©^AUCTION BLOCK
A AOVEL or 2HEW YORK LITE I-~^7f
^fREX BEACrt t T
ILLUSTRATION 4^ F PARKER.
■ > «',Y8IS.
-3—
Peter Knlglo cefeate(l%or political of
llce In his to->q decides to venture New
York in ».r-l#r that the family fortunes
might bep'/lt by the expected rise of his
charrmr-*'. daughter, Lorelei. A well
ksown -rtnc Interviews Lorelei Knight,
now jtm+ze beauty with Bergman’s Revue,
fo: » special article. Her coin-hunting
rrtotlier outlines Lorelei's ambitions, but
Slosson. the press agent. later adds his
Information. LCrelei attends Millionaire
Hammons gorgeous entertainment. She
1'ieets Merkle. «, wealthy dyspeptic. Bob
A’harton comes Ucinviteil.
r.:
J Adoree Demorest is a queer *
woman. Nobody really knows \
* anything about her life. She is J
t advertised at vicious merely be- #
J cause such advertisement at- *
* tracts attention to her and $
\ money to the theater owner. Her *
* place in this story makes the t
t story much better than it would J
* be otherwise. Pay heed to Ado- •
t ree’s doings, J
J.a.J
CHAPTER IV—Continued.
“Why don't you ask Miss Demorest?
She came with you.”
Wharton sighed hopelessly. “Some
thing queer about that Jane. D’you
kuow what made us late? She went
to mass on the way down.”
“Mass? At what hour?”
“It was a special midnight service
conducted for actors. I sat in the taxi
and waited. It did me a lot of good.”
Some time later Merkle returned to
find Rotf still animatedly talking:
catching Lorelei's eye. he signified a
desire to speak with her. but she
found it difficult to escape from the
intoxicated young man at her side. At
last, however, she succeeded, and
Joined her supper companion at the
farther edge of the fountain, where the
tireless enpids still poured water from
the cornucopias.
Merkle was watching his friend's
•on with a frown.
“You have just left the personifica
tion of everything I detest,” he volun
teered. “You heard what his father
•aid about raising him—how he taught
Bob to drink when he drank and follow
In his footsteps. But that isn’t what
I want to say to you. Help me feed
these foolish goldfish while I talk.”
"Do you think anybody would under
stand if they overheard you? I fan
cied you and I were the only sober
ones left.”
“Some of the girls are all right.”
Merkle eyed hts companion closely.
“Don’t you drink?*’
“I have nothing but fny looks.
Wouldn’t I be a fo©l to sacrifice them?”
"You seem <? be sensible. Miss
Knight. Something tells me you’re
very much the right sort. I know
you’re trying to fet ahead, and—I can
help you if you“l help me. I need an
agent, and I'll jJhy a good price to the
fight person.”
"How mysterious!”
“I’ll be plain . That affair yonder”—
Se nodded toward Jarvis Hammon and
Lilas Lynn—“Strikes you as a—well,
as a flirtation. It is something very
different, for ha's in earnest. He thinks
Se is injuring rso one but himself with
this business. fJ*d he is willing to pay
the price; but {tie fact is he is putting
other people itt peril—me among the
rest. Nobody outside of a man’s fam
ily has the right to question his private
life so long as It is private in its con
aequences. Bet when his secret con
duct affects his business affairs, when
\.pe
“Why Don’t Y&v Ask Miss Demorest?"
it endangers vi?t interests In which
others are comvrned. then his associ
ates are entitlic to take a hand. Do
I make myself dear?”
•‘Perfectly. !tht you don’t want me;
you want a de'eetlve.”
".My dear cTvPd, we have them by
•lie score. We hire them by the year,
and they havft told us all they can.
We need inside Information.”
The girl’s answer was made with her
habitual self-posBession.
“I’ve heard tlx-nt such things. I’ve
heard about men prying into each oth
er’s private affairs, pretending to be
friends when they were enemies, and
using scandal foe business ends. Lilas
Lynn is my friend—at least in a way—
and Mr. Hammon is my host, just as
he is yours. Oh, I know; this Isn’t a
conventional party, and Pm not here
as a convention guest—Inside the
i’ttle coin purse he gave me is a hun
dred-dollar bill—-but Just the same, I
don’t care to act as your spy.”
