AUCTION
MOCK
REXBEA<
8YN0PSIS.
—8—
Peter ICnlgtit. defeated for political of
fice In hto town, decides to venture New
Vui'k In order that the family fortunes
Jolgfct benefit by the expected rise of hie
etmraiiag daughter, Loorelei. A well
known critic Interviews Lorelei Knight,
now stage beauty with Bergman's Kevue,
for a special article. Her coin-hunting
•uolhetv outlines Lorelei’s ambitions, but
pkwsoe. the press agent, later adds his
information. Lorelei > attends Millionaire
llaxmnon'3 gorgeous entertainment. She
aiirls Iferkle. a wealthy dyspeptic. Boh
W barton comes uninvited. Lorelei dis
covers a blackmail plot against Hammon.
In «riSt'h her brother U involved. Merkle
end (avrelel have an auto wreck. The
blackmailers besmirch her good name,
laumlel learns her mother is an unscru
pulous plotter. She finds In Adoree Dem
oresl a real friend, and finds Boh Wliar
taa is likable. Lorelei leaves her family
anil ♦roes to live alone.
i.x.t. i..». Til 1 1 1i 1..V
PT tytttttttxl
Greater tragedy stalks into
Lorelei's life. 8he is besmirched
by vile men and women urged
an by tier 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 a drunken
profligate, and he makes her ill
with his attempted caresses.
H«w she solved one problem,
how she was trapped into taking
the biggest step of her life is
described with vivid detail In
this installment.
I
X
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Lorelei has been taken to a “swift"
vestaurant by her employer who ha*
designs on the girt. She is badly
frightened—and helpless. At this
point Bob Wharton appears. She sees
In him a protector.
CHAPTER XII—Continued.
Miss Wyeth tittered; the sophomore
with the bristling pompadour uttered
« bark of amusement. Meeting Bob's
questioning glance, Lorelei seconded
•lie invitation with a nod and a quick
look of appeal, whereupon his de
fnoauor changed and he drew a chair
between her and Nobel Bergman, forc
ing the latter to move. His action was
pointed, almost rude, but the girl felt
« tmrge of gratitude sweep over her.
There was an Interlude of idle chat
ter. then the orchestra burst into full
Humor once more. Much to the cha
grin of her escort. Lorelei rose and
danced away with the newcomer.
“Why the distress signal?"' queried
Bob.
"Mr: Bergman has—been drinking."
“Bum is poison." he told her. with
*nock Indignation. “He must be a low
person."
ties getting unpleasant.
“.Shall I take bitn by the nose and
run around the block?"
"You can do me a favor."
He was serious in an instant. "You
wire nice to me the other night. I'm
sorry to see you with this fellow.”
"He forced—he deceived me into
coining, and he’s taking advantage of
conditions to—be nasty."
i Hob missed a step, then apologized.
His next words were facetious, blit his
tone was ugly: "Where do you want
the remains sent?"
“Will you wait and see that mine are
safely sent home?" She leaned back,
•nd her troubled twilight eyes be
sought him.
"I’ll wait, never fear. I've iteen look
ing everywhere for you. i wanted to
Hud you. and I didn't want to. I’ve
l*een to every cafe in town. How in
the world did you fall in with the old
bell-cow and her calf?"
When Lorelei had explained, lie nod
ded his complete understanding. “She's
Just the sort to do a thing like that.”
Wharton Ignored Bergman’s scowls;
he proceeded to monopolize the mana
ger’s favorite with an arrogance that
secretly delighted her; he displayed the
assurance of one reared to selfish ex
actions, and his rival writhed under It.
Bat Bergman was slow to admit de
feat. Dawn was near when the crowd
separated and the hostess was driven
away, leaving Lorelei at the door of a
taxicab in company with two or her ad
mirers. The girl bade them each good
nigbt, but Bergman Ignored her words,
and. stepping boldly in after her, spoke
to the driver.
Bob bad imbibed with n magnificent
disregard of consequences, and as a
result he was unsteady on his feet.
His hat was tilted back from his
brow, his slender stick bent beneath
the weight he put upon it.
"Naughty, naughty Nobel!” he
chided. “Come out of that cab; you
and I journey arm and arm into the
purpling east.”
