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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1916)
HIE OMAHA STJTOAY flER: AUGUST 1.1, 8 C The Grip of Evil Author of "Th. Win, af th Morning," "Th Pillar of Light,"' "The Trm of Surrender," "Number 17," Etc. . fj Z.OS TRACY N""1'"'1 ,rom ,n" Serlet rf Photopl.jrt of the Same Nam. '' i ' ' ' Copyright, 19 Hi, by Louis Tracy. "I Fifth Episode--The Way of a Woman CHAPTER IX. A Modern Cinderella. The conditions of poverty arir such that wisdom seldom indeed can he come its handmaiden. It would stem to be logical, as an instance, that po erty would at least choose its habi tat in the open air and under the blue skies of the country in prefer ence to the fetid slums of the city. Unfortunately, however, more real misery, more abject want, centers within a square mile of some densely '.lopulated working class quarter than .11 10,000 square miles of prairie. For instance, the Kay family, whose typical case now comes under review, would have been vastly better off as the veriest squatters living at the farthest end of beyond than as tenants of a tiny flat in a busy manufacturing town. The head of the household, a man of fifty, had decided long ago that hard work brought him nowhere, consequently, indeed, one might almost say inevitably, he elected to become a corner loafer, a sponger on his acquaintances, an ever increasing incubus on his wretched will'. She, poor creature, might once have been a decent woman, but the she r hope lessness of life had borne her down until she degenerated into a slatternly virago. Vet heredity plays strange pranks. This hapless pair, bringing into the world children condemned heiorc they were born to grow into disso lute" wastrels, had contrived to rear among the brood one at least with potentialities for good. Helen Kay, the eldest daughter, was not only good looking and endowed with a line physique, but, given a happier en vironment, would undoubtedly have developed into a notable woman. As though to emphasise the vagaries which manifest themselves in such human flotsam and jetsam, her brother, George Kay, two years her junior, was already depraved at JO. There were two younger children, of whose qualities this record takes no count. They merely helped to increase the squalor and overcrowd ing of four small rooms. They counted two more mouths at an ill provided table. They added two more straws to the choked maelstrom surg ing from daylight to dark in the pul lulating street beneath. Thus, one morning was very like another. The only wage earner in the family was Helen, and her mother's sole contribution to the household needs began and ended when she roused the sleepy girl and prepared an inadequate hreaKtast. Vet, even in the. lives of the Kays and their like, there will surely dawn one morning wlien fate enters unseen and guides their footsteps into predes tined paths leading to new and unex plored lands. Helen and her two small sisters slept in the same tousled bed. They were always tired, ihey went to bed tired. If there was peace overnight in the family, and the weather was fine, they rsmamed out too late. It the paternal Kay had con trived to get drunk, an interminable quarrel between him and his wife would break out, and be too often en livened by the man's oath and the woman's screams, when words gave place to blows. The result was always the same a gradual dyingdown of the volcano in the small hours of the morning, a weary opening of bleared eyes to the troubles of a new day. Thus, on the morning when fate crept into that dismal abode with laden hands, Helen beard nothing but her mother's shrewish voice storming at brr for laziness saw nothing but the same soiled and disheveled sur roundings. The magic presence was veiled. Who might tell whether it was angel or fiend? The girl awoke suddenly under an imperative shaking. She knew what the summons meant. As otic aroused from an affrighting nightmare, she sat up, yawned, and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "All right, ma." she said sullenly, "you can cut out the rough stuff now. I'll be ready in two minutes." With a final growl, Mrs. Ray re tired to her lair, the unkempt room wherein the family cooked, ate, and lounged when "at home." Her hus band, who had not met with "any luck" the previous day, and was peev ish and restless in consequence, had risen with the dawn and was nibbling at a breakfast while endeavoring to read a morning paper borrowed from a more thrifty neighbor. .So tar, a sort of peace prevailed in the flat. Helen, while attending to her own toilet, helped the children to dress. They, to whom a new day meant at least some of those minor joys' of which the worst of slums cannot