Merkle’s gra*h attention arrested
Lorelei’s burst of indignation.
"W il! you believe me,” he asked,
“when I tell you that Jarvis Hammon
and Hannibal Wharton are the two
best friends I have in the world? This
is more than a business matter, Miss
Knight.”
“I can hardly believe that.”
“It’s true, however: I mean to serve
Hammon. At the same time I must
serve myself and those who trust me.
I fear—in fact. I’m sure—that he is
being used. I’ve learned things about
Miss Lynn that you may not know.
What you have told me tonight adds
to my anxiety, and I must know
more.”
“What, for instance?"
“Her real feeling for him—her inten
tions—her relations with a man named
Meleher—”
"Maxey Meleher?”
"The same. Do you know his busi
ness?”
“No.”
“He is a gambler, a political power;
a crafty, unscrupulous fellow who rep
resents—big people. By helping me
you can serve many innocent persons,
and, most of all, perhaps. Hammon
himself.”
Lorelei was silent for a moment.
“This Is very unusual,” she said at
length. “I don’t know whether to be
lieve you or not.”
“Suppose, then, you let the matter
rest and keep your eyes open. When
you convince yourself who means best
to Jarvis—Miss Lynn and Meleher and
their crowd, or I and mine—make your
decision. Tou may name your own
price.”
“There wouldn't be any price,” she
told him, impatiently. “I’ll wait.”
Merkie bowed. “I can trust your
discretion. Thank yon for listening to
me. and thank you for being agreeable
to an irascible old dyspeptic. Will you
permit me to drive you home when
you're ready?”
“I’m ready now.”
But as Lorelei made her way unob
trusively toward the cloakroom she en
countered Robert Wharton, who barred
her path.
“Fairy Princess, you ran away.” he
declared, accusingly.
“I’m leaving.” She saw that his in
toxication had reached a more ad
vanced stage. His cheeks were flushed:
his eyes were wild and unsteady.
“Good news! The night is young:
we’ll watch it grow up.”
“Thank you, no. I’m going home.”
“A common mistake. Others have
tried and failed.” With extreme grav
ity he focused his gaze upon her, say
ing, “Home is the one place that our
mayor can’t ciosp.”
She extended her hand. “Good night.”
“I don’t understand. Speak Eng
lish.”
"Good night.”
Wharton’s countenance darkened un
pleasantly, and his voice was rough.
“Where’d you learn that line? It's
country stuff. We'll leave when I’m
ready. Now we'll have a trot.”
The music was playing: other
couples were dancing, and he seized
her in his arms, whirling her away. In
and out among the chairs he piloted a
dizzy course, while she yielded reluct
antly. conscious, meanwhile, that Ado
ree Demorest was watching them with
interest.
For an interval Wharton said noth
ing; then, with a change of tone, he
murmured in her ear: “D'you think I’d
let you spoil the whole night? Can't
you see I’m crazy about you?”
Lorelei endeavored to free herself
from his embrace, but he clutched her
the tighter and laughed insolently.
“Nothing like a good 'turkey' to get
acquainted, is there? We're going to
dance till we’re old folks.”
She continued to struggle: they were
out of step and out of time, but he
held her away from himself easily,
bending a hot glance upon her up
turned face. She saw that he was
panting and doubly drunk with her
nearness. “Don’t fight. I’ve got you.”
She was smiling faintly, out of habit,
but mistaking her expression, he drew
her close once more, then buried his
face In her neck and kissed her just at
the turn of her bare shoulder.
Then she tore herself away, and his
triumphant laugh was cut short as she
slapped him resoundingly, her stinging
lingers leaving their imprint on his
cheek.
Her eyes were flaming and her lips
were white with fury, though she con
tinued to smile.
“Here! What d’you mean by that?”
he cried.
She silenced him sharply: “Hush!
