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Show Im He & LASH of rl.NTANrF ItAPRY iDVivn fmncv. YNOPSIt. la found f a4. bvund ami tnnriitl In Ma iw.m. Me safe ri Had nil lu.uw tillo. nr-- a or m l la ... intiAfihaiB up I .. . ft... lit Tttnt I I.,aiory hua era other reUflvaa; lhn a Hru.- - ".? put Ihrmiih and finaclaf rutn, dal II Umi a hi mlarly unrla ami to othora ,.i.llr. t- L tha lonn rmi raiM. mv ku lUn rafuaad UiUm UtMie. n rr rtmactad vld-tim- Tom a CHAPTIR J?'""" M had submitted to r TlT1 political bona. ber at ! outburst with my of ettrlcatliig herself ,1',uMon- - " from grtatly over the con.eqUeCHs of "'iH'tuoslty, a wllh trlmd n. y 1totiv In relating th story Tom rcvorta lo hla iimiiilani' with Mr a. Data, waalihv widow, athrxM liualnana n( la Itichard , boodh-- r a.n.1 Ma-kay- 1 h,.d m m h h" my d rength My hand she eluded a step backward and her perfectly by mod-ulate- V Mollis struck ma aa aa dalletoualv nonsensical that ! could not refrain rrvm laughing, "It la absurd. Clara. Cartalnlv Mo! II Is strictly all right, but she would icon ilia a mousa beside Mrs. Dace 8h nodded spiritedly. "Now you are talking sens. Like a nice little white mousa beside a leopardess, exactly." I did not Ilka tha comparison. "Do you mean to say that Mrs. Daca la a leopardess?" I demanded with aome warmth. Clara was as cool as a cucumber. "Oh, I don't know. Anyway, she Is as beautiful as one. And flawing her as I have only from a distance, I have somehow gained tha Impresslou that there are traits In common between them. She Is so wonderfully smooth and soft and quiet moving, you know." she looked up at me sideways, saw the displeasure that rested upon my face and broke Into a laugh as she gave my cheek a pat "Of course you must not mind what I ssy, Tom. desr. I really know almost nothing about your charmer, and 1 trust to your level head to take care of you. Only please do ba care-ful.- " Ho wa laughed together and dropped that subject bard then and the entrance across tha way. Instinct-Ivel- y paused In the shadow to watch Its door swung open and out onto tha pavement there stepped a great man wun a massive bulldog shaped head and neck, and mustaches that nowea from bis Hps like yellow foun tains. Ily tha gaslight I could sea the besrllk power of his arm as b thrust out bis band to some one yrt within tha car, and a cold premonition of something wretched to come swept over me. To my ears there came a short, peculiar cough, and from this mannerism of which I had heard, as well na from pictures which I had seen In the newspapers, I Instantly recognized him. The dragon had ar rlvcd In his Juggernaut. Richard Mnckny, the Infamous, the moral lep er, who, corrunt of soul and bod v. had long reigned as autocrat of th under world and prince of spoilsmen, loomed across the wsy. Fearless and abl, powerful yet subtle, always a doml mint force for evil, he was on from whom any man might recoil with se cret fear. voire once more bade me a good night. And an Instant later the wretched I threw my "Tou have corn at liut. 1 overcoat over my arm came to pass. From out of tho thing growing Impatient I was lonesome and turned to the door. "Hut at leant car and Into his grasp there stepped to night d4 wanted some on to talk you may tell me If I am forgiven," I the woman whom I loved with all inr to me preferably you. Do you know, - ended as be. vy of heart I there. paused soul, and my heart seemed to stop, I bad been thinking of you Just tuupon the threshold. to with bis arm around her waist, bra this time expre.n course no tne of t'p me tor you called up. rerhaps It remained changeless. love man's Indifferent as to who mteht wit ever ran senly smoother than "I have not fully decided. You will had waa though, transmission that made mine for Mrs. Dace. Yet It was ness he passed across the walk by know roe a later." moment later. Who you ring a few days after this conversa- ner side and threw the door wide by "TVn I may hope that 1 have not only knows?" She laughed mualcally aa 1 tion with Clare that there happened a sweep of his free hand. For some took her fingers and bent my Hps to sinned beyond redemption and that I a thing so awful to tne at tha time reason I learned later It was because may see you agalnr them. that hades Itself could have offered of a weakened spring the door failed "You may call me up In a few "Mrs. Dace, thought transmission no torture more exquisite. I had never to close promptly, and I distinctly snw days to remind me of you would be grimily when you have recovered your bal- - been Jealous of Mrs. Dace for tha sim- them in the subdued llaht of the In superfluous. 