"Drive on.” cried Bergman, forcing
Ia»re!el back into her seat, as she half
rose. •
Boh leaned through the open onh
window, murmuring thickly: “Nobel,
you are drunk. Shocked—nay, grieved
—as I am at seeing you thus, I shall
take you home,”
“Get out. will you?" snapped the
manager, undertaking to slam the door
"I’m tired of your Insolence. I’ll_”
Bergman never finished his sentence,
for in his rage he committed a grave
blunder—he struck wildly at the
flushed face so close to his, and the
next instant was Jerked bodily out of
his seat Loreiei uttered a cry of
fright, for the whole side of the cab
seemed to go with her employer.
There was a brief scuffle, a whirl of
flying arms, then Bergman’s voice rose
in a strangely muffled howl, followed
by nasal curses. With a bellow of an
guish be suddenly ceased his struggles,
and Lorelei saw that Bob was holding
him by the nose. It happened to be
a Inrgr, unhandsome and fleshy mem
iter, and. securely grasping It, Berg
man's conqueror held him at a painful
and humiliating disadvantage.
Bob was panting, but he managed to
soy, “Come! We will dance for the
lady."
A muffled shriek of pain was the an
swer. hut tile street was empty save
for some grinning chauffeurs, who of
fered no ussistance.
“Be a good fellow. I insist, hit dear
Nobel.”
“Drive ou, quickly.” I.orelei im
plored, but the chauffeur crauked his
motor reluctantly. A moment passed,
then another: he cranked once more.
Bergman was sobhiug now like a
woman.
Bob paused and wheezed: “Bravo!
You done noble. Nobel. We’ve learned
some new steps, too. eh?" All power
of resistance bad left the victim, who
seemed upon the verge of collapse. “I
say we’ve learned some new steps;
haven’t we. Bergy?” He tweaked the
distorted member in his grasp, aud
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 tlie cab door, but he fetched his pris
oner in tow. "Ler him go or—we'll be
arrested.”
“I'll let go if you insist. But it's
a grand nose. I—love it. Never was
there such a nose.”
Bergman, with a desperate wrench,
regained ids freedom and staggered
away with his face in his hands.
“It—actually stretched,” said Bob,
as he regretfully watched bis victim.
“I dare say I'll never tind another nose
like it.”
Lorelei's cab got under way at last,
but barely in time, for a crowd was as
sembling. Not until she was safely
inside her little apartment, with the
chain on the door, did she surrender:
then she hurst into a trembling, cbok
lug fit of laughter. But her estimate
of Wharton had risen, and for the first
time he seemed not entirely bad.
CHAPTER XIII.
Jimmy Knight feit Ids sister’s deser
tion quite as keenly as did his mother
and father, for Ids schemes, though In
choate, were ambitious, and Ids heart
was set upon them. Lorelei’s obsti
nacy was exasperating—a woman's
unaccountable freakishuess.
He confided his disappointment to
Max Melcher. “It's pretty tough.”
complained Jimmy. “I had Merkle go
ing, but she crabbed it. Then just as
that boob Wharton was getting dafller
over her every day she gets her back
up and the whole thing is cold.”
"You mean it’s cold so far as you're
concerned,” Melcher judicially amend
ed.
“Sure. She's sore on me, and the
whole family.”
“Then this is just the time to marry
her off. New York is a mighty loue
soine place 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 a
chance. But you can’t throw me, un
derstand? You try a cross and—the
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
intentious. Strange stories were told
"Canter for the Kind Lady.”
in the Tenderloin—tales of treachery
punished and ingratitude revenged.
Jimmy knew several young men who
appeared out of the East side at Mel
eher's signal. They were Inconspicu
ous fellows, who bore fanciful dime
novel names—and no rustler’s strong
hold of the old-time western cattle
country ever boasted more formidable
outlaws than they. Jim knew these
gunmen Well; he had no wish to know
them worse.
“1 can’t promise anything definite
when she’s sore on me.” he declared.
"He’s about ready to ask her—she’s
the one to fix. She hates men. though,
and that Merkle story made her crazy."
Melcber pondered for several mo
ments. “I think I know Lorelei better
than you do,” he stated, deliberately,
“and I believe we 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 t
share In what comes her way.”
“•I’ll fix that.” promised Jim.
