REX PE^
SYNOPSIS.
—6—
Pete;- Knight, defeated for political of
fice In his town, decides to venture New
York in order that the family fortunes
anight benefit by the expected rise of his
■charming daughter. Lorelei. A well
known (Title interviews Lorelei Knight,
non' stage beauty with Bergman’s Revue,
for a special article. Her coin-hunting
mother outlines Lorelei's ambitions, but
Ml Msson. the press agent. later adds his
Information. Lorelei attends Millionaire
t(amnion’s gorgeous entertainment. Siie
meets Merkle, a wealthy dyspeptic. Bob
Wharton comes uninvited. Lorelei dis
covers a blackmail plot against Hamilton
in which her brother Is Involved. Merkle
and rjorelel have an auto wreck. The
Idackmallers besmirch her good namf.
(■orelei supects her mother is an unscru
pulous plotter. She finds In Adoree Dem
urest a real friend.
Most mothers deserve all the I;!
love and kindness their children ■ :’
can bestow on them, but occa- ;
sionally a mother Is a heartless ;j
beast. Would a young woman ■ !■
be justified in seeing her moth
er go to the poorhouse if she
discovered that the mother had
plotted literally to sell her to ;j;
a wealthy, drunken profligate?
CHAPTER IX—Continued.
“Maybe Mr. Merkle—"
“We’ll leave him out of this.” de
clared Lorelei; “he’s too decent to have
a person like me foisted upon him—
aud there’s no reason whatever why he
should lie held responsible for my
notoriety.” She turned away from
the dining room with a shudder of dis
taste. “I don’t want any breakfast. I
think I’ll get some air.”
As soon as she was out in the street
she turned southward Involuntarily,
and set off toward the establishment of
Adoree lieruorest.
Mrs. Knight dried her eyes and be
gan to dress herself carefully, prepara
tory to a .journey into the Wall street
section of the city, for the hour was
drawing on toward three o'clock.
Meanwhile Jim. having transacted
his business at Goldberg’s office, sought
a more familiar haunt on one of the
side streets among the forties. Here,
just off Broadway, was a famous bar
ber shop—a spotless place, with white
interior and tiled walls. Six Italians
•in stiff duck coats practiced their arts
at a row of well-equipped chairs. A
wasp-waisted girl sat at the manicure
♦ftble next the front windows. As Jim
entered she was holding the hand of
h jaded person In a light-gray suit, and
murmuring over it with an occasional
upward glance from a pair of bold,
dark eyes. “Tony the Barber.” en
gaged in administering a shampoo,
nodded at Jim, and from force of
habit murmured politely: “Next:”
Then, with a meaning glance, he indi
cated a door at the rear of the shop,
la the third chair Jim recognized Max
Melcher, although the face of the sport
ing man was swathed in steaming
cloths.
I Jim passed on and into a rear room,
where he found three men seated at a
felt-covered table. They were well
dressed, quiet persons—one a book
maker whom the racing laws had re
duced from affluence to comparative
penury; another, a tall, pallid youth
with bulging eyes. The third occupant
of the room was an ex-lightweight
champion of the ring. Young Sullivan
by name. His trim waist and power
"Hush! It’a Campbell Pope, the Critic.”
Tu( shoulders betokened ills trade. Ilis
Jaw was firm, and a cauliflower ear
overhung his collar like a fungus.
Jim drew up a chair and chatted idly
antll the bookmarker yawned, rose, and
went out. Then Jim and the others re
laxed.
“Gee, he’s a sticker!” exclaimed the
pugilist “I thought he’d broke his
back."
“Max Is getting his map greased."
the pop-eyed youth explained. Taking
\ pasteboard box from his pocket, he
removed a heroin tablet therefrom and
crushed it; tye powder he held in the
indentation between the base of his
dosed thumb and first finger, known
as “the thimble;” then, with a quick
Inhalation, be drew the drug up his
nostril*. "Have an angel?” he in
quired, offering the box.
Jim accepted, but Young Sullivan
declined.