Remember you broke in here. I’d like
! to see you In that fountain.”
There was a swish of garments, a
musical laugh, and Adoree Demorest
was between them.
“I'm madly jealous, Senor Roberto,”
she exclaimed. “Come, you must dance
once more with me. We’ll finish this.
What?” She swayed toward him in
sympathy with the music, snapping her
fingers and humming the words of the
song.
“She—walloped me—like a sailor.”
the young man stammered, incoherent
ly. “She—wants to see me in the foun
tain.”
“Then jump in like a gentleman,”
laughed the danseuse. “But dance
with me first” She entwined her arms
about him and forced him into motion.
As she danced away she signaled over
her shoulder to Lorelei, who made
haste to seek the cloakroom.
When she emerged John Merkle was
waiting in the hall. A shout of laugh
ter echoed from thq, banquet hall, and
she started.
“That’s nothing,” Merkle told her.
“Bob Wharton is in the fountain. He
says he’s a goldfish.”
• CHAPTER V.
No matter how chaotic the general
household schedule, Lorelei was always
assured of ten hours’ sleep, a dainty
breakfast upon rising, and a substan
tial meal before theater time. Her
mother saw to it that this program was
religiously adhered to. Irrespective,
also, of her careless disregard of social
appointments, she was never permit
ted to miss one with the hairdresser,
the manicure, the masseuse, or the
dozen and one other beauty specialists
who form as important an adjunct to
the stage woman's career as to that of
the woman of fashion. All this was a
vital part of that plan to which the
mother had devoted herself. No race
horse on the eve of a Derby was
groomed more carefully than this bud
n i " I> . i
“What D'you Mean by That?” He
Cried.
1
ding woman. In preparing her for
1 masculine conquest the entire family
took a hand. Her prospects, her ac
tions, her triumphs, were the main
topic of conversation: all other intee
ests were subordinated to the matri
monial quest upon which she had em
barked. and the three conspirators
lived in n constant state of eager ex
pectation over Lorelei's fortunes.
Mother and daughter were loitering
over a midday breakfast, and Lorelei,
according to custom, was recounting
the incidents of the previous evening.
“It's too bad you quarreled with Mr.
Wharton." Mrs. Knight commented,
when*she heard the full story of Hain
mon’s party. “He’ll dislike you unw."
The girl shrugged daintily. “He was
drunk and fresh. I can't bear a man
in such a condition.”
“You shouldn’t antagonize a man
like him. my dear. He's single, at
least; and naturally lie's impulsive, like
all those yotyig millionaires."
“Bob Is an alcoholic. He's no good,
so Mr. Merkle said."
Jim, who was immersed in the morn
ing paper, spoke from tiis chair near
the window.
“Why don't you co after Merkle him
self. sis? Easy picking, these hank
ers."
Jim also had come home in the still
hours of the night before and was now
resting preparatory to his daily battle
with the world. Just how the struggle
went or where it was waged the others
knew not at all.
His mother shook her head. “Those
old men are all alike. Mr. Huinmnn ;
will never marry Lilas.” '
“Is that so?" James abandoned his
reading. "The older they are. the
softer they get. Take it from me. on
the word of a volunteer firemau. Lilas
will cash in on him quicker than you
think. I know.”
“How do you know?” Inquired his
sister.
“Maybe I got the dogeared dope.”
mocked the brother. “Maybe Max Mel
cher told me. Anyhow, you could land
Merkle just as easy if you'd declare
Max in.”
“Now. .lim," protested Mrs. Knight
I “I won’t let you put such ideas into
| her head. You and—that gang of
[ yours—are full of tricks, but Lorelei’s
decent, and she's going to stay decent
You’d get everybody in jail or In the
’ newspapers.”
“Has Maxey ever been In jail? Has
, Touy the Barber? No. you bet they
■ haven’t, and they never will be. This
jail talk is funny. Just wait and see
how easy Lilas gets hers. Of course,
if Lorelei could marry Wharton, that
would be different, but he’s no sucker.”
I “How is Lilas going to get hers?”
insisted Lorelei.
