M
"I went to Bob Header’s
nouse with a portfolio of docu
ments from the Manvel firm
to go over the whole situation
with him, and to explain why
such drastic steps had to be
taken. He wasn’t there, but
Essie, who must have guessed
that something was wrong,
had me sent up to her sitting
room, just off Bob’s dressing
room. Naturally I assumed
he was still downtown, but
Essie took my breath by say
ing he had gone that after
noon to Washington. That
ought to have warned me, but
It didn’t. I thought he was
turning tail, for there wasn’t
a thing he could do to help
himself In Washington.”
His voice went lower; his
cane tapped faster.
‘‘Df n’t forget that Bob was
jealous as a Turk, and do
trust me when I say that I
never had any exceptional
personal interest in Essie Hel
der; but as things turned out
I’d run straigh into a trap.
Whether is was intentionally
set or not, or whether it was
meant for me, I don’t know,
but it nipped me fast enough.”
He looked appealingly at
Barbara.
"Essie had guessed that
trouble was on the wind, but
she had no idea how bad it
was until she pumped the last
ruinous detail out of me, then
she went absolutely to pieces.
I was sorry for her, dreadfully
sorry. Who wouldn’t have
been? In that moment all her
brilliant schemes crumbled.
In a second she was thrown all
•the way down the heights she
bad so stubbornly climbed. I
tried to soothe her. She put
her arms around me. She was
In my arms, shivering, crying,
when Bob flung open the
door.”
Steve brushed his hand
acress his eyes.
"It isn’t pleasant to go over
that. I don’t know whom he
expected to find, but of course
he’s got his suspicions up that
eomcone was seeing her secret
ly when he was away. That’s
Why he’d told his lie about go
ing to Washington, so that he
might burst in, and find out
who was with her, and what
was going on; and there she
was, wearing a dressing gown.
In my arms, and he was out
of hi3 head from worry and
jealousy. God! It was rotten
luck for all three of us, by
being there.”
"Bad luck!” Barbara whis
pered. "What did he do?”
"Whipped out his revolver.
Fortunately Essie and I were
close, and we got it away from
him after a nasty fight, and
It dropped on the floor, and
she kicked it aside. Unques
tionably she picked it up later,
and used it, probably, when he
threatened her. for the ser
rants testified that they
quarreled shockingly after I
left, and the servants were the
only other people in the house,
and they checked up on each
other’s whereabouts perfectly.”
*’B u t,” Bar bara said,
“mightn’t he have shot him
self? Men do, you know, after
they’ve been wiped out.”
Steve shook his head.
“Impossible. It was proved
mathematically at the tr?il,
and I saw—I was afraid to
leave her with what amounted
to a crazy man. I turned to
pick up the revolver, and saw
her standing over it. and In
that flash, while I was off
guard, he sprang on me. and
as I chashed down my ankle
got caught beneath a heavy
table support, and it seemed
to go to pieces. Even he could
•ec that I was rather badly
hurt, and helped me up. ‘Come
on,’ he said. ‘I’ll get you out
of here, and I never want to
sec you again.’ I begged him
not to be a suspicious fool, and
told him that I’d very well
see him in the morning to go
over his business, and went
out of the house. Barbara, the
very last thing I saw when I
left was Essie, half bent over
the gun. She must have picked
it up. It’s logic she had it hid
den about her when he came
back and pitched into her.”
‘‘It’s logic,” Barbara said.
“Did he go straight back?”
“I was suffering some pain
from my ankle, and he and
the servant came to the side
walk with me. A policeman
happened along, and wanted
to know what was the matter.
I said I’d sprained my ankle
on the steps, and Helder had
the decency to let it go at that.
The policeman stayed with
us until a cab came, then Hel
der and his man went back
to the house, and I was driven
home, and got my doctor, and
was laid up for a long time.
That's why I limp, Barbara.”
He lifted his cane.
“That’s why I’ve been re
minded nearly every minute
of the rotten luck that took
me there that night. You can’t
blame Essie for turning on me,
for if I’d stayed away it
probably never would have
happened.”
Barbara took his hand.
“I do blame her. You were
seen leaving the house with
him before he was shot, and
you weren’t alone a minute
after that. She shouldn’t say
such things; but, Steve, I
would like to believe my
mother didn’t kill my father.”