■ What’s the news?” the latter In
quired.
••I've seen Goldy,” replied Jim.
'Mother and I will call on Merkle at
three. I finally got her to consent.”
Sullivan shook liis head. “He might
fall, hut I doubt it. How does your
sister feel?”
“That’s the trouble. She’s square,
and we can’t use her,” Jim explained.
"Some doll!” admiringly commented
Armistead, the third member of the
group. Armistead hail once been
famed in vaudeville for dancing, but
the drug habit bad destroyed his en
durance, and with it his career. “She's
a perfect thirty-six, all right. She
could rip a lot of coin loose if she
tried.”
At this moment .Mr. Melcher, freshly
perfumed and talcumed, entered tlie
room. His white hair was arranged
with scrupulous nicety: his pink face,
as tin wrinkled as ills immaculate at
tire. was lieamiug with good-humor.
“Well, boys, I’m the pay-car,” be
smiled.
“Hauimou came through, eh?” Sulli
van inquired eagerly.
“Not exactly: we compromised. Quick
sales and small profits; that’s busi
ness.”
“How strong did he go?” queried Ar
mistead.
“Now. what's the difference, so long
as you get yours? Photography is a
paying business." Melcher laughed
agreeably.
“Sure! I’ll bet Sarony is rich."
Young Sullivan carelessly accepted the
roll of currency which Melcher tossed
him. and the others did likewise.
“I suppose that’s curtain for us.”
Jim said, regretfully.
“It is. The rest is Lilas' affair.”
“Say, will the old man fall again?"
queried Armistead.
“He’s going to marry her!" The
three others stared at him in amaze
ment. “Right!” confirmed Melcher.
“She's got a strangle hold on him.”
“Hm-m! Maybe we haven’t lost the
last car yet,” Sullivan ventured.
Jim seconded the thought. “She’s
got an ace buried somewhere. There's
a lot more in her head than hairpins.
I wish Merkle would fharry my sister."
“Xot a chance." Melcher declared.
“You'll be lucky to shake him down for
a few thousand. How about Wharton?
Will she stand for him?"
Jim frowned, and his voice was
rough as he replied:
“I’ll make her stand for him—if It’s
a marry.”
“He’s a lush; If you got him stewed
he might go that far. It has been done:
but. of course. It’s all up to the girl.
Anyhow, if he balks at the altar we
might get him for something else.”
“I’m not sure I’ll need any help in
this.” Jim looked up coldly. “If ho
marries her, that ends it; if we have
to frame him. of course I’ll split.”
“How are you going to frame him.
with a square dame like Lorelei?”
asked Armistead.
“Frame both of them.” Melcher said,
shortly. “P.y the way, lie’s a gambler,
too, isn't he? Bring him in some
night. Jim, and I'll turn for him my
self.”
“Save his cuff buttons for me,”
laughed Young Sullivan, idly riffling
the cards. “Gee! Money comes easy
to some folks. Don't you guys uever
expect to do any honest work?"
CHAPTER X.
Jim’s appearance when lie entered
the dressing room that night was a sur
prise: he was clad in faultless evening
attire.
•‘Why the barbaric splendor?” in
quired Lorelei. "I>o you want me to
dress, too?”
“Sure thing. Look your best, and
make me think I'm a regular John.”
“Bergman dropped in to see me to
night,” she told him; after they had
gossiped for a moment. “I don't like
tile way lie talked. He thinks he owns
tlie girls who work for him.”
Jim replied, carelessly: “Blow him
and his job. You can get on at the
I’alace Garden.”
“There’s my contract: lie can dis
charge me. you know, but I can’t
quit—tiiat’s one of the peculiarities of
a theatrical contract. Well—be insist
ed on taking me to supper.”
“A brother is a handy thing, once
in a while, but for every-da.v use you
need a ‘steady’ with a kick in each
mitt.” suggested Jim.
“I wish you would punch him.”
“Who? Me? And go Joy-riding with
a square-toe? Nix. I’m too refined.
