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Show JUAB COUNTY TIMES. NEPHI. UTAH But there were other and seeming ly more momentous things to claim her attention Just then. The "prospects" upon which their marriage to a certain extent depended were show lng a disconcertingly balky tendency, and Fleetwood, who bad been over to Boston In regard to them, had writ ten a rather gloomy letter the day before, telling her that it might bo six or eight months before they should WH05G UJIJli to Ml&WSON he ottered her protest against his to stumble and catch her heel, In the rug, and Fleetwood had naturally tried to save ber from falling. But Ruth could not know this. She only saw him holding Estelle In an apparently ardent embri.ee, and Estelle with her arms wound arounl him. Her dark eyes wide, incredulous, sb stood staring at the apectacle; then with a low cry of pain, ahe turned and rushed blindly up the stairs and to her own room. Blair In his dismay at tue sight of her and the evlJent significance she placed upon bis attitude, was for the Instant nonplussed. Incapable of action; but recovering himself a moment later, flung Estelle almost roughly to one side, and dashed u.ad- ly in pursuit. In vain, though, were all his entreaties and attempts at explanation. Finally Mrs. Alden with an air of motherly sympathy persuaded him that it was better to defer until morning his efforts to repair the misunderstanding and so Induced htm to leave the house. he out o. the door, how Hardly ever, before Ruth experienced a revulsion of feeling. After all she told herself. It was only fair to hear what he had to say. la this frame of mind, she was awaiting his arrival the next morn ing, when a maid brought ber word that Estelle Abbott desired to see her. Ruth hesitated, more than half In clined to refuse; hut Estelle, covertly abetted by Mrs. Alden, had taken no chances on being denied, and follow ing almost on the heels of the maid. "Don't turn away from me. Ruth," she pleaded hysterically. "It Is batter that you should hear what I have to say; for I tell you frankly that Fleetwood Blair la not worthy of you not worthy of either of us. for that matter. But as between us." her voice broke, and she sadly bowed her head, "mine is the stronger claim upon him." Something In the tone arrested Ruth's attention, and leaning forward, she caught Estelle by the chin and forced the girl's face up to meet the searching gaze she bent upon it. Then as she read there the confirma tion of what she suspected, she fell back with a sharp exclamation. 'Oh'" she cried. "Oh!" and bury ing ber own face In ber hands, she turned away, while Estelle satisfied at what ahe bad accomplished, crept from the room. When Blair called a little later on. he was Informed that Miss Alden begged to be excused from seeing him. Needless to say, Mrs. Alden lost no opportunity to widen the breach, and on the evening of Blair's departure. going away, bad seemed materialise. He was expected back from his trip AUTHOR OF "THE SILVER BUTTERFLY," that night, and In order to salve his disappointment and signalize his "SALLY SALT," BLACK PEARL," ETC homo coming, she was arranging a little fete Just for the two of them. NOVELIZED FROM THE SERIES OF PHOTOPLAYS OF Meanwhile, her mother having finished the note she waa writing, THE SAME NAME RELEASED BY PATHE EXCHANGE. called a messenger boy and dispatched iCOrYKIGHT. I)l6. IY MRV VIIJON tCOODROWl it to the address upon the envelope. ' Then she called up Batson Kendrlck niece Rstelle here this week," he ob- on the telephone and assuring herself THIRD STORY served. "Her father la a visionary that no one was within bearing, held a long and cryptic conversation with fellow, generally hard up and I'm him The Tangled Web over the wire. afraid the poor girl has had but few That evening. Fleetwood Blair, on In her life. Has It struck gayetles long bobiled loaded with laugh- you that young Blair Is a trifle atten- returning from Boston, found the note ing, shouting young people whined tive In that direction?" he inquired she had written lying on the table at hla bachelor lodgings and was readdown the whits, glistening slope Ilka anxiously. deceived Into believing it was from a runaway express train. Mrs. Alden's ily "Really, I had not noticed it." Mrs. Ruth. house party at Tuxedo waa enjoying Alden's Hps stiffened a trifle disapthe opportune mow fall. Tearing It open hastily, Blair read: Fleetwood Blair, flushed from the provingly. I am of the "Nevertheless, Fleetwood Dearest: Yeu must not let opinion exertion of helping drag a heavy that will develop between yourself be disappointed over the Boston something "bob" back up the hill, spied a couple those two," he wait for you until urged. "And now," matter. I Ifwould necessary. And, besides. It of boys with a small sled who had she across at him, "tell me Doomsday, glanced be all for the best. Lest night