He found it, in fact, no very difficult
task to regain at least a part of Ms
sister’s lost esteem, though the process
took time. He went at>oat It with the
lazy, catlike patience of his kind, be
haved himself, kept his mouth shut,
and assumed just enough of an Injured
air to be plausible. He enlisted the
aid of his mother and of Lilas Lynn,
and meanwhile made himself as agree
able as possible to Robert Wharton.
Meleher was as good as his word,
and there shortly appeared in the Dis
patch an unpleasant rehash of the for
mer story. It was published In con
nection with the Hammon divorce pro
ceedings. news of which was exciting
comment, and it further smirched Lo
relei’s reputatiou. Jim was appropri
ately Indignant, but helpless, and Mrs.
Knight unwearledly blamed everything
upon her daughter's desertion of the
family circle, predicting more evil to
follow unless Lorelei came home at
1 once. She also dwelt upon the fact
that Peter was steadily fniling and
was in Immediate need of both medical
and surgical attention. The doctor had
pronounced sentence, prescribing a to
tal change of living and a treatment
by foreign specialists.
in some unaccountable way the story
of Xobel Bergman’s humiliation be
came public and afforded the basis for
a newspaper article that brought him
to Lorelei's dressing room in a tine
fury. Even after she bad convinced
him of her Inuoeence his resentment
was so bitter that she expected her dis
missal at any time.
Other press stories followed; the girl
suddenly found herself notorious:
scarcely a day passed without some
disagreeable mention of her, Adoree
Demorest, as indignant as Lorelei her
self, declared Anally that her friend
must be the object of a premeditated
attack direcled by some strong hand,
and once this suspicion had entered
Lorelei’s mind it took root in spite of
its seemiug extravagance. Her good
sense argued that she was of too little
consequence to warrant such an as
sault, but her relatives seized the sug
gestion so avidly as to more than half
convince her.
.»irs. rviiigm atmoutcu uns injustice
first to Bergman, thou to Merkie, whom
she hated bitterly since her unfortu
nate attempt at blackmail; Jim was
Inclined to agree with her. Mrs.
Knight, as always, ended her sympa
thetic reassurances by saying, “If you
were only married, my dear, that
would end all our troubles.”
The climax of these annoyances
came one night after a party at which
Lorelei had been presented to an old
friend of Miss Lynn’s. Lilas hud in
troduced tiie ruan as one of her girl
hood chums, and Lorelei had tried to
he nice to him; then in some way he
arranged to take her home. The mem
ory of that ride was a horror. She
knew now that she was hunted; the
man had told her so. She felt like a
deer cowering in a brake with the
hounds working close. This first at
tack left her trembling and wary. Her
cover seemed pitifully insecure.
Thus far Max Melelier's campaign
had worked even better than he had
expected; and meanwhile he had em
ployed Jim in assiduously cultivating
Boli Wharton and arranging as many
meetings as possible between Bob and
Lorelei. A short experience had taught
Jim to avoid his victim in daylight, for
In Bob’s sober hours the two did not
agree; but once mellowed by intoxica
tion. Wharton became imbued witli a
carnival spirit and welcomed Jim as
freely as he welcomed everyone. In
cidentally the latter managed to reap
a considerable harvest from the asso
ciation, for Bob was a habitual gam
bler, and the courteous treatment he
received at Melcher’s place seemed to
reconcile him to the loss of his money.
When, on the morning after her dis
tressing adventure, Lorelei sent for her
brother and demanded vengeance upon
her assailant he decided that it was
time to test the issue. Ho pretended,
of course, to be ferociously enraged,
but on learning over tbe telephone that
tiie wretch had left the city he declared
that there was nothing to be done ex
cept perhaps exact an explanation
from Lilas.
Miss Lynn, however, could offer no
excuse. She was heartbroken at the
occurrence, but she was too full of her
own troubles to give way to her sym
pathy for others. Jarvis Hamilton, it
seemed, had heard about tbe party,
and was furious with her.
“You must expect to meet such
muckers in this business," she re
marked philosophically.
Jim agreed. “I guess you'll have to
forget it, sis. Just don’t think altout
It. I’ll bring Wharton around tonight,
and we four will have supper, eh?”
Lilas’ hesitation in accepting this in
vitation seemed genuine, but she acqui
esced finally, saying with a short
laugh: “All right. Maybe a little Jeal
ousy won’t hurt my lord and master.
He’s getting too bossy, anyhow.”