Did you see tonight’s papers?”
“There wasn't much in them.”
Jim smiled wisely. "There would
have been If things hadn't gone right.
I'm glad for your sake.”
“Oh, the harm’s done, I suppose.
But there's one good thing about it—
Bob Wharton hasn’t bothered me this
evening.”
Jim, with an expressionless face,
tried to speak to Lilas Lynn, who had
Just come in. WTien his sister came
down after the last act, he was wait
ing at the door and helped her into a
cab. despite her protestations that she
would much prefer to walk.
“What are you going to do with all
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
her 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 pnbllc, but I’d have enjoyed myself
more If we had gone to Billy the
Oysterman’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 coatrooms were robbers’
dens, infested by Italian mafiosi; tips
were extravagant and amounted In ef
fect to ransom. But New York dearly
loves to be pillaged. Nothing speeds
tlie Manhattan sleep hater more swift
ly to a change of scene than the knowl
edge that he is getting his mouey’s
worth.
“Speaking of clothes.” .Tim 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, the
critic."
Mr. Pope had risen and was slouch
ing toward them. He took Irelei's
hand, then shot a sharp glance at her
escort as the giri introduced them. Ac
cepting Jim's mumbled invitation, lie
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 lie finished
ordering he heard Pope say:
“I was sorry the story got out. Miss
Knight; but It was pretty wel! smoth
ered in this evening's papers. Of
course you were dragged in by the
hair to afford a Unman spectacle; we
all saw what it meant when it came
to us.”
Wtiat 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 the 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 the stuff somewhere. It
is reported that Ha mil on paid fifty
thousand dollars to prevent Melelier
from filing suit. I dare say things will
be quiet around Tony the Barber’s
now.”
“You press people certainly have got
a lot up your sleeves." James' invol
untary start of dismay did not pass
unnoticed. He did not relish the gleam
iii Pope’s eyes, and he hastily sought
refuge iu a goblet of water, notwith
standing his distaste for the liquid.
"We sometimes know as much as
the police, and we 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 Arinisteud is smoking
hop: Young Sullivan is probably laying
an alcoholic foundation for a wife
beating, and—the others are spending
Hammon’s money in the cafes.”
Jimmy Knight paled, for behind
Pope’s genial smile were both mockery
anil contempt; a panic swept him lest
this fellow should acquaint Lorelei
with the truth. Jim lost Interest in
ids clams and thereafter avoided con
versation with the wariness of a fox.
He was still glowing with resent
ment when Robert Wharton paused at
the table and greeted Its occupants
cheerily. In response to Jim's invita
tion Boh drew up a fourth chair, seat
ed himself, and began to beam upon
Lorelei. Noting the faint line of an
noyance between her brows, he
laughed.
‘‘Retreat is cut off.” he announced,
complacently. “Escape is hopeless.
I've left orders to have the windows
barred and the doors walled up.”
“Eh? What’s the idea?” Inquired
Pope.
Wharton answered sadly: “My van
ity has suffered the rudest Jolt of its
young career; l mourn the death of a
perfectly norma! and healthy self-con
ceit. age twenty-nine. Services at
noon; friends and relatives only.”
“Oho: You’ve heard the seductive
song of the Rhine maiden?” Pope’s
eyes were twinkling.
“Eh?—I’m tangled up like a basket
of ticker tape. You see, Campbell, 1
drink: candor compels me to acknowl
edge that much. In a moment of folly
I was indiscree;, and ever since I have
been trying to apologize. In short. I'ui
in Dutch, and there sits the adorable
cause of my sorrows.”
In spite of Wharton's reproachful
tone, the gaze he bent upon Lorelei
was good-humored, and she saw, that
lie was in a mood different to any she
had ever seen him in. Strange to say, he
was sober, or nearly so, and he was
plainly determined to make her like
him.
“Has he 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. But I have sobered
up purposely to apologize; I have re
pented, and—well, here we are, thanks
to brother .Tames.”