Bat-so- n stopped on their way home from coast- what are your arrangements for your may Kendrlk was pterins chess with ing to watch with solemn curiosity the trip to Palm Reach?" mamma, and I overheard him say that . he needed a man for some Important pranks and antics of the grown-upsBut before Kendrlck could comply, work In Alaska. "If Blair were at "Let me have the flyer, kids." Blair the door to her room was flung he would be ust the man," he said,liberty, sitting "and I'll toward them. "Here, pay sprang and Ruth and Fleetwood Blair the Job would be worth a thousand dorent for It In advance," tossing over open hand in hand on the llars a month to him, but I will not risk a half dollar. And without waiting appeared sendlns any new bridegroom on this threshold. The who takes It has got to for any further negotiations, be caught "Wish us happiness, mother," the have all hischsp Interest In the work." the rope out of their hands, and hur- girl cried exuberantly. I rather think, though, that he Is going "Fleetwood ried to the summit where the group and I are te approach you with an olTer, and If he engaged." does. with which he had come trudging up certainly accept the comFor once, Mrs. Alden lost her suave mission,I would snd agree to remain single durthe slope were taking their places on poise. ing the time you are engeged upon it. the bobsled for another trip. Her eyes were fixed In a glare of Tou could quit him. of course, the moment the Boston people deride to go "Walt a minute, Ruth!" He singled despairing rsge upon Blair. She liftand In the meantime, so lone as out from among them a dark, strik ed ber hand and pointed toward the ahead, we have to wait anyhow, you may aa ingly pretty girl In a scarlet cap and door with a gesture not to be mis- well be drawing that salary. I am sending this to your rooms so that Jacket the daughter of his hostess. taken. In case he apbe you may "You and I are going to try It alone prepared Involuntarily Blair took a step back- proaches you thie as I underthis time." ward, then halted and glanced toward stand from mamma evening, Is to be at that Blair swung his small sled around Ruth. Instantly she moved over to the house to finish their he game. Mean1 to the track, assisted her to a place his side and thrust her arm in bis. am waiting and longing for you time. RUTH. Devotedly, forward on it and settled himself at "If there's no place here for blm. evrry scond. the back to steer. then there Is none for me!" she cried. Blair gave vent to a low whistle as "I simply had to Tiave a chance to Then with her head held high, and he finished. speak alone with you away from that ber arm linked In that of ber lover, Little did he dream now carefully cackling crowd." he was murmuring. she passed out of the room and from baited was the trap Into which be was "I can't keep It back any lunger, and the bouse. walking with hla eyes open. although It's little enough I can offer Mrs. Alden tottering to a cbalr, On arriving at Mrs. Alden's, ho was are If to you now, dear. you willing sank down weakly into It and gave shown Into the drawing room, where " start on love and a stout heart he found Kendrlck and also, someway to tears. In the ardor of the moment be Finally the telephone upon a near- what to his surprise, Estelle Abbott. quite forgot to steer. They struck a by stand rang. Listlessly Mrs. Alden He greeted the girl pleasantly, but bond lu the course, and, swerving off took It up. Rut all at once her ex- the two had hardly an opportunity at right angles to the track, dniihed pression changed, a gleam of anima- to exchange more than a half a dozen tion returned to her eye. headlong into a great piled up drift. words before her uncle seized upon Like a couple of grotesque figures "Listen." she whispered to Ken- him and drew him to one aide with drlck. "They have gone to Peace Althey emerged. Fleetwood did not permit the mis- den's In New York Ruth's maiden adventure to baffle him. aunt, you know and Peace Is trying "Ruth," he repeated, as he floun- to get me to come there and consent dered coward ber, "will you marry to a reconciliation. me?" "It's the only thing to do." she deSuch persistence deserved to be re- cided Impulsively. "Otherwise, Peace warded says, they are planning to rush off to While. Fleetwood and Ruth Alden, Jersey City or some other Impossible out thers (n the snowdrifts. Innocently place and get married tonight; whereand happily "plighted their troth," as, by seeming to yield now 1 can Mrs. Aldei. and liaison Kemliick sat gain time." In Ratson Kendrlck's big. luxurious together ovvr a game of chess and schemed. limousine, which be had placed at her Roth Mrs. a '.den and Kendrirk were disposal with himself as aa escort. "practical persons," and there was lit- ahe outlined the plan of campaign. tle necessity fur words between them. When she alighted at Aunt Peace Mrs. Alden as a society mother