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Show TUAB COUNTY TIMES. WHOSQ MB.WILSQN AUTHOR OF "THE SILVER BUTTERFLY," "SALLY SALT," "THE BLACK PEARL," ETC NOVELIZED FROM THE SERIES OF PHOTOPLAYS OF THE SAME NAME RELEASED BY PATHE EXCHANGE. tCOmiGHT, NINTH STORY The Weaker Strain When Tom Prlc asked Laura Bel-deto marry him, he eet forth to bar tha following account of hla n for-tun- "In two thlnga." ba aaid, "I am a multimillionaire ia love and bopa. Aa far aa actual cash toes, I've nearly seven hundred dollar. Aa for prospects a fairly efficient young architect ought to be able to pick up a living, even In a amall up state town like thla. All I ask la a chance. And. ome day or other, tbat chance la bound to come." Perhape a more mercenary girl ml than Laura would hivn long tlmo before linking her life to a hitt Laura flnldon was anything but mercenary. 80 they were married. They aet up light housekeeping In a tiny house that Laura made very "pretty and homelike. And Tom apent eight hours a day (in his cheap little office with Its glaringly new sign) waiting for the big orders that were to make blm rich and famous. Meiintline. 1 .11 urn went on with the study of music which M10 hud tHken up long before her marriage. She bad a really unusual lyric soprano voice. And I'rofenHor Sargent, her teacher, prophesied a great career for ber. At last came Tom's longed for A small offlce "chance." building was itolng Ui at the corner of Temple and Maple streets. And. among fifteen architects' bids for the Job, Tom Price's was chosen. lie wun rwlliiiit with delight. One morning as the Prices sat at the breakfast table. Laura said, rather wistfully: "You aren't the only member of this family who has a 'chance.' Tom. Only, you ran take advantage of yours. And I hsve to reject mine." "What do you mean?" asked Tom. looking up. curiously, from aotne notes bo waa scribbling on tbe back of an envelope. "Yesterday, when I went to Professor' Sargent for my lesson." said 1 aura, ne mate me a s; ienaii orrcr. He wants me to go on a concert tour." "Concert tour?" echoed Tom. frown ing, "Nonsense!" "I was afraid you'd Bay so." aha sighed. "I told him you wouldn't allow me to. He was ever ao disappointed. He aaid It was one opportunity la a thousand. You know Paul Legrand, the composer?" "N." ananped Tom. "and I don't went to. lie him tin name of making love to every woman under fifty " and over fifteen. I've no use for lady-killer.- "I mean," she corrected, "you know hla work. You like bis songs, too. Pmfeasor Sargent baa given me dozen of them to learn. He aays tbey fit my voice better than any others and tbat I sing them better than any other soprano." "Tou alng everything better than anyone else can, little girl." put ta Tom. "And " "And yesterday,' continued Laura, "Mr. Legrand happened to be at tha Sargent studio when I waa taking my 11)16, IY HtS. VIliON WOODHOri to finance a concert tour to posh the sale of bla own songs and tbat ba baa been looking everywhere for the right soprano to alng them. Aa soon aa he beard me, he decided no one ran do Justice to the aongs as I can. And he wants me to make the tour, lie's to play the accompaniments himself. The tour starts In two months. Oh, Tom," she finished. In childlike appeal, "can't I go? I want to, so much!" Tom Price came around to bla wife' aide by the table. She bad risen. lie put his arms tenderly around ber, as he made answer: "Sweetheart, I feel like a brute, to reruse you anything In tbe world. And If It were really for your happiness, I wouldn't stand In your way fur one moment. Ilut It Isn't, dear. The truly the woman with httppy won' nume anii a nunnana or ner own. roi the woman who must knock around the country on stuffy trains and aleep in cheap hotels, picking up a living aa a slnicer or an actress." "Just as you say, Tom," ahe agreed, meekly. He kissed her good by and hurried off for his morning Inspection of the new building. Laura, looked from tha window, watching until be waa out of sight. Then she turned back to her household (liitlex. She curried a heavy lieurt all morning, as ahe realized the hope she must throw away. She carried a far heavier heart, during the weeks tbat followed. For, at noon, Tom Price was brought home to ber on a stretcher senseless, Inert, terribly Injured. The ambulance surgeon, who escorted the stricken man. told Laura the story of tbe accident. Tom had been standing on an upper-floo-r framework, watching the unloading of an elevatorful of brick and mortar when the elevator rope broke. A workman who was still In the elevator had leaped for the scaffolding, to aave himself from a fall. Tord had sprung forward to catch htm. The workman's