“Thanks to—Jim?" Lorelei raised
her brows.
Tope turned to young Knight and
said, politely. “That is my foot you are
stamping on.”
Ignoring Jim's mute appeal, Whar
ton ran on. smilingly: "He promised to
shaekle you to a table until I eould
stammer out my halting apologies, and
now that I’ve done so in the presence
of press and public won't you forgive
me and help me to bury the hatchet In
a Welsh rabbit?” He was speaking
directly to her with a genuine appeal
■* « .. .
“'Are You Stuck on the Boob?”
iu liis handsome eyes. Now that she
saw him in his right mind, it was un
expectedly hard to resist him. for lie
was very boyish and friendly—quite
unlike the person who had so grievous
ly offended her.
When she and Jim had first entered
the restaurant they had received a po
lite lint casual recognition from the
head waiter, but there attentions had
ceased. Witii Wharton ns a member
of the 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 a few platitudes. Then in
some inexplicable manner Robert
found himself uot only ordering for
himself but supplementing Jim's menu
with rare and expensive viands. As a
great favor, he was advised of a newly
imported vintage wine which the pro
prietor had secured for his own use.
Of course Mr. Wharton wished to
sample such a vintage, any vintage, in
fact, since a thousand tires were con
suming him, ami his nerves were on
edge from the night tiefore. The first
draft electrified him. his spirits rose,
and he swept his companions along
I with iiis enthusiasm. From surround
ing tallies people accosted him: men
paused iu passing to exchange a word
about stocks, polo, scandal, Newport,
tennis, Tuxedo: none were in the least
stiff or formal, and all expressed in
one way or another their admiration
for Lorelei. Women who she knew
were not of her world beamed and
smiled at the young millionaire. It
was a new experience for the girl, who
felt herself, as the supper progressed,
becoming conspicuous without the
usual disagreeable accompaniments.
Men no longer openly ogled her; wom
en did not nudge each other and whis
per: her presence in company with a
member of ttie idolized rich was caus
ing gossip, but gossip of a nattering
kind.
All tilis attention, however, had quite
the contrary effect upon Campbell
Pope. Much to Jim's relief. lie ex
cused himself shortly, whereupon ♦In
former. after allowing Wharton to pay
the score, suggested a dance, breezily
sweeping aside bis sister's mild objec
tion. Of course Bob was delighted,
and soon the trio had set out upon a
round of the dancing cafes.
Boli Wharton had drunk heavily, but
up to this time he had shown little ef
fect from his pofntious beyond a grow
ing exhilaration; now. however, tiie
IN THE OLD TRUNDLE BED
Downy Couch Occupied by the Chil
dren of Other Days a Delightful
Place of Repose.
There may be a few of ns left who
remember the trundle bed—but for
which it would have been impossible
to bring up the old-fashioned family of
good proportions. Houses were small
and families wete large in those days,
and providing beds was a problem. So
it was solved by the trundle, bed—a
low structure that rolled beneath the
“regular” bed—and which was trun
dled out at night and filled with chil
dren, says the Dayton News.
It was a feather bed, of course—big
and thick and soft. You sank into its
very bosom. No danger of a kid fall
ing out; no more danger than there
would be of a raisin falling out of a
cake. For the children fitted into the
feather bed tor all the world like peas
in a pod—a nestlike formation holding
the tiny form. Besides, if you did fall
out of a trundle bed, you wouldn't have
far to fall; only an inch or two, for, be
it remembered, the trundle bed was
built low. so it would roll under an
other bed.
But it was a glorious invention! A
billowy, downy couch fit for the angels
—and angels slept in them. The tem
perature didn’t matter. In memory
they were always comfortable. Warm
in winter and cool in summer—they
must have been—sweet and clean and
fresh always. That’s the way we re
call them, anyway, so it 1b the way
they must h /e been. ^The night had
no terrors after one was tucked away
in a trundle bed. and sleep came quick
ly to “knit up the raveled sleeve of
care.” The morning came instantly, it
seemed, but you were refreshed, and
ready for the rough aud tumble work
or play that beckoned to you.