Alden's old red brick bouse down on with a position as unquesWashington square and gave him her tionable as the "sterling" on silver, hand at parting, there was a light In It but somewhat barj put to to support her eyes as If she already foresaw It with the essential flhanccs. victory. Kendrfck, on his side, wanted a Hastily she subdued ber manner, wife not a companion or helpmeet however, as she rang the belt and was V fitting to one of bis years and settled admitted by the gray haired old butler. r-f , Mrs. Alden made a most effective entrance. Her expression one of maternal solicitude, she started eagerly toward ber sister in law; then halted, ( .3' - ' . f as If Just coming to a realization of j. the presence of the young people. "If There Is No Place Here for Him, Trier Is None for Mel" Ftr a moment she stiffened, but apparently conquering herself, turned the muttered excuse to Estelle that as she cam upon Ruth sitting hard with the semblance of a rush of agiby an open window, she tated feeling and clasped her daugh- ho wanted to discuss m llttl matter and was thrilling Inwardly with triumph, of business with Mr. Blair. ter in her arms. "Ah. my dear, don't grieve for him," As the two men stepped away to"My little girl," she murmured brogether, the servant who had admitted she purred. "He was never deservkenly. There was Just the right admixture Rlair appeared to Inform him that ing cf you. The older you grow, too, of humility and surrender In ber man- Ruth was still dressing, but would be my daughter, the more you will learn that all men are alike. Money is the ner aa she extended a relenting band down almost Immediately. only thing that counts In this world." At last, though, all ready, and to Rlair. Ruth stirred from the apathy of her "You will let me have her for Jost radiant girlish vision. In her shima little while longer, won't yon?" she mering gauzes and tulles, ab came pose. "Is Batson Kendrirk here this evecoaxed with a wistful smile. "Toull tripping down the stairs snd hurried sh "I And room uked irrelevantly. to ning?" toward the me drawing of satisfaction the give selng thought I heard him announced a bit her married from under my own roof, Fleetwood. But as she crossed the hall, her ago." with a proper trousseau, and a flock Then when Mrs. Alden answered In of pretty bridesmaids, and a cake mother with apparent unpreroedlta-tio- n and all the rest of It. A girl can only Intercepted her and during the the affirmative, ahe arose and with a sound of reckless, bitter smile sauntered down have one wedding, you know Fleet- momentary pause, th voices reached her from beyond the to her mother's sitting room. wood." "You paid 112.000 for Fleetwood "Of course, he will." Aunt Peace drawing room door. Two mn were Mslr I believe. Mr Kendrirk. Now insisted, beaming at them from speaking. "Tou agree then to accept the 112,-00- what price do you offer for met You 'Fleetwood Blair Is Not Worthy of among her pillows over her success and remain unmarried as 1 re- will have to bid higher than $12.00 as an exponent of her name. Either of Us!" So It was finally arranged, after a quire?" It waa the curt, business- though. 1 tell you that before you habits, but merely to serve as so ex- disrusslon In which Mrs. Alden cun- like voice of Psteon Kendrirk. his tone begin." The millionaire glanced at her hibition of his wealth. ningly managed to get Aunt Peace to ralsd slightly as If for emphasis. "I sgree to your terms, Mr. KenAfter lnnpt ng the season rlotk cast the deriding vote that the marappraising as he did so the of debutantes he bad definitely fixed riage should he deferred for six drlck. and will promise to remain eurl of the lip. the smoldering Are in her eye, the defiant swagger In her his choir upon Ruth, and the matter months, or until the young mining en- single." Her lover? Oh, no; It could not be. manner. was supposed to be settled. gineer had a chance to determine "It s only the resul of this upset But st this Interesting juncture what advantage might lie In certain Why. this man war no better than a she's been through," he said to himJudas Fleetwood ISIalr had chosen to "prospects" of which he told them. Kendrirk spos sgain from behind self. "That and maybe this sudden One day aa she was leaving the hot spell we're hsvlng. Shell come Credit must re given Mrs. Alden house for a walk. Ruth stopped for a the drawn curtains. for shrewdly scenting the danger In moment to ssk her mother a question. "Then 1 suppose you will have no around all fight, once she's settled the situation as soon ss It appeared. Mrs. Alden was seated at her desk, objection to starting for Alaska this down and knows just where she stands " Not once did she raise any objec- so absorbed In a note she waa writ week?" he said. anBut therein Ratson Kendrirk made could make Blair before was not Pot conscious of the tion to Blair, or seem to interfere ing that