convulsively out flung bands had dragged Tom from hla precarious balance at the edge of the elevator shaft. Together, the two men had fallen to the ground floor. Poth had been picked up unconscious. Tom had recovered bla senses long enough to whisper a demand that he be taken home Instead of to tbe hospital. The surgeon reported that Price's light leg had doubled under blm In the fall, sustaining a compound fracture In two plares. Also thst be was a mass of contusions and abraalons and might perhaps be Injured Internally, as welt. Laura Installed herself as assistant to the two trained nurses tha family doctor brought. were Specialists called in to determine tbe ettent of tbe internal hurls. And the dreary routine of sickroom Ufa began. Tbe little nest egg In the savings bank melted as if it bad been a snowball on a hot stove. Two months bad passed sine the accident. Tom. fully dressed at last (but with his bandaged leg atuck straight before blm on a bench and bis crutches at his side), sat In the little living room of tbe fiat It waa bis first cay outside bla own room. And be glanced about blm in r," was her cheery reply, "and by getting well again aa soon aa you can. Tha doctor says you will be able to walk In another month or two. Ian't that splendid V "la a month or two," be supplemented, "I shall have to go limping around In search of work. For, Doctor Bprague tella me, the Stuytott Construction company went, laat week. Into the hands of a receiver, and the Lord alone knowa when 1'U get any money on what they owe me for designing that miserable building for them." A ring at tbe doorbell Interrupted ber. She answered tbe summons, admitting two men. Tom recognized the older of tha two visitors aa Professor Sargent, bis wlfe'a singing teacher. The younger was a strikingly handsome man, scarcely thirty years old; and wtth a manner which graceful, Jarred on Prlca. Laura welcomed tbe newcomers Professor Sargent waa cordially. warmly sympathetic In bis greeting of the Invalid. Laura Introduced the atranger to Tom, aa "Mr. Paul Legrand." Professor 8argent came at once to the object of the vialt. "Mrs. Price." he began, "this Is probably no sort of time to coma hero talking business. But Legrand badgered me until I consented to. Ills tour starts lq a week. He still declares that no soprano but yourself ran do Justice to those songs of bis. And he seems to think I have enough Influence over you to make you change your mind. He also authorizes me to add twenty-fivper cent to the terms he offered you, before, and to promise you, as a bonus, a percentage on the receipts." "I'm afraid It's no use, professor," said Laura, ber aweet vole vibrant with a regret that did not escape Tom. "My husband doea not " "Mr. Price!" broke in Legrand. impulsively, "perhapa you don't realize what this means to your wife. As a mer busJoese man, you may not know that I am Juat now one of tbe e " - I 41 , ! V v, "I F - 5 - ' l ' He aaid nothing he did nothlnf Tom gaped dully at hhn, acarc come that could give her cause for anger prehendlng. Legrand, raising his voice or for reproof, Tet alway he wove a little, a though addressing a deaf band has a fairly comfortable homo about her a subtle web of attentions man, continued Impatiently: to give her. But you can't give ber that was Sally becoming stronger and "Will you set her free. Or are you anything. Sargent aays she has even less easy to escape from. cur enough to go on for IVfe. living on had to sell ber piano to keep you from Vaguely she felt this. But she could her We are willing to penIf you were a musician do nothing until some overt word or sion earnings? starving. Insist on such if you you you'd understand what that means to deed should bring the man within But" her. It's like giving up her right reach of her scorn. He got no further. With a word-leband. You can't give her anything. As for writing a word of all this to of Tom Price leaped forShe'll starve to death with you. Yet Tom she was far too sensible to do ward.yell Hla fury left flat caught Legrand you refuse ber a chance to make a such a fatal thing. She knew his squarely on the point of the Jaw. Jealousy and tbat a mere hint was living and a reputation." The composer crashed to the floor "You are mistaken," said Tom, cold- enough to fan It Into murderous flame. like a felled or. and lay quivering and a to So chance am her "I keep giving ly, sorely puzzled aa to what she aenselesa at Price's feet Aa not for my ber reputation. being ought to do, she kept her own counsel With scarcely a glance at hla foe, and waited. able to provide tor her, that la no conTom atrode from the suite. Along th cern of yours." "It's that husband corridor