***«*••
When the four set out that night
Wharton was in exceptional spirits,
and, as usual, devoted himself to Lore
lei. For him life was a Joyous ad
venture; he took things ns they came,
and now that he knew the girl for
what she was he did not allow him
self the slightest liberty. He was a
fervent suitor, to be sure, yet he court
ed her with jests and concealed his ar
dor behind a playful raillery.
Jim had ordered supper at a popular
Washington Heights inn. and thither
the quartet were driven in an open car
which he hired In the square before the
theater.
It was a charming place for a sup
per. Contrary to her custom, Lilas
Lynn allowed herself free rein, and for
once drank more than was good for
her, rejoicing openly in the liberty she
had snatched.
It Is a peculiar liberty to sit soberly
through a meal and see one’s compan
ions become Intoxicated. Lorelei
watched Lllaa and Bob respond to the
efTeet of the wine. The whole pro
cedure struck her, like her present life
as a whole, as both inane and wicked,
and she longed desperately to lay hold
of something really decent, true and
permanent •
Jimmy Knight’s admirable hospital
ity continued; he devoted his entire at
tention to his guests, he made conver
sation. and be led It Into the channels
he desired it to follow ' ,-hen
the psychological moment had come, h«
acted with the skill of a Talleyrand
No one but he knew precisely haw
Bob's proposal was couched, wlienct
U originated, or by what subtlety tht
victim had been Induced to make It
As a matter of fact. It was no pro
posal. and not even Bob himself sus
pected how his words had been twist
ed. He was just dimly aware of somt
turn in the conversation, when he
heard Jim exclaim:
"By Jove, sis. Bob asks you to mar
ry him!”
In prize-ring pariauce, Jimmy had
“feinted” his opponent into a lead, then
taken prompt advantage to “counter.”
Lorelei awoke to her surroundings
with a start, seuslug the sudden grav
ity that had fallen upon her three com
panions.
"What—?”
Lilas nodded and srniied at the be
wildered lover. "That's the way to
put it over. Bob—l>efore witnesses.”
“Don't joke about such things,''
cried Lorelei sharply.
“Joke? Who's Joking?” Jim was in
dignant and glanced appealingly at
Bob. "You meant it. didn’t you?”
“Sure. No joking matter,” Boh
declared vaguely. “I was Just say
ing that this is no life for a fellow
r
1
^Vsut-^iO
"She's Stalling, Bob. Make Her An
swer.”
to lead—batting 'round the way I do:
then Jlru said—I mean I said—l need
ed a wife, a beautiful wife. I never
saw a girl beautiful enough to suit me
before, and he said—’’
Jim's relief came as an explosion.
‘‘There! That's English. You spoke
a mouthful that time. Bob, for site
certainly is a beauty bright. But I
didn't think you had the nerve to ask
her. if she says yes. you’ll be the luck
iest man in New York—the whole
town's crazy about her."
"We'll make her say yes,” Lilas add
ed, with drunken decision. "Come,
dear, say it.” She bent a flushed face
toward Lorelei and In id a loose hand
upon her arm. "Well? What’s your
answer?”
Boh fixed heavy eyes upon his
heart's desire and echoed: “Yes. what
do you say?” More than once in his
sober moments he had pondered such
a query, and now that It appeared to
have taken shape without conscious ef
fort. he was not displeased with him
self.
"I say. you don't kmav what you're
doing.” Lorelei responded, curtly.
Now, Bob, like all men in Ids con
dition, was quite certain that lie was
in perfect possession of his faculties,
and therefore he very naturally re
sented such au absurd assertion.
“Don't you b'iieve it.” lie protested.
“I know what I'm doing, all right, all
right.”
“A man never speaks his mind un
til lie's ginned." Lilas giggled.
"ltighto! I’m not half drunk yet.”
Jim urged the suitor on with a nerv
ous laugh, at the same time avoiding
liis sister's eyes. "She's stalling. Bob.
Make her answer.”
"Yes or uo?” forcefully insisted the
wooer, determined, now. to show his
complete sobriety.
“No.”
Jim seized Wharton's hand and
shook it lustily. “Congratulations,
old man;, that means yes. I’m her
brother, and I know. Why, she told
father that you were tier ideal, and pa
said he'd die happy if you two were
married. He meant it. too; he's a
mighty siek man.”