Perfectly Natural.
“Nope! There wasn't anything out
of the ordinary happened at my house,
the night you speak of," replied Mr.
Gap Johnson of Rumpus Ridge. “That
was the time we'd set to name the ba
by, and invited a passel of kinfolks to
sorter help us achieve it. My wife's
mother was sorter present, and several
of wife's brothers and sisters and their
families and such like, and about a
dozen of my kin, and some of the
neighbors, and a feller or two that
prob'ly expected there would be some
liquor laying around loose. All of ’em
'peared to have their preferences in
the way of names and an earnest de
sire to stick to ’em. But there wasn't
anything peculiar happened—nothing
but what you'd nacher'ly expect to oc
cur when a bunch of that size and sort
rallied round to name a baby.”—Judge.
Would Abolish Written Home Work.
Public school teachers in New South
Wales are asking that written home
work be abolished in all primary
schools. They also ask that no school
be built on or close to main traffic
arteries; that a domestic science col
lege be established and that all re
ports concerning any teachers be open
for inspection by the teacher con
cerned.
Looking to War's Aftermath.
Petrograd a short time ago held an
exposition of “prosthesis" and in con
nection with the exposition there was
a competition of inventions and appli
ances to be used In the making of
artificial limbs.
wine was taking toll, and Lorelei felt
a certain pity for him. With Robert
Wharton liquor intensified a uatura!
agreeableuess until it cloyed. His
amenities were monstrously magnified;
lie became convivial to the point of of
fensiveuess. In the course of this
metamorphosis he was many things,
and through such a cycle he worked to
night while the girl looked on.
Overcoming his niggardly instincts.
^Jiminy Knight, as the evening pro
gressed. assumed the burden of enter
tainment. He, too. adopted a spend
thrift gavety and encouraged Wbnr
ton's libations, although he drauk little
himself.
There came a time whe.: Rob could
no longer dance—when, in fact, he
could barely walk—ami then it was
that Jim proposed leaving. Boi> read
ily agreed—having reached a condition
of mellowness where lie agreed enthu
siastically to anything—and Lorelei
was only too glad to depart. She had
witnessed flu* pitiful breaking down of
Bob's faculties with a curious blending
of concern and dismay, blit her pro
tests had gone unheeded. Having hail
a glimpse of his real self earlier in the
evening, and being wise in the ways of
intemperance, she felt only pity for
him now as the three made their way
downstairs.
White Jim went in search of their
belongings. Rob propped himself
against the wall and regarded her ad
miringly through eyes that were filmed
and unfoensnble.
“Fairy princess, you tire more ador
able every min life.” he said, thickly.
“Yes! A thousand yeses. And I’m
yoor little friend, eh? \*o more slaps,
no more mysterious exits, what?”
“That depends upon you."
'“I'm behaving finely," lie vaunted.
"I usually act much worse than I have
tonight, lmt T like you. I like you dif
ferently—understand? Not like the
other girls. You're so beautiful! Makes
| me dizzy. You forgive mv little Joke
1 eh?"
w nat joae t
‘‘.Meeting you the way T did tonight.
Jim's nice boy—obliged to him."
"I see. Then it was all planned?”
He nodded vehemently and nearly
I lost his balance.
•How mnch—did you pay him?” Lo
relei queried, with difficulty.
Mr. Wharton waved his hand in a
magnificent gesture. "What's money,
anyhow? Somebody’-; bound to get it."
"Fifty dollars?”
He looked at tier reproachfully.
"That’s an insult to Jim—he's a busi
ness man. he is. More than that— Oil,
yes. aud fit fake care of him again—
this very night. I’ll stake him. He
knows a place.”
"Will you do me-a favor?'" she asked,
after a pause.
Whartou assured her with abnormal
emphasis that her lightest wish was
law.
“Then go straight home from here,”
she pleaded.