he reeled, hi brain afire. "Tom!" protested Laura, troubled of hers who keeps us apart," Legrand at her husband's rudeness to their once told his chum, the manager, "if I could get him to give her up she'd guest Price's eye met hers. He saw, in marry me In a minute. I know she her face, the aharp disappointment would. I don't believe she loves him." Involved by bis refusal. He recalled The tour waa nearlng an end. On all she bad done tor him all she had the morning after the first concert in suffered and sacrificed on his account Boston, Legrand sent for Laura and all that thla "chance" meant to her. tbe contralto to come to his suite of "How long is tbe tour?" h aaked, rooms In the hotel at which the comblack-mal- l. a chuckle-heade- hesitatingly. "Ten weeks." replied Legrand, with sudden eagerness. "We open next Monday night In Galveston. We close in New York Just ten weeka later." "Tom!" cried Laura, Joyous incredulity bringing a flush to her cheeks and a new light to her eyea, aa she read Price's expression. "Tom! Do you moan you are really going to let ma to?" . Tom iodded; In silent wretchedness. "Good for you, old man!" applauded Sargent Three days later Laura Price set forth from home to Join the Legrand Concert company at Galveston. Tom could hobble painfully around the flat by this time. Tbe funds from the piano's sale would provide for him, for the present, and for the wages of an elderly woman who had been hired to keep house for him In bis wife's absence. Before the ready money ahould be gone the family exchequer would be '.tfj 1 M ' 'a" d pany waa staying. He wished, he said, to go over new songs with each of them. "Old you aee the papers?" he asked them aa they came Into his sitting room. "They've given us the best notice we've had yet At this rate we'll carry. New l'orlt by storm. As usual, Mrs. Price, tbe critics are crazy over your singing. And by the way, would you care to glanc. oyer, these press" notices for the New York engagement while Mrs. McDonald and I run over this encore song of hers?" In remarkably short time tbe contralto had aung the encore song to the s satisfaction. Pleading a ehopplng appointment .he went out, leaving Legrand and Laura together. As soon as tbe contralto had gone Legrand arranged a sheet of manuscript music on the piano. "It's a florid, melodramatic' thjng," he told her. "( call it tbe 'Dagger Song.' I picked up a queer old dirk at a curio ahop the other day. And It suddenly occurred to me tbat, though there are dozens of 'Sword Bongs," ho one ever wrote a 'Dagger Song." So I wrote this. Here." picking up an antique knife from the table, "Is the dagger tbat Inspired it." He handed her the weapon. She looked ahudderlngly at ita rusty blade. "I like to think those dark stains on tbe hilt are of blood!" he said. "Ugh!" she shivered, dropping the dagger on the piano top and rubbing her fingers with her handkerchief. She tossed tbe handkerchief down on the piano, and bent over to read the music, as Legrand began to play the prelude. After a time eh departed to her own rooma, taking the song with her. She had not been gone two minutes when the outer door of Legrand' sitting room was flung violently open. Tom Price stood on the threshold. "Where is my wife?" be demanded, without other form of greeting," hi angry eyea searching the sitting room, "At the office drak . tbey said she wasn't in her rooms. I met your man-age- r in the lobby. He told me I would probably find her. in Jrous sulteJ2- -l "She Just ' stepped wered into Legrand,-bis mtad.Bul if you care to wait,; she'll he back again In a few-m- in utes" . ,.T- "You seem pretty "sure of It." said Tom. pugnaciously. "Why shouldn't I ber was the careless rejoinder, "I ought to be by thl time." A falae note In the elaborate carelessness caught Tom's attention, though be only In part translsted it. "I don't believe yoo," h declared. "I don't believe my wife come to your suit at all. I believe you r ly ing. "When I talk to a drunkard' or crazy man." scoffed Legrand. "I don't resent thing he aays. But if you want my proor, nis insolent gat roved over the room, "that' a handkerchief of ber lying on the piano yonder." Tom awooped down upon the handkerchief, ahaklng It out and holding It to tbe light In one corner It bore Laura' familiar monogram. Tbe husband let It flutter to tbe floor. Ill bed aank on bis breast All at once the youth and hop and energy eemed to bo stricken from him. "Whst ar you doing her anyway?" asked Legrand. well pleased with tbe Impression h bad created. "She told m you wer still too lam to walk." "Tbe doctor told m my leg was Sound again three day go," said Tom. "I didn't writ her about It. t ran on her