Lorelei stirred uncomfortably, and
the faint color in tier cheeks faded
slowly. “We'll talk about it soifte
other time—tomorrow. Please don't
tease the poor man any more. He
didn't know what lie was saying, and
—now, for heaven’s sake, talk almnt
something else.”
Jim leaped to his feet with a grin
and a chuckle, then drew Lilas from
her chair, saying: “The lovers are em
barrassed, and they’re dying to l?e
alone. Let’s leave ’em to talk it over.'"
“She’s a dear, Rob, and I wish you
both joy. Rut don't kiss her here.”
said Lilas, warningly; then, with a
wave of her hand, she turned toward
the dancing room with Jim.
“Call us when you’ve fixed the date."
laughed the latter, over his shoulder.
When he and Lilas had danced The
encore and returned to the table Rob
rose unsteadily, glass in hand, and
nodded at them.
“Thanks, noble eomrailes.” lie pro
claimed; “she’s mine!”
“Hurrah!" Lilas kissed Lorelei ef
fusively. Jim seized Rob’s hand, cry
ing:
“Brother!” He waved to a waiter
and ordered a magnum of champagne.
“Bring me a wreath of orange blos
soms and a wedding cake, too.” His
jubilation attracted the attention of
the other diners; the occupants of a
nearby table began to applaud, where
upon Bob beamed with delight.
Lorelei was very white now. She
had decided swiftly, recklessly, reason
ing that this proffered marriage was
merely a bargain by which she got
more than she gave. She had accepted
without allowing her better self an
opportunity to marshal its protests,
autl, having closed her eyes ami leaped
into t?ie dark, it now seemed easier to
meet new consequences than to heed
those higher feelings that were tardily
struggling for expression. She did
pity Wharton, however, for it seemed
to her that he was the injured party.
Hut she was in a wanton mood tonight,
and of late a voice had been despe
rately urging her to grasp at what she
could, that she might, as long as pos
sible. delay her descent into worse con
ditions.
She heard T.ilas Inquiring: “When
does the marriage come off? Right
away?’’
Bob, who appeared somewhat dazed
by the suddenness and the complete
ness of his good fortune, smiled va
cantly. “Any time stilts me,” he said.
“I’m a happy man—little Joys are ca
pering all over the place, and old Doc
tor Gloom has packed his grip.”
.Tint startled them all by saying,
crisply: "Let's make it tonight. I
know Bol»—he’s not the sort to wait.”.
“Fine! Never thought of that. But—
I say where do they keep these wed
dings?” lie inquired. “Everything’s
closed now, and there's nobody danc
ing at the city hall, is there?” He ap
pealed helplessly to Jim.
Jim rose to the occasion with the
same promptitude he had displayed
throughout. "Marriages aren't made
in heaven any more—that’s old stufT.
1 hey re made in Hoboken, while the
call waits. Get your things on, every
body. while i telephone.” He allowed
no loitering; he waved the girls away,
sent the waiter scurrying with his bill,
helped Robert secure hut and stick,
and then dived into a telephone itooth
as a woodchuck enters its hole. When
he had disposed Ids three charges in
side a taxicab lie disappeared briefly,
to return with a basket of champagne
upon his arm. It is a wise general
who provides himself in advance with
ammunition.
Hie smooth celerity with which this
whole adventure ran its course argued
a thorough preparation on James' part,
hilt I.orelei was in no condition to an
alyze. Kven at the journey's end there
was a suspicious lack of delay. The
vehicle stopped iu a narrow business
street, now dark and dismal; its oecu- '
pants were hurried up a stairway aud
into a room Riled with law-books. :
where a sleepy justice of the peace
was nodding in a cloud of cigar smoke.
There followed a noisy shuffling of
chairs, some mutnhled questions and
answers, the crackle of papers, a deal
of unintelligible rigmarole, then a
man's heavy seal-ring was slipped
iiliou Lorelei’s finger, and she knew
herself to be Mrs. Roliert Wharton. I
It was all confused, unimpressive, un- '
real. .She was never able fully to re- i
call tlie picture of tftat room or the j
events that occurred there. They j
formed hut a part of the kaleidoscopic j
jumble of the night's occurrences.