rob childhood, began to chatter noisily, with the inevitable result that they were scolded by their mother and cursed by their father. Mrs. Kay was apparently selecting the tit-bits of the poor fare provided for the meal, and arranging them on a tray, which she carried forthwith into the garret where her son, and favorite, was still sound asleep. '1 be boy's face, already wvak to effemi nacy, looked almost childish in its placid repose. And not for him were vexed shaking and bitter reproach. The mother stroked his head fondly. He awoke with a start, and instantly his expression became that of a sulky cur. He thrust aside her hand. "Oh, go away I" be cried. "Can't you leave me alone? Why do you want to come bothering a feller:" "But, Georgia, deary she protested, "it's time you were up. Here's your breakfast." The mere mention of food exerted a soothing influence. Like the snarling pup that he was, George Kay con descended to eat, though grumbling the while that she "might ha' given a feller another half hour." Meanwhile, Helen had taken her own breakfast from the stove, and was looking after the children's wants when her mother came into the room and stared at the clock. "Just look at the time!" she cried. "If you sit there imich longer eatiu' you'll be docked half a day at the store." Helen glanced up in alarm. The hour was twenty minutes aiter seven. She ought to have been out of the louse at least live minutes ago. Hastily gulping down some coffee, nnd stuffing her mouth full of bread, she grabbed her Ji.it, and made for the door. She betnouglit herself. "Ma," she said. "Can't you spare carfare this morning' " J "Carfare;" shrilled her mother. I "You get a move on, you hussv! ; Where am I to get carfare from, with ,a hungry iack to feed an' a rotten I busban' w!i,i i'iizIi errv i-i-nt Ur can lay hands unr" Kay snorted at this unexpected at tack, and Helen tied, followed down stairs by the sounds of a furious al tercation. Nevertheless, Mrs. Kav was able to produce a much needed earl.ne tor her son when that sore headed voting gentleman made a be lated appearance about 9 o'clock. He. by the way, was far belter dressed than his sister, and his chief worry for the hour centered in the fact that heliail no cigarettes. The head of the family had already gone oil on the usual round, which included every corner saloon in the district, so the mother, after a strenu ous debate, sighed resignedly and pro duced some coins from underneath an unsuspected till box on a shelf. Young Kay took them ungraciously and liurrK-d out. He was supposed to be studying law. Curiously enough, he contrived to imbibe legal lore in a pooliooiu. Helen, makintr up for lost time by a running walk, was delayed by a long freight train which halted across the street, and after an interminable dtflay, backed slowly. The depart ment store where she earned her pit tance opened at seven-thirtv. If she was late she knew only too well i that she would lose half a day's pay. , At last, however, the road was clear i and she literally ran the rest of the way. .Nevertheless, the hands of the clock at the employes' entrance point ed inexorably to 7:4.0. 'T'm terribly sorry about the time," she explained breathlessly to the checker. "Hut I couldn't help myself. There was a train across the track and " "Oh. can that stuff, it's old," said the clerk, with an odious leer. "H you can't put up a better spiel than that, let it go." "But it's true," cried Helen des perately, her face blanching at the thought of the scene at home when her pay envelope was lessened by a line of half a day's pay. The clerk caught her by the shoulder. "Say kid," he chuckled, "I'll just forget you were late. The fine is one kiss." The girl was so taken aback that ' she recoiled as though some noxious insect had stung her. ithout an other wonl she darted along a pas sage. The checker gazed after her philosophically. , "So that's the lay of the land, is it?" he muttered, and marked her name on the "late" list. Helen was engaged at the notions counter. The morning passed with out unusual incident. At first there was a rush of customers, but things quieted down after the commuters had finished their shopping and were streaming out to lunch. About that time, a tall, well-dressed young man ; halted at the counter and examined its contents. His exceptionally fine physique and strong, self-reliant fea- I tures invited the covert scrutiny of Helen and her coworkers. "Say he's some swell guy, ain't ner wnisperea one ot tne girls., "I like his looks," admitted Helen. "Do you know who he isr" "Ah, chee!" came the scornful an swer, "isn't "every girl in town wise to him? That's the young American I who s now a British lord, it you