Instead to surprise her eudden-tj(ra'"fia8bl- ng jMifls ' "I Did It, I Am Ready to per-pletit- I. - cork-ten- ort ; ( r Pay!" by such sums as Laura to him from ber salary. could forward Laura was Jubilant Her had at last come true. "It s for Tom! It s all for him! It will be his success as well aa mine." As for Tom, once having made up hla mind, he said not a word to Indicate tbe heartbreak that waa bla. e e Prom the outset the concert tour scored a genuine success. And the success piled up as the tour continued and aa Its fame preceded It from city to city. . The bulk of the honors went to the hitherto unknown young lyric soprano, Laura Price. Pefore the tour was half ended, she was overwhelmed by offer from managers snd agents. Her nam and fame and fortune were mad. Owing to her personal success the tour' receipt swelled beyond Lemost airy hopes. Laura'a grand percentage of the profit assumed a site tbat dwarfed the memory of all the money she and Tom had ever possessed. Throughout she did not let victory go to ber brain or make her other than tbe charmingly girlish and simple woman she bad alway been, ttrr dally borne letter to Tom were full of Innocently vela account cf ber triumphs, but they wer also full of the almost maternal love she bore the Invalid, and of her longing to be with hlro once more. One rlcud alone apart from ab sence .mm Tom marred the sunshine ! the trip. From th outset Legrand f ad assumed toward her an air of half protective tenderness, thst wss so subtle as to render It difficult to prevent and still mor diffl. life-drea- I" ' She" "ini surprise her," sssented L grand with a sneering grin, "though msybe not quite In the way you wer fool enough to hop. She counted on your being tied by the leg a your little rube town for nother two wek at the very least She said she was count !ng on tbat much more vacation anyhow." 'She did rc-- t say tbat." said Tom and staring dazedly lifting his I at his tormentor, ""t t." "I told you f pay no attention to lnnatks' ratings." returned LegTand. "But now you r here there I ome-thin1 do want to say to rult to reent you. if you Legrand's manner toward ber wss hav enough to understand me " "I want to bear nothing from you. wholly deferential, but It was proprietory, too Laura felt tbat the ot!r "Hut you'll hav to bear It Just the slngr and the manager must certainly draw erroneous conclusions from same," resumed Legrand. "It conit, Yet she rould do or say nothing cerns your wife. I love her. She to deter her admirer. love me. W want to marry. You Legrand was a shrewd tdent of stand In our way. In tbe way of her womankk4. and a pastmaster la the happiness. Hav yo manhood enough art of to aet her free so so can be happy T" on 1 g sne I" love-tnakJn- K i a - composer-accompanist'- a 1 02.. Ail thla smug old fashioned talk about In tbe homo may bo correct enough, aa long aa her hus- a wife's place being aw most popular music composers In America. Tbe concert tour la to exploit my aongs; sung aa 1 Intended them to be aung. I. myself, shall be at tbe piano. That by Itself, Insures tbe success of the tour. I am offering your wife an opportunity for which many lyric aopranos of established reputation would be humbly grateful I am conferring a high honor on your wife by asking" The highest honor a man can confer on another man's wife," Interposed room "This seems. aomebow, Tom. "Is to let ber alope. At least, changed, since I was out here before." that is tbe way I regard such things. be aaid to Laura. "It s different and I may be hopelessly old fashioned. and barer " But" "Ton are." Legrand assured him, She hesitated an Instant, then said, very qwetly: quite untouched by the anub. "and. let ' It s the absence of my ptano that me tell you. If ahe sings In these concerts of mine and if she scores a makes the room look queer." success In tbem, ber fortune la made. "Your ptano?" he repealed. "That She will be besieged by offers front o. Where Is It" - "I sold It. Last week." managers. Phe " "Tbat Is true. Mr. Price." said Pro"Sold It? Are you Joking" "It ln i mm h of a J'e, she replied, fessor Sargent "It Is eiaied rather lees modestly than you may care to 'at leant, not to me." "Hut why did yoa do uch a bear it Hut it la entirely true. Mrs. thing?" h demanded "Wby did yon! Price will not only receive far higher sell It? Vou were ao fond of It. And terms for tbe tour than ever I have you needed It so. in your practicing" known aa untried singer to get. but "There won't be any more prartlo sbe will also have a chance to make ing. Just now," she told blm. "t have a name for hers;f. A name that she can coin Into money. With a voice stopped my music lessons " like hers" "Hut t