She thought for a moment.
She sighed.
“At any rate I've got to see
her.”
Steve drew back.
“Do you really think it wise
after the way she behaved to
night? And, Barbara, does she
deserve it? She hasn’t gone
out of her way to keep in touch
with you. Apparently you’ve
never heard from her.”
“Never, but she might have
kept In touch with me secretly
through Aunt Barbara; and,
Steve, it might have been her
idea of a service not to let me
hear from her.”
He drew down the corners
of his mouth.
“After the way she burst on
the town to-night! Decidedly
there was no thought of a ser
vice to you or anyone else in
that performance.”
“Just the same," she said,
“I’m going to see her alone.
Will you find out where she
lives and when I may go?”
He stood up and grasped her
shoulders.
“I suppose you’re right, but
I dare say what she’s suffered
has made her pretty harsh. I
wouldn’t look for much senti
ment. I warn you it mayn’t be
a pleasant reunion, but I’ll
try to arrange it and let you
know to-morrow.”
He limped toward the door.
“Try not to worry too much
over the newspapers.”
“You think they’ll be pretty
bad?”
He smiled.
“You saw the reporters. What
she’s offered Is most tooth
some food and drink for
, them.”
He went to the door and
turned slowly there.
“Have you realized that your
pretty face is destined to adorn
the screaming type?”
“I suppose so. How will Mrs.
Twining like that?”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“Who knows? The point is.
when should wc spring this
element you’ve brought In the
l case? I’n sieep on it.”
His voice softened.
“Don’t you lose sleep over
Gray. If he’s not a snobbish
streak, all the better for you.”
She tried to defend Gray.
“Inheritance can be a nasty
thing, Steve. Think what mine
is. I can’t blame Gray, Mrs.
Twining, or a lot of other
people if they’re a little shy
of Essie Helder’s daughter.
Can you honestly tell me it
makes no difference to you
that my mother's been in
prison all these years for kill
ing my father, and is flaunt
ing the whole business in the
most disagreeable way now
that she’s out?”
She fancied he hesitated a
moment before waving his
hand.
“None whatever as long as
you are you.”
She wished that Gray might
have said that instead of run
ning away. Wearily, reflective
ly, limping rather more than
usual, Steve went on to the
elevator.
Mr. Manvel was a light
sleeper, and Gray’s precipitous
ascent of the staris aroused
him. He knew where his son
had gone that night, and after
some mental conflict he
yielded to his depressing
curiosity, got up, put on a
dressing gown, and went to
Gray’s room. In response to
his knock Gray’s voice snapped
angrily:
“Who’s that? Come in.”
Mr Manvel opened the door
and gazed with amazement on
his son hastily throwing cloth
ing in a bag.
“What’s up? Where are you
going at this time of the
morning?”
Gray sullenly resumed his
packing.
“Maybe it’s just as well
you’ve come. I’m going to Elm
ford, and I don’t want a soul
to know where I am for a few
days, except you and Mother,
of course.”
Mr. Manvel sat down.
“Something went wrong to
night. Have you quarreled
with Esther?”
“Not to-night.”
Mr. Manvel stirred restless
ly
“Gray. Was it a fairly sordid
show?”
Gray laughed shortly,
“So foul it’s a blessing you
didn’t go see for yourself. The
papers will reek with it.”
Mr .Manvel joined his fin
gers and regarded them.
“Is that why you’re retiring
into seclusion?”
“Not altogether.”
Mr. Manvel peered.
“Are you going to let it make
any difference betv/een you
and Esther? While it’s an
odorous resurrection, she’s not
to blame for it.”
Again Gray laughed.
“Esther revels in sensation.
I think she quite enjoyed the
slime. She didn’t seem to
realize that, whether she’s to
blame or not, it’s going to get
the whole Helder tribe talked
about.”
Mr. Manvel cleared his
throat.
‘ Too oaa, too oaa.
Gray straightened.
“See here. Father. I'm go- j
ing to Eimford because I’ve
been put in a rotten position.
I've made an utter ass of my
self. or I’ve been made to look
one, which cames to the same
thing. I want to get away
from Esther, I want to get
away from everybody until i
I’ve thought it out and decided
how much difference to
night’s riot ought to make.”