“Wait and see.” James returned to
his paper.
“She’ll never marry him. She hates
him."
Jim laughed, and his sister broke out
irritably:
“Why be so mysterious? Anybody
would think you'd robbed a bank.”
Jim looked up again, and this time
with a scowl. “Well, every time I
come through ’.vith a suggestion ma
crabs it. What’s the use of talking
to a pair of haymakers like you. any
lmw? I could grab a lot of coin for us
f-i-----1
** ^»***"
“What Are You Two Planning?" In
quired Lorelei.
if you’d let me. Why. Maxey has been
after me a dozen times about you. but
I knew you wouldn’t stand for it.”
"Blackmail. eh?"
.Tim was highly disgusted. “What’s
the difference how you pronounce it?
It spells k-a-l-e, and it takes a good
looking girl to pull off a deal in litis
town. All right—play for Bob Whar
ton. I'd like to meet him, though: lie
can do me a lot of good.”
“How?”
“Well, he dropped eight-four hundred
in Hebling’s Sixth avenue joint the
other night. Maxey owns a place on
Forty-sixth street where the sky is the
limit.”
His sister was staring at him curi
ously. She had voiced misgivings con
cerning his activities of late, hut Jim
had never satisfied her inquiries. Now
she asked. “What is your share?”
The young man laughed a little un
comfortably. “Forty per cent. That’s
Usual. If lie's going to gamble some
where I might as well he in on It.”
The girl's next words, however, left
no doubt as to her feelings.
“You’re a tine specimen, aren't you?”
KNEW WHERE “HE WAS AT”
Possum, However, Was Unable to Tell
of His Whereabouts, to Employer
Over the Phone.
When the late Robert Aull was park
commissioner there was a negro boy
called Possum who helped around the
boathouse in Forest Park lake. Pos
sum was a mighty hunter and fisher
man, and those qualities appealed to
Colonel Aull. Sometimes Colonel Aull
and Possum took lanterns at night and
caught a mess of frogs in Forest Park.
Possum had a falsetto voice and a
vast ignorance of how to use the tele
phone. He had located several fat,
fine frogs that he thought Colonel .Aull
might like to gig and he called him up
at the city hall.
The commissioner’s stenographer
answered the telephone and after hear
ing Possum's shrill tenor demanding
an interview with “Mistah Aull," she
said: “There’s a lady on the phone
who wants to speak to you personal
ly.”
Colonel Aull went to the telephone
and said: “Well, this is Mr. Aull;
what 1b it, madame?"
The reply came: “Thith ith Poth
um! I want to talk to Mithta Aull.”
“This is Mr. Aull. Who are you?”
“Thith ith Pothum. Don’t you know
Pothum? Pothum, the nigger out at
Foreth Park. I want you to come
and meet me. and we'll get thome
frawgth.”
“O, all right. Possum. Where are
you?"
“Thuh?”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know what you thaid. Thith
ith Pothum. I want you to come right
out and meet me.”
“All right. I’ll come, but where are
you!”
“I don’t know what you thaid.”
Then the park commissioner, rais
ing his voice, resorted to the lan
guage of the plain people: “Where
are you at?”
“O,” responded Possum, with a sigh
of relief. “Heah I itb.”—St. Louis
Globe-Democrat.
Old Wines.
Some time ago a bottle of ancient
wine was found during the demolition
of an old house at Finsbury. England.
It appears that this ancient bottle is
eclipsed by the treasures of France.
Some of the cellars in Paris contain
bottles of Sauterne at least two cen
turies old. Thi3 is a very respect
able age, but it is nothing compared
with a certain Ribeauvilliers of 1652,
or a Steinwcin of 1540, or a Jewish
Passover wine of five centuries and a
half. Still, in the museum at Reims
there is a far older wine, or rather a
bottle containing something which was
once wine.
It is said to date four centuries be
fore our era. This, tradition says, was
found in a tomb of the Gallo-Roman
period. Berthelot, the celebrated
chemist, has left on record that he
once analyzed a bottle of wine made
in the neighborhood of Rome about
Nero’s time. In this case the analyst
had only a dry residuum to work upon.