please. John Burton he used ter be. Worked in an iron yard, he did, until ia guv from London came along an' j told him be was the marquis of Cas ! tleton. an' made good by bandin' over ( a wad as big as your head." ! "Oh," gasped Helen, awe-stricken, j She gazed at John with a new in i lerest. Would ever any "guy from London" come to her and tell her she was a duchess, she wondered. ' At that moment John happened to glance at her, and their eyes met. Some magnetic bond seemed to draw them together. John took from the counter an article which he did not anf, beckoned to her, and secured a charge slip. He merely wished to I do the girl a good turn by crediting her with a sale. i After bis departure, Helen's wits j went a wool-gathering, and she was j spoken to sharply more than once by 'a domineering floorwalker. Unfor j tunately, she was not popular with i the petty tyrants of the store. She ! was too pretty not to attract atten tion, and, in their estimation, was "above her job"; in plain English, she kept these people at arm's length, i That was destined to be a day of ; surprises. During the afternoon, a : girl named Alice Martin, who once : had worked in the store, came to the counter and shook bands with her .old friends. Though Alice was at ' tired in the height of fashion, she 1 was by no means a snob, and greeted ihem heartily. Time was when Helen and she hail lived oil terms of the utmost intimacy, and Alice's present : finer)' was so completely at variance with her vague prospects when she left the store that Helen couldn't help asking what good fortune had be fallen her. "Oh. I've found a gold mine," she answered airily. The retort meant nothing. Apparently, it was by way of being a joke. "1 wish you'd tell me wdiere to dig," was Helen's mild comment. "Things are going from bad to worse in our joint." Alice ran an appraising eye over her friend. "Whv. kid," she said, "with your b.oks, and that shy little smile of yours, you needn't search very far. Here conies my gold mine now." A stout, bald-headed, flashily-attired man. with a heavy jowl and a big paunch, had just appeared from another department. He booked a fleshy forefinger at Alice. "Hurry up, girlie," he said. "You ran drop mc at the office, and then the car will take you for an airin' in the park." Alice nodded to Helen with a sig nificant smile. Then she went out with her "gold mine," leaving the other to stare after her and take in every detail of her smart garments with the quick eye of woman. Meanwhile, Burton had been stopped by one of those we'lMneaning ladies who somehow condone (he luxuries of their own homes by slum ming among the poor. U -." 3 1 -- wmtmmsr:..' 't.im j r " r "WHAT AM I BID?" i cd consequences ment must entail. Mllfct, bill vni tat "I don't care," stunned "Let lue he happv ior a month or a cai I hen oii can M'ud me away. I tan always end up as I tiled the oilier da." "Hush, oii pool child." he said, anil his voice tlnobbed with sympathy. "1 cannot bear to ht.u such words from yotli lips, on aie young enough lo sl.nt life all over a,tain With in y hi lp. which shall be given fteelv. I promise on lite i an be made a very giacious thing " Hut Helen was not to be con uiied I leteninnation bad itoen hei a ir v. strength There was a I i .t I c : v. t , k: something in her e;ns w Inch she had tell bet icet, and the flood teallv beautiful. "All right," she want me. I see. so with ni .i ii v thank which I tan new not eo back home sptan her: ..in! '"l ou don't '!! leave you now . lot a kindness to,Ket. But I'lli no, n er. never! hi call pieach as on like. Mr. Bur-: The door pene.d and "Don't tell me you are too busy this morning to come with me among the submerged tenth," said the lady. "I am sur your lordship can have little idea of the abject poverty which lies within a block of the most fash ionable thoroughfares. Do come! Share my car. Tell your man w here to wait for you, and I'll drop you there in an hour." John smiled. Far better than the doll-like creature addressing him, he knew how the poor live. But, there was no special claim on his tilde that day, and it humored him to watch the Iirthods of these superior creatures as they picked their dainty way tnrougu the slums. I Thev visited a number of tenements and finally happened upon that which housed the Kays. "Your lordship really ought to take up settlement work," murmured John's companion. "1 can't tell you what a gallant fight some of these wretched people make. Now, here is a woman " She knocked at a door, and Mrs. Ray appeared, looking more slattern ly than ever, and willing soapsuds from her hands on an apron which itself might well have gone to the washtub. Mrs. Ray was not loath to tell her visitors the talc