she wit the freedom of sssoclstion be- girl's presence until Ruth stood behind swer, Ruth was startled by hearing the one great mistake of bis life. Ruth tween him and Ruth. And K end rick her. another voices the ahrlll, almost de- dM not "come around. She never a his wife allowed him to forget that Then almost to started lead. she her up spairing cry of a woman. skillfully guiltily, Uyd 'To Alaska? Oh no! Surely yos he had "bought her," an that she exThis snowy afternoon as tbey sat and quickly turned the half written cosily over the chessboard with all sheet over so ss to hide its contents. are not planning to send him as far pected him to ay the price. Coldly aloof, contemptuous of hrself as she way as that?" "Secrets, eh?" cried Ruth and plsy-fullthe yoong people out of the way over With a quirk stp forward. Ruth was of him, she piled extravagsoce oa the hillside, tbey touched cautried to wrest the note away so tiously upon the subject uppermost In ss to see to whom It wss addressed; resrhed the portieres, and flung them upon extravagance until bis miserly eta their Binds aad made plain their bat her mother objected so stoutly bach to disclose the sight of Estelle soul fairly stood aghast. Ills only method of revenge, he that after a moraest she desisted from In Blair's arms. Ua tn a series of Indirections. kiad ef you to lavite say her effort. Py clever hit of acting. ZsteUe aa learned, lay la forcing her into aseo "U "THE s tt-fa- ir. MM ball-mar- c z 1 .M . 1 dry-eye- d 0 ques-ticnlngl- y y tu u i - rt WW 7 ,' r 1 tr r jw -- r urn f 5 IP I j Jill (i She Saw Him Holding Estelle In ciatloa with Fleetwood Blair, and this he played to the limit. The mining engineer on his return from Alaska, would, for his own peace of mind, have gladly avoided any en counter with his old sweetheart. This, however, Kendrlck would not al'ow. Blair bad made more than good on the Alaska trip and had shown such a high order of general capability that Kendrlck had Installcl him as his personal advisor and chief lieutenant. Seeking distraction from his domestic troubles, the millionaire bad plunged Into a gigantic copper speculation which was. In effect, an at tempt to corner the market, and In this he leaned heavily upon the clear vision and valuable counsel of the younger man. Reaaonlng then that the sight of Blair's success and prestige would be gall and wormwood to Ruth, he bad never rested happily until he had brought them Into contact, managing one day by a ruse to have them meet in hla office. Both of them withstood the ordeal unflinchingly. After that he made it a point to have Rlair frequently at the houae. So the situation moved on to tta Inevitable denouement. One evening when Blair was there for dinner Ken drlck proved so persistently offensive that Ruth In finally rose In the middle of some remark he was launching at her and left the room. Kendrlck caught up with her iialf across one of the big reception rooms on her way to the stairs, and threw himself In front of her to bar her further progress. "By God you'll understand that you can't flout me In front of one of my he ordered hoaraely. employees." "You go back to the dining room." She faced him with a reckless defiance and laughing mockingly at his commands, taunted him with his Inability to master her. "Tou bought me " ahe Jeered. Tm yours, a slave you bid In on the auction block. And yet you can't manage me. Tbe thousands of dollars I waste for you each year are so much dead loss. How that must wring your self-defens- soul!" "Can't manage you. eh?" he snarled, his lip drawing back from bis teeth. "Can't? So that's what you think. Is Well. I'll show you what I can 111 show you!" Ills list suddenly clenched, he saw red, and In a spasm of blind fury, he struck at the lovely, taunting face upraised to lm. She sweved, but not enough to avoid the eUIre force of the blow. It sent her reeling, staggering to the floor. Kendrlck stared a moment at what bo had done; then with a muttered oath flung himself out Into the hall, and catching up his hat and coat rtahad from the house. Meanwhile Blair at the table bad waited in vain for the return of one or the other of them. Finally he pushed back his chair and started to take his leave. A a he passed through the hall, however, he was arrested by a sound like a stifled sob from the reception room and glancing In through tbe open doorway, was startled to see his hostess on her hands and knees on tbe floor. She tottered weakly and would have fallen If Rlair had not been tn time to catch her and ease her gently down upon a sofa. "Mrs. Kendrirk! Ruth!" gasped Blair. "What on earth has happened?" "He he struck me!" she explained broken!y. "Struck yon?" Blair sprang to kU feet. Ruth caught at his hand. "You cannot do anything now, she sstd. "he has gone away." Blair turned at her touch, a flood of old emotions pouring back upon him, and flinging himself