Housewife Works for Others.
The “hired girl” does not yearn for
technical training, according to the
women who have conducted a Minne
apolis survey of the domestic help
problems; also, they say, the average
household could not afford to employ
a highly skilled worker in the hinter
land of the back porch. Eros, it seems,
is quick to discover comely cooks who
have gained proficiency, and the
housewife’s time and labor in training
a girl all go to making comfy some
home other than her own.
Her lip curled; mother and sou started
at the bitterness of the tone. “Ugh!
What « niess you’ve made of things.
Two years ago ave ware decent, and
now—” Lorelei’s voice broke; her
eyes dimed over with tears. “I’d give
anything in the world if we were ail
back in Vale. It took only two years
of the city to spoil us.”
“Ha! Better try Vale agaiu. You'd
end in a strniglitjncket if you did. You
think you could go back, but you
couldn't—nobody can after they've
had a taste of the city.”
“It’s all wrong. The whole thing
is—rotten. Sometimes I iiate myself.”
Lorelei choked.
Mrs. ICnighl spoke reprovingly.
“Dou’t be silly, dear. You know we
did it all for you. But we're not com
plaining.” .Mrs. Knight put added feel
ing into her words. "We don’t want
you to live the way we’ve had to live;
we want you to be rich and to have
things. After all we've done; after all
poor Peter has suffered—”
“Don’t!” cried the girl, fnlteringly.
“I think of him every hour.”
“He isn't the sort that complains. I
consider it very thoughtless of you to
behave as you do and make it harder
for us.” Mrs. Knight sniffed and
wiped her eyes, whereupon Lorelei
went to her and hid her face upon her
mother’s shoulder.
“I don’t want to be unkind.” she
murmured, “but sometimes I'm sick
with disgust, and then again I'm
frightened. All the men I meet are
beasts. That whole party was sordid
and mean—old men drinkiug with girls
and pawing them over. Mr. Merkle
was the only nice one there.” The
mother was dismayed to feel her
daughter shiver.
“Good Lord! You people make me
siek,” cried Jim. rising and making for
his room. “Anybody'd think you'd
been insulted.”
When he had gone Mrs. Knight
asked, accusingly: ,
"Lorelei, are you in love?”
“So. why?”
“Y'ou've said some queer things late
ly. You’ve worried me. 1 hope you'll
never be tempted to do anything so—
to f>e foolish. I don't intend to let you
make a mess of things by marrying
some chorus man. When the right per
son conies along you'll accept him, then
you'll never have to worry again. But
you must be careful.”
"Do you think I’d lie happy with a
man like Mr. Wharton?”
"Why not? You'd at least be rich,
and if rich people can't be happy, who
can? If you accepted some poor boy
he'd probably turn out to lie a drunk
ard and a loafer, just like Wharton Is
now.” She sights]. “I'd like to see
you settled: we could take Peter to a
specialist, and maybe he could be
cured. We could go abroad and get
the help of those German surgeons.
I've always wanted to travel.”
When Lorelei reached the theater
that evening she found Lilas Lynn en
tertaining a caller who had been more
than once in her thoughts during the
day. Miss Lynn’s visitor was a well
tailored man who gave a first impres
sion of extreme physical neatness. He
was immaculate in attire, his skin was
fine, his color fresh: a pair of small,
imperturbable eyes were set in a smil
ing face beneath a prematurely gray
head. Max Metcher was a figure on
Broadway: he had the entree to all the
stage doors: he frequented the popular
cafes, where he surrounded himself
with men. Always affable, usually at
leisure, invariably obliging, he had
many friends.
At Lorelei's entrance he smiled and
nodded without rising, then continued
his earnest conversation with Miss
Lynn. None of their words were au
dible to the last comer until Melehcr
rose to leave: then Lilas halted him
with a nervous laugh, saying:
•‘Remember, if it doesn't go. it’s a
joke, and I run to cover.”
"It will go.” he told her. quietly, as
he strolled out.
“What are you two planning?” in
quired Lorelei.