of her hard, daily grind, or did she need to add any touch of exaggeration to the story. John bad his own ideas about these things. He knew Mrs. Kay and her like too well and he knew too what victims of circumstances such as she were. Nevertheless, preferring to be charitable rather than scientific, in -us attitude toward the poor, he banded the woman a $10 bill. Her eyes glis tened. That pampered son of hers (at that moment swearing effusively be cause he had missed a shot in a pool room) wanted a new suit. Here, fallen from the skies, was the where withal to provide it. But neither her husband nor her eldest daughter should know of this stroke of luck. The note was folded carefully and secreted in a stocking. That afternoon the lady slummer enjoyed a glorious roiind-of vicarious eharitv. She little guessed how sore at heart she had made the man whose bountv seemed to be inexhaustible. Everything he saw contributed to the one horrible conclusion, that human; itv was palsied within the grip of evil. When at last he and the skim mer parted, John pretended to enter his own car. As soon as his self elected guide had sped off in her own limousine, he sent his car" home and strolled into a neghborng park. There, a prey to disturbing thoughts, he sat on a seat beneath some trees and watched a number of children at play. In their innocent gambols be found some consolation, it really did seem that life was mind ed to begin well, but by operation of some mysterious and sinister law, drifted off into the paths of misery. These children were hippy and care free. Whv could they not grow up into reputable citizens? Why should laughter change to tears; fresh, smooth skins alter int. natures be sotted by crime and lust? lie was startled from this mourn ful reverie by a loud shout, and the sudden running of" passerbys to an ornamental bridge which spanned at a considerable height, a lake meander ing through the park. Out of the tail of his eye he saw a girl poised on the parpact. Then, with a despairing cry, the poor creature flung herself into the water. It was palpably a case of attempted suicide, yet not a man among the score or more who had seen her climb the railing attempted other means of rescue than wild shouting lor the po lice and frantic gesticulations to a boat far too distant to render timely aid. 'Fearing oil bis coat as he went. John raced to the nearest point on the bank, and plunged in. He was able to wade out some part of the way, until the water rose to his breast, when he began to swim. A few powerful and determined strokes brought him to the spot where the girl had disappeared. Her hat was already floating down stream, but be bad mentally marked the exact lo cality where she had taken that fear some plunge, and knew that there alone could be find her. His judg ment had not erred. A white tare, rendered unrecognizable by the lux uriant golden-brown hair that cov ered it, ro.se close at hand. In a sec ond John had seized tlx drowning g:-! ny the shoulders. 1 hen. tinning on his back, he kicked his return vigor ously to the bank. Of course, hun dreds of hands were ready to help now, but he did not need them. "Gel out of the way, you dogs!" he growled. "You saw a woman drown ing under your very eyes, yet none of you tried to save her. 1 don't want your help now. Get out!" The girl lay insensible in his arms, but he knew that she was in no actual danger, and was suffering only from shock. With a tender hand he brushed the tangled hair from her face. "Good God!" he muttered. He had rescued the pretty assistant 'whom he had seen that morning at j the notion counter of the big depart ment store. CHAPTER X. Helen Demands Her Price. An automobile had stopped on the edge of the crowd. Its occupant, an elegantly gowned young woman, curious to learn the cause of the ex citement, alighted and edged a path through the mob. It was Alice Mar tin, on her way home from a matinee. She was genuinely distressed when she recognized Helen. "Why," she cried in great alarm "what has happened? Has there been an accident? This girl is a friend of mine." "I am glad of that, madam," said John gravely. "Perhaps you will help by taking her to your house and look ing after her till she recovers brr senses." But Alice could not do that. Hu man gold mines of the variety in which she had stock did not care to i have their palatial apartments ran ; verted into a refuge for the sick and i the destitute. I in sorry," she confessed. "I I'm staying with a friend. It's not my own place. But if my car can be of any service " '''orta'"'y''' agieed John at once. Hill you allow mc to put her inside? 