1 am going to be perple reason that I had seen no cause terlor as they stood close together "And until then I must wait for mr to fectly plain with you. It la barely posbe; yet 1 knew that the Urea of awaiting (be descent of the elevator sible that 1 hare thought of something answer?" that passion slumbered within me Ilk car. It was but a fleetlns elimnso 'Tntll then you must wait. Good those of a latent volcano. ?le since I saw you last, but If I have The mere yet had It lasted longer I believe I 1 do not now remember what It was. night." of thought another love to her should have cried outright In my ag making I bowed, However, you flatter me." She withpassed Into the hall war was a torment. She bad told me that onr. For as tdalnlv aa I ever saw and left ber, hopo and fear drew her band with a sudden avert"I Demand That You Tell Ma Instant ly Why You Ssy These Things, battling In few men Interested hor, and the fre- anything In my life ) saw him draw my bosom. ing of her eyes, smiling agntu. quency of my attendance upon her her close to him as lmnetuouslv as Slrr 1 "No. It was not flattery. aiio am seemed to pruclude the Idea of a rival had done In my outburst as he lifted I must not even see her aealn ful In her cool a plain person and do not speak in mcrnlng gown, stood CHAPTER VI. of consequence lurking In the back her fuco nnd half burled It beneath twain. for I dared not trust myself In ber smiling before me. At first she seemed hi parables. Itesldcs, what harm to Then the sweeping mustache. ground. That I was being publicly e. U hat I might do If I should about to approach me even closer, but think of one's friends?" When 1 called her up three She half exhibited to attract attention and door mercifully dosed, shutting out present days meet ber alone I did not know as her eyes sought my face she drew turned an easy chair for n e and I later she seemed to have the thus and me used as a sheep-skiwith horror Whether I to cloak a sight leaving forgotten would violently denounce bat k and her smile vanished as the seated myself In It, my eyes running that any such Incident had ever Imn. real wolf, had never entered my mind nillng my breast and the coldness of her for her faithlessness, break down sunshine behind a Orlvlng cloud. over the room. The quiet richness of pened. until the thought In all its hideous-nes- s death creeping over me. For an InShe Massed ttm as I was now dolne. or com "III?" she Inquired, quick solicitude-IIt furnishings was a revelation. Exwas forced upon me purely by stant I was Incapable 'of movement miserably antrles of the day over the wire, some mlt other scene I could only her tonea. I shook my bead as I quisite taate waa In the very air. launhed as noftly and muitlrallv accident. I had spent the evening then regaining partial control of my Hut In any c.se matters stepped within. conjecture. Several of the darkly rich pictures ever, and ended by of would not be IVnumbed telling me that I downtownaud was eolnir home at about self, lurched away. mended. The Injury waa She closed the door behind me. "Oh, were either original masterpieces or migni call that evenlna:. When I rii.t eleven, when a circumstance occurred brain, my knees turned to water, and Irreparable. I must cast her out of you men. you dissipate so," she said copies so cleverly executed that I so she received me with neither ninrA to me. A few evenlnirs before when with Jealousy tearing at my vltnls with an attempt at bantering. my life and pursue my way In wretch "But could not detect the difference. The nor less than her customary friendll- - at Mrs. Daces, she had requested me like a vulture, I staggered homeward edness and silence. I returned to my I am really surprised at you. Tom. I oriental vases were magnificent toto open a bottle of wine, which I had was. i was mvMinf rt ! n 1'pon the night of horror that fol rooms. had thought your morals almost too ken of barbaric art. and were overfwaa going on in the wonderland that done by mesne of a folding corkscrew lowed I do