don't understand." be "Pfce has already made a name for "They meant so much to you. herself, sir." retorted Tom, "she made They and your piano." altar Tbe name of 'Price.' "Ier." she said. sofUy, "they itNotat sotheexalted I name, perhaps. But meant notim to me nothing at all t ompared to your precious self. Our t helieve and hope she Is quite with it the neds no other." money rsn out. Ton bad to have the "Totj misunderstand me." answered right food, the fight medicines, the There was wi!y one Sargent, "I meant to say" right nursing Her Fingrs Closed Convulsively lint Legrar,d rut blm short by thing left to do. So I gave up my ex About It. pensive mulc leons And I sold ' Look here, Mr. Prlr. let's speak leMon. Professor Sargent made me e"ny epenive piano. When tbe p;aro And Mr. mor.ey is gone I will try to f tare out pla'uly. sng several of his aongs I've mils Ini'ilrien about the way 1 some new way to meet expenses until yoa. I learn that you're fiat broke, Legrand Went wild you sfe strong enough to work again." thst yoi've got nothing laid by In eang them." "The puppy!" grur.rd Tom. "Of A mist of tears arose In tbe eyes of short that you're up sgiinst It and course, be'd--- " the f lines weakened man. of going out to make a f ifn r.oforbrrpe Tierf he eafled Pifesor Sargent "Yoa sacrificed your beloved piano living some months to come. I " iue, worn on Liurt. ani iney wnis- for me!- be muttered, brokenly. "Oh. "That is my affair!" snapped Tom. Pre4 together for a long time. Then darling, bow ran I ever make ao to 'It Isn't," confreltcted Legrand, Professor Sargent came Inn k to me yoa for that?" "It your wjfes. Its she who suffer .awd aaid ttat Mr. Legraod Is piaitiig Uy not thlaklcg about It an kiog by It j long shot worse tbaa you. tam-mer"- NEPHI. UTAH Stopped My Music Lessons." Arourld a "corner he went' blindly aimlessly, Ihen around another. Pre ' ently be fpond himself at a stair-heaWithout waiting tor the elevator, b lurched down the two flights of stairs to the lobby. There he sank Into s chair and tried to tbluk clearly. It was a long time before his brain rould be forced into normal reason "I Hav ' lug. None of Price's memories of Laurs bore out Legrand'a vilo bints. She loved ber husband. She had solemnl) promised to be true. She would not break ber pledged word. For aom purpose of his own, Legrand had tried to blacken ber in Tom's eyas. "That man needs a good deal writs thrashing than I gave him," niutteree-Pricat last getting to his feet "An I'm going back to give It to him. IT hammer blm Into confessing tbe trutt about Laura, even If I go to Jail foi It" He retraced hi grand' third floor step toward suit. The componr ra the meantime had gradually, recovered from the knock oof blow. A tap at tbe door aroused blm. and cleared hi muddled brain. For b recognized Laura' voice, calling fot admittance. "Come In." b answered. "Where I , he?" queried Laura eagerly looking about her. "Where I who?" h evadd. "Wher Tom? I met th man ager la th hall Just now. lie aay Tom la here and that he rem to youi ulte to find m." Without answering Legrand caugh her In hla arms, and held her then - 1 - her struggle. Her outflung hand fell by chanc upon th blH of th dagger that lay on th piano. Iter finger closed condespite- vulsively about It Scarcely realizing what ah did. and thinking only to fend off the hatoV ful face that pressed so fiercely toward her own. the frantic woma truck out wildly at th man who bad elted ber. Legrand's grin relaxed. If (rave a coughing gasp, then collapsed In a lea heap at her feet. Laura still holding tbe da;- - r wbos keen edge bad evered carotid artery looked dnr blankly at th .dying man. rWSr g tb blood on th blade she brieke,- - -gain and again, until tb whole corridor reechoed with her crle. Torn Piico, nearlng th suite d'.of, was first f Bfty running people t reach tb spot. As be entered ti e room I .aura dropped tbe nagger tnl ran toward blm with arms "Tom!' sbe walled hysterlai;r. i "Oh, Tom! I hav com back to at lat. You were right when yo t said this wss no llf for me. Ta me home!" "Here!" rasped tfc house detective rushing Into th mom at tb hel tf a doren guests and servants, "what's tb trouble?" Urn raoeht tight Of Legrand nd cf the dagger at bis side. "Who did this?" he demandel. whirling about to far Tom. "Was it you?" "Yes." answered Tom evenly, "1 did It I'm ready to pay. It waa y-- worth" He did not!" screamed Lwra, "It I killed blm," 'Come along, both of you." ordre4 th bmise detective, pnJimg handcaff from bla pocket "It np to the rowr to decide whj-- h of ymj is going to th chair. All I've got to do Is to turn you over to the cop. C.m along! 11 OU OF NIXTJJ SlOBY.I s I! . " |