1 II sit with the chauffeur." Hut where are you taking her to'" Don't you know where she lives?" "Xo. That is we haven't met for some time until today." The qualifying clause "until today" struck John as singular. "Do you mean that you saw her in the depart ment store?" he inquired. Miss Martin nodded. It was now her turn to be surprised at such ready recognition of Helen's whereabouts in business hours. Hut it was manifest ly impossible to carry the discussion further. "My own house is not far distant " said John. "Let us take her there and send for a doctor. o doubt my housekeeper will be able to pro vide some dry clothes. At any rate this poor girl should be put to bed immediately and allowed to rest until tomorrow. Do not be alarmed. She has only fainted. She was not in the water long enough to incur any se rious consequences." "Did she try to commit suicide?" inquired the Martin girl, in an awed voice. "It looks something like that," said John, grimly. "I'oor thing!" murmured Alice "Her folks are Well, there! Let's get a move on !" Burton was conscious of a feeling of surprise at this fine ladv's manner of speech. However, he lifted Helen's limp form tenderly into the limou sine, retrieved his coat, and gave the chauffeur the necessary directions. 1 he gaping crowd was quickly hit behind, and the car swept into the spacious and 'well tended grounds of a mansion, at sight of which Alice Martin opened her ryes very wide in deed. Mie had the sense, however, to behave with much discretion while Helen was being installed in a per fectly appointed bedroom. A doctor, hurriedly summoned, announced that after a rest, some light food, and a hot bath, the invalid would be as well as ever. John bad come in to ascertain the doctor's verdict. He was still rather in a quandary. Turning to Alice, with the grave smile and inscrutable an which invariably puzzled those who knew him, he said quietly; "As you have been so kind, 1 am tempted to ask you another favor. Will you remain with Miss Ray until a nurse can be obtained? You see, I'm a bachelor." "You can count on me in every way, Mr. ," Alice paused demurely. "John Burion is the name 1 am best known by," was the answer. Again Alice was bewildered, blither doubts vanished when an elderly huuAAkttyu; explained volubly that her master was the marquis of Cas- ton a real, live British peer, who had a fad to live in America under the name he bore until the title came his way. Alice waited until she was alone with Helen, who, by this time, was thoroughly restored to conscious ness. "Maybe this is your gold mine, dearie," she whispered. "You never can tell; but. unless I'm greatly mis taken, if you play a strong hand, you've struck it rich." Poor Helen was too weak and dis traught to cax- much at that moment what became of her. She sobbed out a broken story. Matters had come to a climax in the store that day. She bad been dismissed summarily for in attention, and the small sum due as wages had been lessened by the fine levied for ten minutes lost that morn ing. When she went home, tearful and disheartened, her mother had met her with nothing but reproaches. She was bidden to go out and not return until she found another job. She knew how hard that quest would be with out a reference. Her heart quailed at the task. While crossing the park, the cool, glistening water of the lake looked so much like a solution of her problem that she resolved then and there to make an end of the cease less struggle. "Almost before I knew what I was doing," she confided to her friend, "I had climbed the rail and flung myself over. But Alice only laughed. "I you ask me, kid, she said, "you dived head first into a mighty good proposition." Helen did not recover her strength quite so rapidly as the doctor antici pated. He, good man, had counted merely on the recuperative power of youth and a superb physique. He knew nothing of the daily and nightly strain of weary years. He could not guess that the beautiful appurtenances of that well equipped house, the ex cellent fare, the sleek-footed servants, the every care and solicitude with which the girl was tended, affected her mind to an extraordinary degree. But nature was not to be denied. At the end of a week Helen was quite ! strong again, and the nurse announced ! that she would be taken out into the ) open air. John, with his wonted j kindliness of thought, suggested at once that his automobile was at their disposal, so Helen and the nurse were I sent for a glorious ride into the coun i trv. Alice Martin, wishful, in her own obtuse-minded way, to assist her friend, had helped John to purchase some suitable garments. Hence, Helen looked singularly attractive as she was helped down the steps of the porch and into the car, while on her return, the flush of new health had replaced the