation from Lilas. Miss Lynn, however, could offer no excuse. She was heartbroken nt the occurrence, but sho was too full of her own troubles to glvo way to her sym pathy for others. Jarvla Ilammon, seemed, had heard about tho party, and was furious with her. "You must oxpect to meet such muckers In this business," she re marked philosophically. Jim ngeced. "I guess you'll hnvo to forget It, sis. Just don't think nhout it. I'll bring Whnrton around tonight, and wo four will hnvo supper, eh?" Lilas' hesitation In accepting this In- Itatlon scorned genuine, but she acqui esced flnnllj, saying with n short laugh: "All right. Mnyho n llttlo Jeal ousy won't hurt my lord and master. He's getting too bossy, anyhow." When the four net out that night Wharton was in exceptional spirits, nd, as usual, devoted himself to Lore lei. For him life was n Joyous ad venture; ho took things us they came, nnd now that he knew tho girl for what sho was ho did not allow him self the slightest liberty. Ho was a fervent suitor, to bo Burc, yet ho court ed her with Jests nnd conccnled his nr- dor behind n playful raillery. Jim had ordered supper at n populnr Wnshlngton Heights Inn, nnd thither tho quartet were driven in an open car which ho hired In tho square beforo tho theater. It was a charming placo for n sup per, contrary to her custom, Lllns Lynn allowed herself free rein, nnd for nee drnnk more than wus good for her, rejoicing openly In tho liberty she had snatched. It Is n peculiar liberty to sit soberly through n mcnl and sco one's compan ions become Intoxicated. Lorelol watched Lilas nnd Bob respond to the effect of tho wine. The wholo pro cedure struck her, llko her present life ns n whole, as both Innne and wicked, nnd she longed desperately to lay hold of something really decent, true and permanent. Jimmy Knight's admirable hospital ity continued; ho devoted his entire nt- tentlon to his guests, ho made conver sation, and ho led it Into the channels ho desired it to follow. Then, when the psychological moment had come, he "She's Stalling, Bob. Make Her An- swer." acted with the skill of n Tnlleyrand. No one but ho. know precisely how Bob's proposal was couched, whenco it originated, or by what subtlety the victim had been Induced to make It. As n matter of fact, It was no pro posal, nnd not oven Bob himself sus pected how his words had been twist ed. He wns Just dimly nwaro of somo turn In tho conversation, when ho heard Jim exclaim: "By Jove, sis, Bob asks you to mar ry hlml" In prize-ring parlance, Jimmy had "feinted" his opponent into n lend, then taken prompt advantage to "counter." Lorelei awoke to her surroundings with a start, sensing the sudden grav ity that had fallen upon her three com panions. "What?" Lilas nodded and smiled at tho be wildered lover. "That's tho way to put It over, Bob before witnesses." "Don't Joke about such things," cried Lorelei sharply. "Joke? Who's Joking?" Jim was in dignant and glanced nppeallngly at Bob. "You meant It. didn't you?" "Sure. No Joking matter." Bob declared vaguely. "I was Just say Ing that this Is no llfo for a fellow to lend batting 'round tho way I do; then Jim snld I mean I said I need cd n wire, a beautiful wife. I never saw n girl beautiful enough to suit mo boforc, and ho said " Jim's relief camo as nn explosion. "There I That's English. You spoke n moutnrui Unit time, Bob. for sue certainly Is a beauty bright. But I didn't think you had the nerve to ask hor. If sho says yes, you'll bo tho luck iest man In New York the wholo town's crazy about her." "Wo'll make her say yes," Lllus add ed, with drunken decision. "Come, dear, say It." Sho bent n flushed face toward Lorelei and laid a loose hand upon her arm. "Well? What's your answer?" Bob fixed heavy eyes upon his heart's deslro and echoed: "Yes, what do you say?" Moro than onco in his sober moments ho had pondered such a query, and now that It appeared to hnvo taken shnpo without conscious ef fort, ho was not displeased with him self. "I say, you don't know what you'ro doing," Lorelei responded, curtly. Now, Bob, like all men In his con dition, was quite certain that he was In perfect possession of his faculties, and therefore ho very naturally re sented such an absurd assertion. "Don't you b'llevo It," ho protested. "I know what I'm doing, all right, nil right." "A man never speaks his mind un til he's ginned," Lilas giggled. "llighto! I'm not half drunk yet." Jim urged the suitor on with a nerv ous laugh, nt the samo tlmo avoiding his sister's eyc3. "She's stnlllng, Bob. Make her nnswer." "Yes or no?" forcefully Insisted tho wooer, determined, now, to show his complete sobriety. "No." Jim seized Whnrton's hnnd nnd shook It lustily. "Congratulations, old man; that means yes. I'm her brother, nnd I know. Why, Bho told father that you were her Ideal, and