The weliding party was in the cab j
once more, and it was under way. It |
was all so like a nightmare that Lore- .
lei began to doubt her own sanity. >
Once at rest in the dim-lit tunnel of I
the ferry boat, however, she was
brought sharply to herself by hearing
her brother exclaim: “Say! He hasn’t
kissed her yet.”
Lilas shrieked, and Rob stiffened
himself, then slipped an arm around
his bride. As she shrank away he
mumbled angrily: "Here! I won’t
stand for that," and crushed her to
him. ".You are beautiful—lienutiful.
Aud you’re mine. She’s mine, eh? No
foolishness about that, is there?” he
appealed to Jim.
As they drew in toward the New
York side the chauffeur inquired.
“Where to. now?”
“Why. drive us—" Jim hesitated.
There was a silence which Lilas broke
with a titter.
“Never thought of that.” Boh turned
again to Jim. who solved the difficulty
with a word.
“Why, you’re both going to Lorelei’s
place, of course; then you can make
your plans tomorrow.”
The bride's half-strangled protest
was lost in a burst of enthusiasm from
Lilas.
“Surest thing you know,” she cried;
"and we'll stop in my flat for a fare
well bottle: I've got a whole case.
We’ll end the night with another party
at Jarvis' expense. He’s crazy about
marriages, anyhow. Ha! Itut you
needn't tell him I was—full, under
stand?'’ She fell silent suddenly, then
burst into a loud laugh. “Bah! I
should worry!”
The ferry drew into its slip, the cab
motor shivered, the metallic rattle of
windlass and chain proclaimed the re
turn to Manhattan. Up the deserted
avenues the vehicle sited, while iiislfil
the white-faced hride cowered with lin
gers locked and heart sick with dread.
CHAPTER XIV.
_
Hilch.v Koo had gone home. When
Llias ushered her friends in act
snapped on the lights, the apartment,
save for the delirious spaniel, was un
occupied. She flung down her hat,
coat and gloves, then, with the tv Ij
of Jim, prepared glasses and a cor.N r.
Lorelei was restless: the thought of
more wine, more ribaldry, revolted her,
and yet she was grateful for this delay,
brief though It promised to be. Any
interruption, trivial or tragic, would
ho welcome. She was forced to pledga
her own happiness in a glass, then in
a wild moment of desperation longed
to deaden herself with liquor as the
others had done.
Jim and Lilas were talking loudly
when a key grated in the lock, the
door of the little apartment opened,
and Jarvis Hammon paused on the
threshold, glowering.
Lilas’ wineglass shattered upon the
floor.
“.Tarvis! You frightened me,” she
cried.
“Evening. Mr. Hammon.” Gob
lurched 10 bis feet, upsetting bis chair.
“This is a s'prisa.”
Jim had risen likewise, but Ham
mou bad eyes for no one except Lilas.
“Ah! You’re borne again, finally.
Where have you been?” be demanded,
in a voice heavy with anger. HU
hostile tone, his threatening attitude
brought an uncomfortable silence
upon the hearers.
“Now, .Tarvis.” said the bridegroom
placalingly. steadying himself mean
while with the aid of the table, “don’t
lie a grouch. Everything’s all right’
Lilas remained motionless, staring
defiantly. Her face had slowly whit
ened. and now its unpleasantness
matched that of her elderly admirer.
Hammon dropped his smoldering gaze
to tlie half-empty glasses, then raised
it. scowling at Jim.
uuuipn. » no as—mis
Lilas made her guest known. “Mr.
Knight, Mr. Haramon. I believe yoi
know Miss Knight.”
“So you’re the one.” Hammor
showed his teetli in a sardonic smile.
“I’m the one what?” inquired Jim
with a sickly attempt at pleasantry.
“What does she see in you?” Ham
mon measured the yonng man with
contemptuous curiosity.
“Don't be an ass, Jarvis," begar
Lilas. “I—”
She was interrupted roughly. “That’s
precisely what I don’t intend to be; and
1 don’t intend that Bob shall be one
either.” He turned to young Whar
ton. “What are you doing here, my
hoy? I’m sorry to see you with these
grafters.” Hammon indicated Jiir
and Lorelei with a nod.
“Eh? Wlmt’s that?” Bob stiffened
“Lorelei's my wife. 'S true, Jarvis/
"Wife?” Hammon took a heavy step
forward. “Wife? You’re drunk, Bob/
“P'r’aps. But we’re mar—”
“So! You landed him, did you?’