pallor of her cheeks. It happened, unfortunately, that her brother saw her as she laughingly de clined the nurse's proffered arm and walked unaided into the house. The young reprobate's amazement may well lie imagined. Of course, there had been a hubbub at home, hut no one knew what had become of the missing girl. The mere magnificence of John's residence almost frightened Mr. Ray. He hung about irresolutely. His self-confidence needed the sharp est purling before he could nerve himself to the task of ringing the bell and asking to be allowed to see his sister. Meanwhile, Burton was entertaining his pretty guest at tea. Realizing that the girl's health was almost fully restored, he ventured to say that she must surely be thinking now about returning home. Although he had as certained from the nurse that Helen had never shown the least desire to communicate with her parents, he was utterly astounded when she broke out m tearful rebellion. "1 don't want to go home," she sobbed. "Y'ou can't think what it means lo mc- to leave this lovely house to he sent far away from such surroundings to a miserable flat in a mean street. 1 never want to see my people again. I'm sick of be ing poor--sick to death. 1 refuse to put up with it any longer. Let me stay here on any terms 1" John was sure that the distraught girl hardly knew what she was say ing. Anxious only to soothe her dis tress, ami having made up his mind to help her, he drew his chair a little nearer and look one of her small hands gently r.i his big, capable ones. "Now, listen to me," he said. "Wu are talking of impossible things. You don't begin to understand the wretcb- ,my such arrange- woman's vituprration. He still bent Both of us would ; over Helen, gazed earnestly into her more than 1." eyes and besought her to rump away Helen 1 w"" 11,111 Mu" luoked up at him m I, ur a t ur lou si)- questioning way. She seenieu to search tits lace tor some hull id a pa'sion that was not there. Then, yielding apparently to an uu ronlrollalde impulse, she thrust back the cavalier win. was minded to change words for blows, mounted the chair in which she liar! been seated and. before an) one could stop her, slood on the table, Kicking aside an array of hollies and glasses with her dainty feet. "The man who wants me must buy me!" she shrieked. "I know 1 come oul of a 5-ccnt .store, bill give me a ical show and I'll make good. The one thing I want you all to know here and now is that I refuse any longer to be poor. Who'll inal.r the nrst break'" a Helen's extraordinary escapade had drawn every habitue of the garish cabaret as a magnet ihaw-i steel fil ings. The women applauded her. I hen men. flushed with wine and worse, were ready to ruler into the spit it oi this strange auction. The crowd of roysterers treated the whole affaii as a wild prank. But Burt. in knew in his heart Ilia' the girl was In deadly earnest. She had at least contrived lo convey her meaning t't him alone. She was say ing in effect: "If you really want to save me as much as you say you do, vmi must take me here and now. I What are you going to do about it?" I 'a II id .ml stern, his eyes darting strange lightnings. J"hn llllereii never a word He knew he could not this unhappy creature the love she drinandrd. and he scorned to complete in mere terms of money with the foul crew now crowding around the table. Already some of the men were stirred to emulation. I'ocketbooks were opened and bun dles of notes were thrown on the table. "hive thousand!" yelled one man. "Fifteen!" bellowed a third. "I'wentvl I'll put in a certified check" this from the 6tcadfast swam. Burton felt a was his friend. .. t U- l,r it i . .1... .--..ir I Lome away, muueiru mc iu. ized him by the scruff , . , but'ler ' lm""' forever! If 'you stay here. VOU II OUIV gel JdUiaill im "B"" drawing room biltlei. diste- ; cs ol a scene be ali'l a girl aneiit ahcady wagging i all, announced a f lb, sua aiding ihe ei Iweeu his ma whom tongues in the sen. ml visitor. "Mi Geoige Kav, so lie says he's this oiing lady's brother " Geotge came in. The door closed on him. bill he stood stock still Com pelling linn.sell to c.ury llliough a program carelully rehearsed outside, I he lei-red :.l lohu and then at Helen. I i "So Ibis is where on are, kid, hcl'V" 'guffawed. "Well, si arch me! I don't j blame vrr Bui the old man's got i blood iii his eye, anil it be linds out I about well, good nigbl! Anyhow. I'll be a sport. 