Mr. Manvel rose, placed his
hand an Gray’s shoulder, and
spoke earnestly.
“May I hope that whatever
you decide will not be lacking
in. shall we say chivalry?”
Gray jerked himself free and
answered impatiently.
‘ You don’t understand. I
tell you you don't understand.
11 's a waste of breath talking
about it until I’ve worked it
out if I ever can. It’s my own
funeral. It's nobody elsc's
business.”
He snatched up his bag.
‘Good-bye.”
Mr. Manvel peered after him
as he hurried down the hall.
Troubled, wide-awake, he re
turned to his room. He didn’t
like the thought of Gray’s re
ceding from Esther because a
scandal about her family, no
matter how ugly, had come
distressingly to life. Customs
change. There didn’t appear
to be a great deal of chivalry
left in the world. Perhaps
Gray was too selfish to pos
sess any at all. Mr. Manvel
sighed. If that was so it was
his fault and Caroline’s.
Barbara shrank from the
morning papers. They were
worse than Steve had warned
her they would be, and she
closed her eyes as she thought
of Gray’s reading the sensa
tional headlines, and realiz
ing her as yet unpublished
connection with them. The
tabloids had made the most
of their chances, but the rest
were bad enough. “Convicted
Murderess Becomes Braod
way Hostess.” “Famous Crime
Raked up by Release of So
ciety Slayer.” “Husband Killer
Exchanges Cell for Spotlights. ’
“Society Stirred by Reappear
ance of Helder Husband Slay
er.”
Murder in every one of
them! “I’m sorry she wakened
—I suppose we’ll have to get
the police.” Barbara, as she
reopened her eyes and read,
was sorrier than her mother
ever could have been that she
had wakened. Uncle Walter
was right. What you didn’t
know couldn’t hurt you. The
scanning of the stories be
neath the avid headlines hurt
abominably: minute accounts
of how Essie Helder had
quietly left the prison where
she had been nearly forgotten
to spring with one dramatic
bound back into the excited
vision of two generations; des
criptions of the new place of
early-morning entertainment
which she had deliberately de
signed to remind the world of
what she had done, and how
she had paid for it; interviews
in which she defiantly de
clared she had been unjustly
sentenced, and, even more an
tagonistically, retailed not
only her personal history, but
a list of the family connections
with the social and financial
importance of each one; end
less rehashings of the murder
of Robert Helder and her trial;
finally a catalogue of the less
commonplace persons who had
attended the opening of the
Bars and Stripes. For the
present Barbara was limited
to that section, but, as Steve
had said, she would soon adorn
the screaming type.
“Miss Barbara Norcross, the
promising young actress whom
Edmund Hackey unearthed to
play in Charles Rulon’s com
pany, was with that well
known leading man for sup
per.”
It brought back another
angle of her situation, and she
wasn’t surprised when Hackey
over the telephone summoned
her to the office.
She understood the moment
she entered that Hackey had
made his fight for her and
lost.
“You needn’t bother to tell
me Rulon’s been here.”
Hackey burst into wild
laughter.
“Been here! That’s putting
it mildly. Look around. Aren’t
the picture frames cracked,
and the furniture collapsed?
If not, I don’t know why not.
I knew Charles was tempera
mental, and I was careless not
to have a straightjacket on
hand. Dollink dear, he needed
one.”
She pulled at her gloves.
“He needed one last night,
Mr. Hackey. He was unforgiv
able.”
She was dully surprised that
Rulon should seem of any im
portance in view of last night's
revelation; yet he was, be
cause she didn’t mean to ac
cept anything from the Hol
ders. and he, she knew, had
radically diminished her
chances of making a living in
the theater. Hackey spread
his hands.
TO DK CONTINUED
Jk WARNING rtOM MISSISSIPPI
Krum Minneapolis Tribune
There Is a warning lor every state
that does not put a curb on its
mounting tax rate In a little ne»*
hero that Itas Just come out of
Mississippi Recently.,* 15 per cent
»( the privately owned property
m being sold for delinquent taxes
Sixteen per cent of the agricultural
mereate of the slant. or J*.6»8 farm*,
and 13 per cent of the ctif pia
partjr a as forfeited for non-pay*
m«-ut of last year s taxes.