Hammon glared at the brother and
sister. “You got him drunk and mar
ried him, eh? And Lilas helped you
I suppose. Fine! They're crooks
Bob. and they’ve made a fool of you.’
Bob chocked the speech on Lorelei’s
lips with an upraised hand, then said
slowly, with a painful effort to sobet
himself: “We’ve been good friends
Jarvis; you’re a kind of an uncle tc
me, but—you’re a liar, You’ve lied
’bout my wife, so I s’pose I've got tc
lick you.” With a backward kick ht
sent his overturned chair flying, then
made for Hammon. But Jim seized
him by the arm; Lorelei sprang lit
front of him.
"Mr. Whar—Bob,” she cried. “Yot
mustn’t—for my sake.” The thres
scuffled for an instant until Hammor
said, more quietly:
“I couldn’t fight with you. Bob—
you're like my own son. But you’ve
beeu sold out, and—and it looks as it
I’d been sold out, too. Now go homt
and sleep. I didn’t come here to quar
rel with you; I have a matter of my
own to settle.” He laid a hand on
Bob's shoulder in an effort to pacify
him, hut the young man’s indignation
Hared into life with drunken persist
ence. It was Lorelei who at last pre
vailed upon her husband to leave
peaceably, and she was about to ae
Lompany him when Lilas Lynn checked
her.
| Do you feel that a more fright- i
t; ful experience still Is impending *
for Lorelei? And does she, in fj
, your opinion, feel it too? M
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
CLUE TO CAUSE OF CANCER
Perhaps There Is Good Reason Why
Moses Forbade Use of Pork
to Hebrews.
The latest scientific support for the
Mosaic code is perhaps not a very
great matter, but it is immensely in
teresting, writes the medical corre
spondent of the London Times. In
the last issue of the British Journal
of Surgery there appears a paper de
scribing the appearances of certain
blood cells in malignant disease (can
cer). The author is a well-known ob
server. Certain peculiarities of the
cells of the blood were noted by him
in cancer cases, and it then occurred
to him that these changes might also
be produced by taking certain ar
ticles of diet. He carried out various
tests, and the follow^ Is his con
clusion :
"It was found that one can repro
duce the blood picture of carcinoma
(cancer) in respect to the nuclear
pseudopods by partaking of certain
articles of food—notably 5CTk, and to
a less extent other red meats.” He
adds: "Incidentally, rtm observa
tions suggest the physiological reason
for the dietary imposed upon the He
brew race (Gen. 9, 4; Lev. 11).”
While no hurried conclusions must
be arrived at on the strength of what
is, after all, only a very small item
in the picture of the disease, it is yet
fair comment that “since one phase
of the blood picture produced by cir
culating toxins of malignant disease
can be Imitated by ingestion of highly
nitrogenous food (i. e., pork, etc.), it
suggests that long-continued overuse
of the same may form an advantage
ous substratum for the subsequent
development of the disease . . .
This statement has only a speculative
value.” . . .
The passage in Leviticus runs:
‘‘And the swine, though he divide the
hoof and be cloven-footed, yet ha
cheweth not the cud; he is unclean
to you.”
Steamer vs. Motor.
The economies obtained in the oper
ation of a motorship as compared to a
steamer are almost unbelievable, due
to the fact that there are no large
boilers or stokeholds in the former
and because the consumption of oil
fuel is only one-fifth of that of a coal,
or oil, fired steamer, so the bunker
and boiler spaces thus saved can be
given over to extra cargo. With a
tramp steamer of 10,000 tons about
01)0 tons of extra cargo can be carried,
and at the present high rate of freights
the economical advantage in a year is
enormous, apart from the large saving
oil the fuel bill.
The Queer Things We Read.
"She was trotting along behind him
in her bare feet and bedroom slippers.
"Wanted—Young lsdy as clerk in
dry goods store. Experience essential,
but not necessary.” “We were finally
picked up by the Primrose and arrived
at Queenstown, many of us half
naked, others half-dressed.”
An Economical Girl.
Violet—"Adele is such an econom
ical little body!” La Rose—“Ah, yes!
She’ll trudge for miles from one law
office to another to save $10 on a di
vorce!”
THE HIGH QUALITY SEWING MACHINE
NEVfcffQME
NOT SOLO UNDER ANY OTHER NAME
Write for free booklet "Points to be considered before
purchasing a Sewing Machine.” Learn the facts.