"I say. that's not fair." Boh looked
ludicrously shocked. "I promised Jim—
Wouldn't have me break a sacred
promise, would you? We're expected—
a little game all arranged where we
can bust it quick. If you hear a loud
noise—that'll be Meicber going broke.”
".Melelier!" Lorelei looked sharply
at her brother, who was approaching
with tier wraps, and noted that he was
perfectly sober. A moment later she
checked Boh in the act of giving di
rections to the cab driver:
"Wait. Where do you live, Mr.
Wharton?”
"The Charlevoix." it was the most
expensive bachelor apartment building
in the city.
“Drive to the Charlevoix.” she told
the chauffeur.
"Hold on. sis.” cried Jim. “We're
going to fake you home first."
“No."
“But—" Jim saw in his sister's face
something that brought a smothered
oath 10 his lips. Drawing her out of
hearing, lie muttered, angrily, “Mind
your own business: Fee got something
on.”
"I know you have." She met his
eyes unflinchingly. "But you shan’t
rob him.”
.Tim thrust his thin face close toilers,
amt she saw that i( was distorted with
rage. "If yon 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 are you going to do?” he
demanded.
“I'm going to tell him lie’s being
taken to a crooked gambling house,
and that you’re working for Max Mel
clier. He isn't too drunk to under
stand that.”
Her brother clenched his fist menac
ingly. hut she did not recoil, and be
thought better of his impulse.
“Are you grand-standing?” he quer
ied. brutally. “Are you stuck on the
boob? or do you want your bit?”
Without reply she walked hack to
Hie cal), redirected the driver to the
Charlevoix, then seated herself beside
Wharton, who was already sinking
into a stupor. .Tim slunk m behind her,
and they were whirled southward.
It was a silent ride, for the besot
ted young millionaire slept, and .Tim
dared not trust himself to speak. Co
relei closed her eyes, uauseated, disil
lusioned. miserable, seeing more clear
ly than ever the depths into which she
had unwittingly sunk, and the infamy
to which Jim had descended.
. At his hotel Wharton roused himself,
and Corelei sent him reeling Into the
vestibule. Then she and Jim turned
homeward through the deserted streets.
CHAPTER XI.
During the last act of the matiuee on
the day following Corelel was sur
prised to receive a call from John
Merkle. “The Judge” led him to her
dressing room, then shuffled away,
leaving him alone with her aud Mrs.
Croft.
“I hope I haven't broken any rules
by dropping in during your office
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 his 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 ut Croft; and Lorelei, inter
preting his glance, sent the dresser
from the room on some errand. “Well,
the game worked,” said Merkle. <‘Mrs.
Hammon lias left home and com
menced suit for divorce. If our friend
Miss Lynn had set out to ruin Jar via
socially—and perhaps financially— she
couldn't have played her cards 1 letter."
"I- that what you came to tell me?"
Merkle hesitated. "So.” he admit
ted. "it isn't: lint I'm a hit emhar
rassed now that I'm here. I suppose
jour mother told about seeing me?'
"My mother?" Lorelei’s amazement
was convincing, and his keen eyes
softened. "When did you see mother?
Where?"
“Yesterday, at my office. Didn’t you
know that she and your brother had
called?”
Lorelei shook her head; she felt aick
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 lips beneath
i he paint were dry.
. "They felt that I had—er—involved
you in a 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 and
I: for he presumed to-—criticize my re
lations witli you and—er—rny motive
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 myseif.”
“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 me 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 me—the rest.”
“There isn't much more. Your moth
er was quite hysterical and—noisy. To
da.v a lawyer came to see me. He
offers to settle the whole matter, but
I prefer dealing directlj' with you.”
"Do you think I knew anything
about it?” she cried, indignantly.
“.No. 1 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 tme. however, that I was
to blame for the unfortunate outcome
of the ride. ami I wnnt to make
amends for any injury—”
"Weren't you injured, too. by the
publicity?”
Merkle showed his teeth in a mirth
less smile.
i liti ■ > umut'L uui iunr.