not care to dwell. Like I'ncle Aimer was already outterlnc Immaculate. -- Howevej, a walk In the I carried upon my key ring. When I one In a fever I tossed lowing with great clusters of blood-re- d lay behind ber eyes I had no concep through the rosea. The furniture .was of the tion iuruier than the evident fact had reached my own door later In the hours sleepless save for the fitful away somewhere and I threw myself outer air will do you good. We will that Into a chair In what wan nearly a. omit the church If you don't rare to handsomest and the tupestrics heavy she had not been seriously ofTencleil. evening I had discovered that my dream moments when I wandered far physical collapse. I felt shrunken and go Inside. I only used that as a sub As rich. to Mrs. led Dare's Income And thst was solace enough for the keys were missing, and remembered Into the evil haunts of the nightmare ns hollow my vltaU had been terfuge to get you to come, you know. I had no knowledge, but at least her present. Of course I would renew the at the time that I had laid the ring .Morning creeping grayly Into my drawn fromthough my body and I bad fallen Can you forgive such deceit In me? assault-alarmwere apartments high of rental and containing them and the corkscrew room found me with head splitting Into when the otmortunlt myself. I was Incapable of think 1 looked at her helplessly, marveling-a- t equipped with extravagance. For seemed propitious, but for the time upon the table after opening the bot and set eyes that stared at the ceiling and the weight that opber duplicity. The shadow of a ome reason, Richard Mackay's name being I would reBOrt to tle. I had forgotten to renlace them As one who Is crippled with rheuma ing logically steady siege. me was frown came to her brow. me pressed Ilefnre stifling. came creeping through my mind like 1 renewed my devotions. In my pocket, but knowing they were tism In every Joint. I arose stiffly life stretched away aa a void, hope don't you say something? "Why an evil thing, and I squirmed Inward I bathed As had been the case before, I felt no uneasiness; perfectly safe. myself and crawled out Into less and destitute of light and You only stand there and stare at m again through I had never seen flaunted her. ly at the thought. Necessarily thia soon told myself that 1 would recover them the air. It was Sunday morning, and which I must drift miserably until It so unpleasantly," she went on with a the man's face outside of the papers, beeame bruited around the circle of upon ray next visit, and ringing the already the chime of distant bolls niel merged into eternity. trace of Impatience. ' Thoroughly aick but that In Itself was enough. While our acquaintances, and occasionally bell was admitted by Mrs. Tebhets. I lowed in my ears. It was all plain to I must have sat In a half stimor for at heart I addressed her as I changed It was not unhandsome In a strong ecnoea or the gossip reached my ears bad not seen Mrs. Dace since, and me now, her deceit and treachery: a long time, for as the tinkle of the my mind again Into the determination, animal way, the stamp of vice w as In- Hruce spoke of It once or twice ouiz now on my way home decided to stop and bad I been sentenced over nlnht telephone bell sounded in my dead to confront her with her hcartless- delible upon It It seemed a sacriltlcally, but as I Ignored bis remarks off for a moment at the Arcadia, and to the gibbet I could not have been ened ears like a death rattle I got ness. ege to even mention his name In con- he soon quit bothering me with them. If she or the maid were home I would more wretched. In the mlserableness Mrs. Dace, I have come to tell feet and saw that It was nection with that of this exquisite Clare, aa usual, had her little claim the keys In order to avoid dis of It I stood soul sick before the utter upon my 1 say. that I cannot sd von inr mnm you o'clock. ten Mechanically nearly woman, for bis reputation waa aa "I hear that you and Mrs. Dace are turbing the housekeeper, who retired hollowness of all things. There could picked up the receiver and, asked w hat That you made a fool of me for some 1 be but one explanation therefore stepped from the of It. The was contaminating as his personality was exceedingly good friends these wanted. Over the wire there purpose of your own. It