pa said he'll die happy if you two wore married. Ho meant It, too; he's a mighty sick mnn." Lorelei stirred uncomfortably, and the faint color in her cheeks faded , slowly. "We'll talk about it somo other time tomorrow. Plenso don't tease tho poor mnn any more. He didn't know what he wns saying, anil now, for heaven's sake, talk about something else." Jim lenped to his feet with n grin nnd n chuckle, then drew Lllns from her chair, saying: "Tho lovers nro em barrassed, nnd thcy'ro dying to bo nlone. Let's leave 'em to talk it over." "She's a dear, Bob, nnd I wish you both joy. But don't kiss her here," said Lllns, wnrnlngly; then, with n wnvo of her hnnd, she turned toward tho dnnclng room with Jim. "Call us when you've fixed tho date," laughed tho latter, over his shoulder. When ho nnd Lilas had danced tho encore and returned to the tablo Bob roso unsteadily, glass in hand, and nodded at them. "Thanks, noble comrades," ho pro claimed; "she's mlnol" "Hurrah 1" Lilas kissed Lorelei ef fusively. Jim seized Bob's hand, cry ing: "Brother!" ne waved to n waiter and ordered n magnum of champagne. "Bring mo n wreath of orange blos soms and a wedding cake, too." nis Jubilation attracted the attention of tho other diners; tho occupants of n nenrby table began to applaud, where upon Bob beamed with delight. Lorelei was very white now. Sho had decided swiftly, recklessly, reason ing that this proffored marriage was merely a bnrgaln by which she got moro than sho gave. Sho had accepted without allowing her bettor self nn opportunity to marshal Its protests, nnd, having closed her eyes nnd leaped Into tho dark, It now seemed easier to meet now consequences than to heed those higher feelings that were tardily struggling for expression. She did pity Wharton, however, for It seemed to her that ho was tho Injured party. But sho was in a wnnton mood tonight, and of Into n volco had been despe rately urging her to grasp at what sho could, that sho might, as long as pos sible, delay her descent into worse con ditions. Sho heard Lilas Inquiring: "When docs tho marriage come off? Right nway?" Bob, who appeared somewhat dazed by the suddenness and the complete ness of his good fortune, smiled va cantly. "Any time suits me," ho said. "I'm a happy man llttlo Joys are ca pering nil over tho place, and old Doc tor Gloom has packed his grip." Jim startled them nil by saying, crisply: "Let's mako It tonight. I know Bob ho's not tho sort to wait." "Finel Novcr thought of that. But I say whore do they keep theso wed dings?" ho inquired. "Everything's closed now, and there's nobody danc ing at tho city hall, is thero?" Ho np ponied helplessly to Jim. Jim roso to the occasion with tho snmc promptitude ho hnd displayed throughout. "Marriages aren't mndo In heaven nny more that's old stuff. Thcy'ro made In Hobokcn, while tho cab waits. Get your things on, every body, while I telephone." Ho nllowcd no loitering; ho waved tho girls away, sent the waiter scurrying with his bill, helped Robert secure hat and stick, and then dived Into a telephone booth as a woodchuck enters Its hole. When ho had disposed his three charges In side a taxicab ho disappeared briefly, to return with n bnskot of chnmpagno upon his nrm. It Is n wise general who provides himself in advance with ammunition. Tho smooth celerity with which this wholo ndventure rnn Its cours,o argued n thorough preparation on James part, but Lorelei was In no condition to nn- nlyze. Even at the Journey's end there wns n suspicious lack of delay. Tho vehlclo stopped In a narrow business street, now dark and dismal; Its occu pants wero hurried up n stairway and Into a room filled with law-books, where n sleepy Justice St the pence was nodding In n cloud of cigar smoke Thero followed n noisy shuffling of chairs, somo mumbled questions and answers, tho crackle of papers, n denl or unintelligible rigmarole, then a man's heavy seal-ring was slipped upon Lorelei's finger, and sho know hersil? to ' bo Mrs. Robert Wharton. It was nil confused, unimpressive, un real. Sho wns never nblo fully to re call the picture of that room or tho events that occurred there. They formed but n pnrt of tho knleldoscoplc Jumble of tho night's occurrences. Tho wedding party was In tho cab oik" more, and It was under way. It was all so llko n nightmare that Lore lei began to doubt her own sanity, Once at rest In tho dim-lit tunnol of tho ferry boat, however, sho was brought sharply to herself by hearing her brother exclaim: "Say! ne hasn't kissed her yet." Lilas shrieked, and Bob stiffened himself, then slipped an arm around his bride. As she shrunk away ho mumbled nngrlly: "nerel I won't stnnd for that," and crushed her to him. "You aro beautiful beautiful. And you'ro mlno. She's mine, eh? No foolishness nbout thnt, is there?" ha nppcnlcd to Jim. As they