1 wont say a word. Look here, mister," and he turned to smirk, "gimme fifty dollars and I'll keep tnilili." "You hear!" shrilled Helen, point ing at her brother with tragic linger. "That's what I've got to go back lo! That's part of my family! Nice boy, ain't be?" Stirred to wrath, Burton said not a word, but strode up to the discom tiled tieortre. of the neck and thrust him out of the hand on his arm. It r, loin, hiddinu Ihe astounded throw the young lilarkguaru into .... whop wretched thing win llc street and not be loo particular how , 1)azonei in ,nc newspapers. '' lul " ti i I Aware only of a feeling of physi- Then he strove to assuage Helens I , jnhn ,url1e(t and went to Siorill-iossi u cum, i ions. 's ...r well have endeavored lo quell an equinoctial gale. He learned too late that "Hell holds no fury like a wo man scorned." Dashing the tears from her eyes, Helen followed her brother out of the house. But she had quite made up her mind not to return to the Ray tenement. She sought her friend, Alice Martin, and Alice, in her perverted way, played a strangely contorted version of the role id the Good Samaritan. 'Never you mind, dearie, she said. the door. His departure was noted by the revelers, and evoked an ex ultant yell. "The noble-marquis is down and out!" roared he who had bid $20,000, and who was now wildly waving a checkbook. "He's got to cither pay : up or shut up. I guess he can't make :; good." Helen's eyes darted one last hungry ( glance at the man with whom she i would cheerfully have faced poverty e and all that meant. He interpreted j ... - , , .if x ariglll 11. ul iciiiinc lour., auu mouiii- "Y ou stay right here until I can fix , ,n) shook h,'s hea(1 she a,kert u j love, and that he did not feel he j could give, since his sad experience of 3 life had seemingly made Inm a bank- i rupt in life's precious gift.' j Knowing sue had failed, Helen t spurned him with a magnificent ges- ture. she whirled around upon the man who had named the highest price. "Y'ou win!" she screamed, and flung herself into his arms. That last dreadful cry rang in John's ears for many a day. It was the plaint of a lost soul. (End of Fifth Episode.) English Historical Plays Cut Down in Germany (Con-Mjjondenre of Tho Awoclated Preu. thirds tor vmi. ion needn t care, even if you have missed your marquis. He ain't the only, pebhle on the beach." Hurton was more distressed than he cared to admit. When the first shock of the girl's departure had passed he resolved to find her, and use every means in his power to bring her back to a more equable frame of mind. Hut bitter experience had taiiRht him the worst possible method of reclaiming her would be to surround her with that idle luxury for which her soul craved. He fancied, fond visionary that he was. that a few weeks' residence in some edate and well conducted household would work wonders on one of her impressionable tempera ment. But, search as he might and did, lie found no trace of the lost girl during nearly a fortnight. Rerlin, July 31. A summary, of Shakespearean performances in Ger many the last season discloses that 1 At last, however, a friend in whom I all the plays dealing with England's he had confided, and whose assistance he sought, ascertained the true state in which Alice Martin uvea, and, by following up that clue, came upon the cabaret in which the two girls now took their nightly diversion. Greatly history were unperformed with the exception of "Henry IV" and "Rich- ' ard III," each of which enjoyed but three performances. The "Merchant of Venice" led. with ninety-eight per formances, and "Hamlet" was but grieved at the news. Hurton went 1 one behind, with ninety-seven. there with his companion, and found I In all, 675 performances of Shakes Helen seated at a table in the midst j pearean plays were given by ninety- ot a gay party, fearing a row, the 'four theaters. other man endeavored to persuade John to drop quietly into a corner and await developments. But Burton was always too eager Is a reformer, ever too ready to snatch humanity from the grip of evil in which he deemed it held. Striding across to the revelers, and disregarding all others except Helen, he bent over the girl and urged her I earnestly to come away from a devil- ish set which meant only to compass her ruin. She hung her head in j shame, hut a man beside her, who had i already marked her down as his law i ful prey, naturally resented such out i spoken language, and sprang upright , v. itlt an oath. j Alice Martin, too, took a hand in the game, and stormed at John as a sanctimonious humbug. "If the truth were known," she j cried, hysterically, "I guess you're not j better than the rest of us. If you ; wanted to have the girl for yourself, f why didn't you keep her? You had : the opportunity, you fool!" j Burton paid no heed whatever to either the man's threats or the BEE "WE MAKE ENGRAVED PRINTING PIAIES THAT PRINT PHONE -TYLER 1000 Be Publishing Ca OMAHA. 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