In very melton of Uie country
hit delinquencies havi been in*
aieasin* over a ociiod r*
Ktarthur first In the rural section! ,
these defalcations have spread to
rtUcs and villages, and with the
tax burden continuing to take
larger portions of diminishing in*
comes the problem of delinquencies
will be one of increasing serious- J
j ness.
With 39 per cent of American
Income going to pay taxes in some
form or another it Is not difficult
to see how a fixed charge no large
as that will ultimately break down
Individual ownership under pres
ent conditions. Whs: Is more *e«
; rious than anything else is tire fact
; tha' It la Mu large class of small
property owner* end taxpayers woo
ara being hit the hardest and who
aie the first to be forced under by ,
conditions such as obtain In prac- i
tlcally every cuy and county In the
nation t.day. I’nlr * government*
take steps to protect there property
owner there ii no one who will be
wtlllny to answer for the result.
The lesaon which the sheriffs of
M'sstsslppl are nradlug to the na
tion Is one which no state can i
escape and which they will ignore ;
to tiseir own aot>ow. leal tax ie
duriion Is the. only way in which
an community can escape having
Uw asms lesson personally admin
lstcrcd. The sheriff may be * great
■Itea but a
foolish community mat must wait
for him to lhow ft the way to S'*
—~
Painful Dentistry.
From Ulk. Berlin.
Dentist: You were a long Has*
pulling that man's tooth.
A.' ustont: Yes, he married tin
glil I love.
— ■.■—I.,. -«♦
Silas K HoeUtng, veteran novelist
of England, boarts tlut he has used
the ssnu* p.-n point fur 43 years,
and has written million of words
with ft.
POINTS OUT MERIT
OF BASIC ENGLISH
Harold Wentworth of the Cornell
faculty is advocating tlie establish
ment of n universal language based
o» English. It consists of about 850
words, and be says that a foreigner
can learn it in « week or so. Into
this brief vocabulary, he claims abil
ity to condense the works of Shake
speare. Because basic English is so
easily learned. Mr. Wentworth be
lieves it would serve as tlie ideal in
ternational language, being prefer
able to Ido and Esperanto and other
vocal didos.
There Is renson to believe that
basic English could serve the pur
pose of international communication,
even as its sponsor argues. In fact,
there already exists such a language
only we call it pidgin English. It is
prevalent up and down tlie China
coast, and it contains perhaps not
half of 850 words.
Tidgin English reduces formal
English to a few basie verbs and
nouns and adjectives. Verbs denot
ing transportation are all abandoned
for the one word “cateli” which also
servea in place of possessive3 and
all words denoting possession. Pid
gin English crowds three dimensions
into one—tilings have only "sides."
This obviates prepositions. One
need not go “up” when one may go
“top side.” Words of comprehen
sion are limited to one—“sabby,” an
obvious derivative of the Spanish
“sabe."
There may lie few rules to pidgin
English, and little euphony, hut it
serves. After all, why bother to say,
“Mrs. Barnstorm, if you will go up
stairs you will understand why the
rain is coming into the parlor,” when
tlie same may lie expressed by say
ing, “Missy catch top side, sabby
wet”?—Worcester (Mass.) Telegram.
How One Woman Lost
20 Pounds of Fat
Lost Her Prominent Hips—
Double Chin—Sluggishness
■ ■ -
Gained Physical Vigor—
A Shapely Figure
If you're fat—first remove the
cause! 1
Take one half teaspoonful of
Kruschen Salts In a glass of hot
water in the morning—in 3 weeks
get on the scales and note how
many pounds of fat have vanished.
Notice also that you have gained
in energy—your skin is clearer—
you feel younger in body—Krus
chen will give any fat person a joy
ous surprise.
But he sure it’s Kruschen—your
health comes first—and SAFETY
first is the Kruschen promise.
(let a bottle of Kruschen Salts
from any leading druggist any
where in America (lasts 4 weeks)
and the cost is hut little. If
this first bottle doesn’t convince
you this is the easiest. SAFEST and
surest way to lose fat—your money
gladly returned.
Pirate Trea»ure Found
Five gold bars, valued at $00,000,
were found by the Nassau (Baha
mas) police when they took Gerald
Fitzgerald, a poor fisherman, to a
spot along the south shore of New
Providence island, where lie had dis
covered the treasure last October.