THE NEW HOME SEWING MACHINE CO..ORANGE.MASS.
For Sale or Trade
.,000 acre Saskatchewan Farm, with com
plete equipment. Produced in 1915 over
100,000 bushels. Value $100,000. Further
listings of Canada land desired.
FRANK CRAWFORD
W. O. W. Building OMAHA, NEBRASKA
Nebraska Directory
THEMXT0NHO"1
-EUROPEAN PLAN
Rooms trom $1.00 up single, 73cento np double.
CATl PRICKS REASONABLE
Kill All Flies! '"SSZT
Placed earwbar*.Delay Sty Siller attrarta and kill* all
atal. eacratuant, aad ehaap.
LaataaUaaa—a. Mai#
Daisy Fly Killer
ifi lf«?
HAROLD SOMERS, 150 DaKalb Avs. &roo*Uy«,H. V.
W A fUTFIl celling ob MiU Hnpp'.y. Re
■ kU tail Hardware, and General Htorrs
to carry Lace Leather, iiame Strapn, and Hatters,
and Blacksmith Aprons, on commission. Bselnstve
territory assigned. ('skfsraia Tauiti U.,8t. Iwh. %•
PATENTS
Watson K. Colsnio,
Patent Lawyer. Washington,
D. C. Advice ax>d books tree
Bates reasonable. Higheat references. Boa*services.
HEAD HUNTERS GETTING BUSY
Natives of Solomon Island Take Ad
vantage of War to Gather
Trophies.
UW ■] IIVl
to be a very close connection between
the war in Europe and head bunting
in the Solomon islands. Nevertheless,
the one arises from the other.
Previous to the outbreak of the
war, according to a Vancouver World's
Sydney (N. S. W.) correspondent, Brit
ish, and occasionally German war
ships patrolled the islands and en
deavored to keep down cannibalism
.among the natives, who are largely of
Papuan or Malaysian stock. How
ever, the requirements for the trans
port of troops led to the recall of the
British warships—and the happy head
hunter has been free to follow his own
devious courses.
In one raid made by a mountain
tribe upon a smalt village near the
coast no less than 2G heads were se
cured. No punishment followed be
cause the whites were unable to or
ganize in time. As a consequence
the raids are growing more dangerous,
and although as yet, no Europeans
have been attacked, planters have con
stantly to keep on their guard.
Russia’s Natural Roads.
Russia is almost a roadless land. It
Is Inconceivable to the foreign visitor
who has never left the beaten track of
the railways in Russia how a great em
pire can have subsisted so long and so
successfully without even a pretense at
roads. The secret lies in the fact that
for live or six months in the year na
ture herself provides roads over the
greater part of Russia—admirable,
smooth, glassy roadways over hard
worn snow.
The traffic is further cheapened over
these roads by the substitution of a
sledge-runner for the wheel and axle.
This brings the cost of land carriage as
near the cheapness of water-ltorne
freight as possible and it is Lite princi
pal reason why Russia in the twentieth
century is still a roadless land.
A Wise Provision.
A good story is being told, apropos
of preparedness, on a clever labor
orator who lately spoke In Baltimore.
In a speech made in another city he
absentmindedly put his finger in his
mouth .and in an outburst of ener
getic eloquence inadvertently bit it.
Later on, exigencies more or less
common to suffering humanity
caused him to part with the offend
ing teeth and replace them with a
good brand of artificial ones. But the
remembrance of the former still
rankled, and when lie began his
preparations to speak in Baltimore
he removed the teeth carefully, and
putting them on the table beside him,
looked at the audience and quietly
remarked: “Safety first.”
Its Sort.
“Did you see where in the storm the
other night the jail was struck?"
“Well, what better place for a light
ning bolt?”
A* the acorn grow* to
he the mighty oak, so chil
dren when rightly nour
ished, grow to be sturdy
men and women.
Good flavor and the es
sential nourishing elements
for mental and physical de
velopment of children are
found in the famous food —
Grape-Nuts
Made of whole wheat and
malted barley, this pure food
supplies all the nutriment of
the grains in a most easily di
gested form.
It does the heart good to see
little folks enjoy Grape-Nuts
and cream.
“There’s a Reason*'
Sold by Grocers.