“Please—leave me, and—let me
think this over. I must do something
quickly, or—I'll smother.”
"I'm glad 1 came,” said he. rising.
“I'm glad I made sure.”
"So am 1. What you have told me
has made a great difference in—every
thing. Don't allow them to—” She
hesitated and her voice broke. “I
can’t say It. You must think I’m—
unspeakable.”
He shook his head gravely. “Xo. 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:”
I.orelei's head was up, and she spoke
with a note of defiance.
“Then perhaps I can do something.”
He 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?
-t--n
T— $
“Make an End of It. I'll Finance You.”
There just isn't enough for all of ns
unless 1— graft, like the other girls."
Merkle broke out impatiently: “Make
an ettil of it. I’ll finance yon.-’ She
laughed a little harshly. “Don't think
for an instant that I'd venture to ex
pert anything in return. I won’t
trouble you; 1 won’t even see you.
Nobody will ever know. I wouldn't
miss the money, and I'd really love to
do it. You tried to do uie a favor—”
“There's no use arguing."
“Well, don’t be stubborn or hasty.
You could use—say, ten thousand dol
lars. It would keep you going very
nicely, and really it's only the price
of a new auto.”
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WO BE CONTINUED.)
mimj
No bother to
get summer
meals with
these on hand
j Vienna Style
/tyr Sausage and
A f'Jjfy' ^otte^ ^eat*
yf^ ' Ju*t open and serve.
Excellent for sandwiches.
/ns/if tm Libby*3 at
your grocer i.
Libby, Mc Neill 4 Libby, Chicago
Ul!
Nebraska Directory
fUnhsii
Rooms from Jl.OO up single. 75 cent.** up double.
CAFE. PRICES REASONABLE
LAND WILL INCREASE
Government statistics bear us out in our conclu
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McCague Bldg* Omaha, Neb.
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Be vaccinated NOW by your physician, you and
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The Popular Resort.
Stella—Has it a good table or view?
Bella—No, but it has a detective
service for gossip.
WHY SUFFER SKIN TROUBLES
When a Postcard Will Bring Free
Samples of Cuticura?
Which give quick relief for all itch
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Bathe with the Cuticura Soap and hot
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Free sample each by mail with Book.
Address postcard, Cuticura, Dept. L,
Boston. Sold everywhere.—Adv.
At a Wedding.
They have a saw in Afghanistan
to the effect that the next best thiug to
no wife Is a good wife.
The Senegalese declare that there
are only two good women in the world
—one is dead and the other can’t be
found.
The Chinese hold that if a man
lose his bride and a yen, he’ll regret
the yen. A yen’s about a tenth of a
cent.
But more comforting, far more
comforting than these proverbs, is the
wise saying of Don Quixote that
there's only one good woman in all the
wTorld, and every husband ought to
think that his wife is she.
Souvenir.
On the registry of Lyons, France,
there has been recorded the birth of a
girl child. The father, a working
man, limping painfully, his chest dec
orated with the Croix de Guerre, ap
peared in person to make the pre
scribed announcement. He gave the
child’s first name as Verdunette. A
clerk suggested that it was an txld
name.
“It will at least serve to remind
her,” said the honest man, “of the
place where her futher got knocked
out.”
Easy.
“Say, Billy, wot’s a preferred credi
itor?”
“That’s a guy ye owe money te wot
kin lick ye.”—Life.
f.—— . ' N~ ■' ' ^ 1
GrapeNuts
embodies the full, rich
nutriment of whole wheat
combined with malted
barley. This combination
gives it a distinctive, de
licious flavor unknown to
foods made from wheat
alone.
Only selected grain is
used in making Grape
Nuts and through skillful
processing it comes from
the package fresh, crisp,
untouched by hand, and
ready to eat.
Through long baking,
the energy producing
starches of the grain are
made wonderfully easy
of digestion.
A daily ration of this
splendid food yields a
marvelous return of health
and comfort.
“There’s a Reason”
Sold by Grocers everywhere.