Fitzgerald hail found the gold cached
bcnealli a wild plum tree in rocks
bearing a sign of Freemasonry. The
gold is probably ancient pirate treas
ure. Fitzgerald will receive a third
of the treasure and the remainder
will go to the British government.
Radio Guides bailors
New radio beacous for the guid
ance of those who go down to the
sea in ships are being installed by
the lighthouse service to complete its
radio system along the coastal wa
ters. Latest to go into service was
that on Scotland lightship, in the Old
South channel, still used by many
coastwise craft for entering and
leaving New York harbor.
Mercolized Wax
Keeps Skin Young
Get an ounce and use as djfrcted. Fine pa’-tides of a«frJ
• kin peel off until all detects such aa pimples, liver
Oots. inn and freckles disappear. 6kin is then soft
and velvety. Your face looks years younger. Meroqllwed
Wax brines out the hidden beauty of your akin. Tt
remove wrinkles 1W« one ounce Powdered baaoiit*
dissolved in one-half pint witch hasel. At drug stores
Fair Enough
Mike—Look here, you're cheating
Pat—I am not. I had that ace long
before the game began.
BABY
FRETFUL,
RESTLESS?
Look to this cause
When your baby fusses, tosses ant
seems unable to sleep restfully, loot
for one common cause, doctors say
Constipation. To get rid quickly ot
the accumulated wastes which caus<
restlessness and discomfort, give «
cleansing dose of Castoria. Castoria
you know, is made specially foi
children’s delicate needs. It Is a pun
vegetable preparation; contains *t
harsh drugs, no narcotics. It is st
mild and gentle you can give it to i
young infant to relieve colic. Yet it ii
as effective for older children. Cas
toria’s regulative help will bring ra
laved comfort and restful sleep tt
your baby. Keep a bottle on hand
Genuine Castoria always has th»
name:
CASTORIA
i i
There is still hope for a man wIk
can’t give a reason for not going t<
church.
ffOMSTlPATEDl
'a Take N? J» AT WlE’S REMEDY
m —tonight. Your eliminative i
B^A organs will be functicviingprop- »
erly by morning and your con- «*
^ Btipation will end with a bow%i f
J action as free and easy as na- t
a ture at her best—positively no
J pain, no griping. Try it.
I Mild, la/r, purely Vegetable—
at druggists—only 25c
FEEL LIKE A MILLION. TAKE
ISSS2K,,
Few enjoy conversation with tin
great, for the great monopolize it.
■ Peterman’s Ant Food is ture death p
B toanta. Sprinkle it about the floor, B
■ windowsills, shelves, etc. Effective 2* 1
I hours a day. Inerpenslve. Safe. Guar- I
B anteed. More than 1,040,000 cans fl
B sold last year. At your druggist’s. ■
Sioux City Ptg. Co., No. 20-1932.
■-:---1
In America “By Jove’’ is as uo
known ns “By George!’’
When you lose your appetite—not only j
for food ... but for wort ami play—don't J
merely go on wo..-; .ng. Do something
about it I V
One of the most famous tonics for weak- '
ness, "nerves," and "run down condition,’* *
Is Fellows’ Syrup. It stimulates appetite.
Lifts theentire bodily tone to higher levels
ot vigor and energy. The first few doses
will prove that “Fellows** is the medicine
for "building up.” That is why so many
doctors prescribe it. Ask your druggist for
grrtu.sr
Just tS* Thing
“How alinll w* l»;uil these lnme
dtuk r«■porl^?,,
“In limp lent her."
FELLOWS SYRUP
Modern Cook
"How's the new cook?'*
“She's » fair chemist, but a p<m
electrician."
i'ulicHra I*i*e|»»i*aiions
Siiorio be kept in every
household for the daily uan
of all the family; the Snap
to protect the akin aa well a*
cleanse it, the (Matmoat
to relieve and heal chafing*,
UF1T Illf1 rathe*, irritation! and cut*.
IfLAL1 nil ‘‘JinBe. 04ntm*nt Xr nt Be,
ntlimi irimr »*rl»**DruiUluauMi
IlirJ I \irri I C«'a<Wii4«,llMa
U lit 1 IVLLll 1 ToCttlivrt ftk««la*Cma.
| " ' "■■■' " 1 ‘ 1 ... " ' " ■