down upon his knees beside her caught her In his arms. "Oh, my darling" he groaned. "Why why did you ever marry him?" There had never been any chance for explanations between these two before; hut now that the opportunity had come and their lips unsealed. It did not take them long to piece out the conspiracy which bad wrecked their happiness. As the full Import of the wl!y game which her mother and Kendrlck had played broke upon Ruth, she started up, her face grown vengeful and relentless. "He shall not go unpunished!" she declared passionately. She clutched Blair's arm. "Tou know his business secrets, do you not?" she questioned. "Tou know tbe weak Joints In his armor, bow ho can be most successfully attacked 7" It? do ' m ft r an Apparently Ardent Embrace. The engineer half recoiled. "You. mean ?" he gasped. She nodded. The three days' battle which Batson Kendrlck fought upon the stock exchange single-handeagainst the) pool of rivals which had been organised agatnat him, ranks In historic Interest with soms of the melees. Desperately he met the onset of his foes. But now the last stand was made. The floor of the exchange waa In a turmoil. No one yet had time to reckon where he stood In the wild swirl of operations. Failures and suspensions of smaller bouses were being announced every moment. Then, the bell rang sharply. A sudden s lence descended on the shouting, gesticulating throng ef brokers. Everybody sensed what was coming. And then the formal notice was read out. The great house of Bataon Kendrlck ft Co. had gone to the wall. Hatless, ooatless, his eyes bloodshot, and his face working convulsively, the man who three days before bad been one of tbe biggest powers on "the street" was up in his office struggling almost insanely with a little group of supporters and clerks who tried In vain to restrain and quiet him. At last he broke loose from them and rushing out the door was lost In the crowds along tbe streets. In tbe same moment In a building not half a block away. Ruth, heavily veiled, stood back from the ticker over which she had been leaning tensely for the last hour. It was In the private office of the leader of the rival pool, and as she stood back, ahe turned to him and on or two enthusiastic associates. "Well," sb said, "it's over." Sh pushed back her veil as sb spoke and they wondered to see her eo composed. "Yes," said the leader of the pool, "It la over, Mrs. Kendrlck. and ta result Is largely due to you." He laid a folded alip of paper on tb table before her. "This Is a check which I have made out to your order," he aald, "and I have left tbe amount blank. You may fill It In for any sum up to a million." She nodded carelessly, but made n move to take It up. Then after ft few moments of further conversation, ah left the office. It was not until after her departure that tbey discovered that she had left the chock still lying on the table. Out at tbe entrance to tie building, she found Blair waiting for her. 11 caught her by the arm and guided her e swiftly to a limousine which stood the curb. He gave simply tbe direction "Uptown," to the chauffeur, then stepping In beside Ruth, turned to her eagerly as the car moved forward through the crowded streets. She stayed him with quickly uplifted hand. "Don't, Fleetwood," she begged, bo-sid- "Don't" But he was not to he denied. Earnestly be pleaded with her to obtain ft divorce and come away with him to new life. For all tbe Impression that he made though, he might have been talking to a marble statue. ah "Ob, cant you understand?" broke out at length. "When one baa been as I bavs In the grip of great, crushing forces, all this sounds pitiful ly trifling and Inane. Love! Protee-- i tlon! Soft endearments!" her Up I curled. "They were all th world loj me once but now they don't arouse even a thrill. Do you think that ft woman can pull down all tbe pillars of her temple of life about her and stl'.l remain the aame? 1 tell you that 1 am dead here," and she struck herself on the breast; "my heart la aa cold and hard as a stone." She waa silent a moment as be drew beck, scarcely knowing how to take her outbreak. Then she spoke wl'Ji certain note of weary appeal. "It Is useless, Fleetwood," she shook her head, "Absolutely useless. Leave 1 want to b me here, won't you. alone." Blair bent ft long glance of scrutiny upon the face she turned toward him; and aa he gazed, the hopes he had cherished died within blm. She waa right. Tbe girl be had known and loved waa dead. This waa only a hard, bitter, disillusioned woman la whom It would be aa difficult t arouse ft spark of love aa to ran Into Came the cold ashes upon a dead altar. And, noting the change recalling the vivid, glowing Impersonation of youth ahe one had been, tbe promts she had given of a splendid womanhoodbis lips Involuntarily frajaed the qaeetlon of hla sorrowing heart! WHO'S OCTLTTr j (END or TIUAO STOaTel X-, J |