drew In toward the Now York sldo the chauffeur Inquired, "Whero to, now?" "Why, drive us" Jim hesltntod. Thero wns n silence which Lllns broke with n titter. "Never thought of that" Bob turned again to Jim, who solved tho difficulty with n word. "Why, you're both going to Lorelei's place, of course; then you enn mnke your plnns tomorrow." The bride's half-strangled protest was lost In a burst of enthusiasm from Lllns. "Surest tiling you know," sho cried: "nnd we'll stop in my flnt for n fare well bottle; I've got n whole ense. We'll end the night with another party at Jarvls' expense. Ho's crazy about marriages, anyhow. Hal But you needn't tell him I was full, under stand?" Sho fell silent suddenly, then burst into n loud laugh. "Bah! I should worry!" Tho ferry drow Into its slip, tho cnb motor shivered, tho metallic rattle of frindlass and chain proclaimed tho ro urn to Manhattan. Up the deserted avenues the vehlclo sped, while lnsldo the white-faced brldo cowered with fin gers locked and heart sick with dread. CHAPTER XIV. Hltchy Koo had gone home. When Lilas ushered her friends in and snnppcd on the lights, the apartment. save for the delirious spaniel, was un occupied. Sho flung down her hat, coat and gloves, then, with the help of Jim, prepared glasses and n cooler. Lorelei was restless; tho thought of more wine, more ribaldry, revolted her, nnd yet she was grateful for this delay, brief though it promised to be. Any interruption, trivial or tragic, would bo welcome. She was forced to pledge her own happiness in a glass, then In n wild moment of desperation longed to denden herself with liquor ns tho others had done. Jim and Lilas were talking loudly when n key grated in the lock, tho door of tho llttlo npartment opened, and Jarvls nammon paused on tha threshold, glowering. Lllns' wineglass shattered upon th floor. "Jarvls! You frightened me," she cried. "Evening, Mr. Hnmmon." Bob lurched to his feet, upsetting his chnir, "This is n s'prise." Jim hnd risen likewise, but Hnm mon had eyes for no one except Lilas. "Ah! You're homo again, finally. Whero havo you been?" ho demanded, In a voice heavy with anger. His hostile tone, his threatening attitude brought nn uncomfortable silence upon the hearers. "Now, Jarvls," said the bridegroom. plncntlngly, steadying himself mean while with the aid of the table, "don't be a grouch. Everything's nil right." Lilas remained motionless, staring defiantly. Her fnco hnd slowly whit ened, nnd now Its unpleasantness matched that of her elderly ndmlrer. Hnmmon dropped his smoldering gazo to tho half-empty glasses, then raised It, scowling at Jim. "Humph! Who Is this?" Lilas made her guest known. "Mr. Knight, Mr. Ilammon. I believe you know Miss Knight." "So you're the one." Hnmmon showed his teeth in a sardonic smile. "I'm tho one what?" inquired Jim, with a sickly attempt at pleasantry. "What does she see in you?" Ham mon measured the young man with contemptuous curiosity. "Don't be nu nss, Jnrvls," began Lilas. "I" Sho wns Interrupted roughly. "That's precisely whnt I don't intend to be; and I don't Intend thnt Bob sbnll bo one, either." He turned to young Whnr ton. "Whnt are you doing here, my boy? I'm sorry to see you with theso grafters." Hnmmon indlcntcd Jim nnd Lorelei with a nod. "Eh? What's that?" Bob stiffened. "Lorelei's my wife. 'S true, Jarvls." "Wife?" nammon took a heavy step forward. "Wife? You'ro drunk, Bob!" "P'r'aps. But we're mar " "So! You landed him, did you?" Hnmmon glared nt the brother and sister. "You got him drunk and mar ried him, eh? And Lilas helped you, I suppose. Flno! They're crooks, Bob, and they've made a fool of you." Bob checked tho speech on Lorelei's Hps with nn upraised hand, then said slowly, with a painful effort to sober himself: "Wo've been good friends, Jnrvls; you'ro a kind of an unci to me, but you'ro a liar. You've lied 'bout my wife, so I s'poso I've got to lick you." With a backward kick ho sent his overturned chair flying, then made for nammon. But Jim seized him by the arm; Lorelei sprang In front of him. "Mr. Whar Bob," she cried. "You mustn't for my sake." Tho three scuffled for an Instant until Ilammon said, more quietly: "I couldn't fight with you, Bob you're llko my own son. But you've been sold out, and and It looks as if I'd been sold out, too. Now go home nnd sleep. I didn't come here to quar rel with you; I have n matter of my own to settle." no laid n hand on Bob's shoulder In nn effort to pacify him, but the young man's Indignation flared into llfo with drunken persist ence. It was Lorelei who at last pre vailed upon her husband to leave peaceably, and Bho was about to ac company him when Lilas Lynn checked her. Do you feel that a more fright ful experience still Is Impending for Lorelei? And does she, in your opinion, feel It too 7 ITO BE COXVXNUED.)