“Nothing. Max drops In regularly:
he used to be sweet on me.” Lilas
completed her make-up. then fidgeted
nervously. “Gee!" she presently <w
claimed. “I'm tired of this business.
We’re fools to stay in it. Think of
Atlantic City on a night like this, or
the mountains. This beat has com
pieiei.v hum rune me. die rummaged ;
through the confusion on tier table,
then inquired of the dresser, “Croft,
where are my white gloves?”
"They haven’t come hack from the !
cleaner's.” Mrs. Croft answered.
“Not hack? Then you didn’t send
(hem when I told you. You're getting
altogether shiftless. Croft. When I
tell you to do a thing I want it done.”
“I Ivope I drop dead if—”
“I hop* you do.” snapped the iudig
naut girL “I told you to attend to
them; now I've nothing but soiled
ones.”
The dresser began to weep silently.
She was a small, timid old woman,
upon whose manifest n<“ed of employ
ment Lorelei had taken pity some time
before. Her forgetfulness had long
been a trial to I>oth her employers.
“That's right; turn on the flood
gates,’’ mocked t>iins. “You stop that
sniveling or I’ll give you something to
cry for. I’m nervous enough tonight
without having you in hysterics. Re
member, if it ever happens again you’ll
go— and you’ll take something with
you to think about.” Seizing the clean
esu pair of gloves at band, she flung
out of the room in a fine fury.
“You won’t let her—fire me? I need
work, I do,” quavered Mrs. Croft.
“N’ow. now. Don’t mind her temper.
Yon know Lilas is excitable."
“Excitable?” Croft wiped red eyes
with a corner of her apron. “Is that
what you call it? I’ll be glad if her
millionaire takes her out of the busi
ness, Hike she thinks he will. Poor
man! He's laying np trouble for him
self, that he is. She'll land him in the
divorce court—with her flash-light pho
tographs.”
Lorelei swung around from her mir
ror. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, I heard her and that Jew—that
Maxey Melcher. They’ve got a pho
tographer and witnesses. Your brother
is one of ’em.”
“Jim? What—”
“It’s true. It’s a bad crowd Mister
Jim’s in with. And there’s something
big in the air. Millions it is. And her
saying she’ll box my ears. The hussy!
I’ve heard ’em talking before tonight!”
“Tell me everything, Croft—quickly.”
“I have. Only you better warn youi
brother—”
The assistant stage manager thrus!
his head through the curtains, shout
ing: “Your cue. Miss Knight. What
the devil—”
With a gasp. Ltrelei leaped to her
feet and fled fro.jj '.be room.
CHAPrr.,«? VI.
I.oreiei did not secure another word
alone with the dresser until the middle
of the second act. by which time Mrs.
Croft was her own colorless, work
worn self once more.
*‘I don't know no more than I told
you,” she informed Lorelei. “Mr. Mel
cber has been coming here for a Iona
time, and he always talks about Mr.
Hamilton. I've heard enough to know
that him and her is after his money—
millions of it. Mister Jim can tell you
everything—’’Mrs. Croft broke off he'
narrative suddenly, and Miss Lynn her
self hurst into the room, panting from
a swift run up the stairs.
"Quick. Croft! Don't be ail thumbs
now.” She tossed a sealed letter npon
her table, rapidly unhooked her dress,
stepped out of it. and then seated her
self, extending her feet for a change
of slippers. She took the moment tc
open and read her note.
I.oreiei looked up from her sewing
at a little cry of rage from Lilas. \Jiss
Lynn had torn the message into bits
and flung it from her: her eyes were
blazing.
“Tile idiot!” she cried, furiously, ris
ing so abruptly as almost to upset Mrs
Croft.
• “What is it?”
"I—must telephone—quick! I must
or—Lorelei, dear, will you do me a
favor? Run down to the door and tele
phone for me? I won't be off again
till flip curtain, and that will be too
late.’’ Lorelei rose obediently. “That's
a dear. Call Tony the Barber's place—
I—I’ve forgotten the number—any
bow, you can find it, anil ask for Max
Tell him it's off; he can’t come.”
“Who can't come? Max?”
“Xo. Just say, ‘Lilas sends word
that it’s off; he can't come.’ He'll un
derstand. There's my cue now. I’ll
do as much for you.” Lilas was ofl
with a rush, and Lorelei hastened
after her, speculating vaguely as to
the cause of all this anxiety. As Lo
relei hurried down the passageway a
man in evening dress turned, and she
recognized Robert Wharton.
“You are sent from heaven!” he
cried, at sight of her. “I enter out of
the night and unburden my heart to
this argus-eyed watchman, and. lo!
yon come flying in answer to my wish.
Quick service, Judge. In appreciation
of your telepathy I present you with
some lumbago cure.” He tossed a
bank note to Regan, who snatched it
eagerly on the fly.
Lorelei forestalled further words.
“Please—I must telephone. I go on
in a minute.”
"Fairy Princess, last night I was a
goldfish; tonight I am an enchanted
lover—”
“Wait: I'm in a hurry.” She
thumbed the telephone book swiftly in
search of her number, but young
Wharton was not to be silenced.
“Tell him it's ail off,” he command
ed. “Yon can't go; I won’t let you.
Promise.” He laid a band upon the
telephone and eyed her gravely.”
“Don't be silly. I’m telephoning for
someone else.”
"That's exactly what we can't per
rait. The ‘someone else’ Is here—I’m
It.”
“I slapped you last night; I promise
to do it again,” Lorelei told him
sharply.
"Something whispered that you did,
and all day long I hnve been angry:
but tonight I come with another pur
pose. Outside is a chariot with ninety
horses—French rating—champing at
the throttle. We are going away fron
here.”
“Y'ou’re drunk again, Mr. Wharton?'
He glanced at the clock over Re
gan's head and shook his head in ne
gation. “It’s only ten-twenty. In twe j
hours from now—”
“Give me that ’phone.”
“Promise to tell him it’s nil off.”
She smiled. “All right. I’ll us«
those very words.
Wharton hesitated. “I trust you.”
“Pin going to tell him he can't
•
•Tonight I am an Enchanted Lover—”
•oni<“. she said, bolding out her hand, j
Once the instrument was hers she .
oscillated the hook with nervous tin- |
ier, staring doubtfully at the cause of
ier delay. Wharton, as on the evening
before, carried his intoxication with an
Ur. He was steady on his feet, im
maculate in dress, punctilious in de
meanor; only his roving, reckless eye
betrayed his unnatural exhilaration.
t
Young Wharton may be a *
drunkard—nay, he ia a drunkard \
—but he haa also a keen sense *
of humor and unquenchable op- \
timiam. Don’t you like him in *
spite of hla low habits? ;
----
' ITO BE CONTINUED.)
_
Nebraska Directory
Hotel Castle
632 So. 16 51., Omaha, Neb.
New, Absolutely fireproof
Rooms with private bath - - $1.50
Rooms with private toilet - 1.00
Fred A. Castle, Proprietor
TOWN SEND GUN C O.
Sporting Goods
Bass Ball, Bolt, Tennis, Fishing Tackle
1514 Fam&m St. Omaha
DOCTORS
MACH A MACH
DENTISTS
1^. 3rd Floor Paxton Slock
Jga I6tb & Farnam Sts .Omaha
jST fcsst equipped Oentai Office*
^F ia Octane ReaecueMe pi ires.
w Special discount to ail people
livto« outside ct On.be
Hotel Loyal,Omaha
Take Dodge Street Car From Stations
ABSOLUTELY FIREPROOF
Datco i $1-00 UP without hath.
XvalCa ( $1.50 up with bath.
The Hotel With a Reputation
R. E. BRYAMT—Proprietor*—O. E. CARNEY
RHEUMATISM
Successfully treated with 8cnun, It Is the only
positive treatment known which will eradicate
the tissue destroying germs from the system.
A sncoessfnl treatment guaranteed- Cali or write
for f uLl particulars.
Or. W. W. Bowser, 314 Bee Bldg., Omaha. Neb.
TAGG BROS.
& MOORHEAD
Ino., LIVE STOCK
COMMISSION AGENTS
Union Slock Unit Owns, Web.
VIOLINS
* Complete with case, bow and extra
strings at S10, $15. S2& and up
BOLD ON HAST PAYMENTS
A. HOSPE CO.
1515 looglas SM)maha,\eb
(Aik your Lumberman or write on |
for free sample.
SUNDERLAND BROS. CO., OMAHA J
Electrical Engineers and
Electric Starter Specialists
ALL MAKES
STRAHLE & ANDERSON, Inc.
2057 Farnam St Omaha, Neb.
It 19 Belter to Be a Western
Owner Than an Eastern Renter
What will you offer for West H of 11 and all of
section 15 In townehlp 16. range 60. Laramie Co. Wyu
it Is situated 6 miles from town; every bit choice
land Owner Is anxious to sell at a low priee for
quick sale. O'KF.FFE RKAI. ESTATE CO..
1016Omaha Nat. Hank Ultlg.. Omaha, Neb.
McKenney Dentists
PRICES ALWAYS THE SAME
mI JiWW Best 22k Gold Cr.’»io . U 00
uWv * jlili Bridge Work, per Tooth . 14 00
H.W jIh/TW Best Sliver Fillings . . 60c
”ttih3i»» Wonder Plates *6.00, *8.00. *10 00
Cleaning Teeth .... 60c
1334 FARNAM ST.,cor. 14th,flftjl 111 BCD
Over U. P. Ticket OffU» OMAHA, NtB.
t£ A n A If and supplies. Largest
lWI/MI\ house in the west. Ail
C|mCUI||fS Eastman goods. We pav re
rmiwnlllU turn postage on finishing.
THE ROBERT DEMPSTER CO.. 1813 Farnam Street
Eaetman Kodak Co. Omaha. Neb.
Byers Bros. & Go.
SATISFACTORY SERVICE X
LIVE STOCK COMMISSION FIRM
SOUTH OMAHA
^Better Try Them With Your Next Business
REPAIRS '" I™"
Please order through your nearest
dealer. Quick shipments our hobby.
OMAHA STOVE REPAIR WORKS, OMAHA, NEB.
MID WEST ELECTRIC CO.
1207 Haney. Onha. Nek.; 709 Oerry SL, Des Meiacs, lo«
Distributors tor tha Middle West, General Eectri,
Company, Everything Electrical Mietx A Weiss Fuel
Oil Engines, Bail Steam Engines. American
Telephones. SERB US TOUR IMOU IKIES.
TRI-CITY BARBER COLLEGE
LEARN BARBER TRADE
go where they make Barbers. Elect no massage.
Hydraulic chain. Low rate tuition. Wa^es paid
Poolagiven. Call or write for free cnta'og and Infor
mation. 1194 Dm|Ui Si Omase, ®r lOSi S St., UaceU, Nek.
ISHIP US|
rv ^ your jkFX
I DIRECT —Save all Aoenis* ’
Commission and Losses
j Send for tags and our special
offer for new customers.
WATERLOO CREAMERY CO.
OMAHA, NEB.
1
MEN AND Kidney trouble prey*
WOMEN courages and lessens
For ir io -3 afe c,u* crdpr or diseased.
SwannP^nt re®ul,s use Dr. Kilmer’s
o e prof,t kidney remedy.
cel Post* llso «Urapl5 S,E£ bottIe b>' Par'
i.™’ elso pamphlet.
Address Dr. Kilmer & Co., Binghamton,
When writ
ASkTIIIflA HAY Ii’HVBR conquered at Iwt
lhe Bemiock Treatment—a scientific
causJ5- •'or facts write Hemlock
Hills Lodge, Sherman Hotel Bldg., Kansas City. Mu
O L^L’nC Alfalfa 18, Sweet ClOTer H. f a reus
dLLl)3 °&r&CTnwu.
big Book of Truth and Faetal&i£5 * *
W. N. U„ OMAHA, NO. 28-1916. j