la of course days, early. poisonous. Furthermore, be was and that you are with her nearly car at the point where It crossed the hideous Innuendoes that had haunted came to me a voice which at first set not necessary that I should Inform ears like the whisperings of a Bea married. boulevard upon which she resided and my everywhere," she began sweetly. "I and then you. That you have wounded ma every nerve lo tingling It Is not my Intention to go further wish I shell had been less than the truth, you would tell me about It." hurried towards her building. turned me sick and faint In the reac- greatly and caused me much suffering I Into the particulars of and had been as used to be upon the opposite side the false light tion. For It was the voice of Mrs. you msy not my private af- Now as a matter of fact 1 was secret chanced know; but If It Is any fairs with Mrs. Dace than la necesof the street from mv destination. to mislead the world; as a dummy, ly proud to be recognized as the ac Dace, softly musical, and filed with satisfaction for you to have that fool. I the was the and as about for cross and to the the cheerfulness of the the way Oh, a complete understanding of cepted suitor of so beautiful a womsary treachery morning as knowledge I now confess It to you. ! wickedness and the black shame of the circumstances which surrounded she Inquired for me. In tones that ao noi think that I have anything an, and Clare was an entirely differ- my steps were arrested by the warn- It! And the mysterious crime that this woman for whom I sounded far against my ent proposition from Iirure to confide ing honk I of a motor car. Paualne at would have away to my own ears I more to say to you excent to auk fur the curb mcle. Briefly, i wjll its watched swift given my heart's blood told her It was I who approach, In the I the keys I Inadvertently left here and in. bo admitted nonchalantly that say that spoke. .. i its lights glaring like the eyes of some could be guilty of such cruelty to me! next month we were much we were on excellent terms. I did not recognize your 'hello.'" She together, uig you gooany. Hroken-heartedlI sobbed beneath nd most of the time alone. Ily the street speeding monster. She frowned a little. Her she went on briskly. eyes opened wide and slip etnruf "Your voice 1 saw that It was a seemed to prefer It that way; I cerponderous the oaks like a child. does not sound at all natural thia staring blankly into my face. "I "Well, I suppose, of course, that It lamps and of a affair, tainly did. and under those auspicious is all regret stabbed Plainly there was but one thing I morning. I am afratd you don't understand what have I done? right, and anyway it Is none me that I was pang dissipated not able to possess Its could do. I must renounce her unurroundlngs our friendship rapidly of my business. Hut she Is such a you look so strane-"she tttum. last night. Anyway. It Is such a love like. Almost as huge as a locomotive qualifiedly even though it well-nluthickened. It was a delirious time to I did not answer. woman. I have been thinking mered. a She lives like that ly mysterious morning It looked as It rolled to a point oppo- killed me, for I could never share Her mouth straightened a bit and jne. wherein during the days I walked duchess and everybody savs her hus pernaps you might wish to call and site me, and then suddenly swinging her with anybody as well might a take one In a trance when from me to church and afterwards for a chill came Into her voice. "Hut I When band left her apert anything. srarcely In a close circle stopped in front of man be asked to cut his heart In a : dreamed little stroll along the boulevard. I Insist upon knowing. You have and. rapturously of her by that little is gone what will she do night and was In a chafing- fever of unless she marries a rich man? And have thought of lots of things over denly charged me with very unpleas ducontent when not by her side. Of how on earth could you get money night that I wish to tell you. And ant things and I have the right to "nice'g dragon I saw nothing, while when we come back. If you care to demand an explanation In lustice to a woman of to her support enough for other would-bgive me still more of your time, we myself. That right being given me. I suitors, she tact-wil- tastes as she would deniand to be sup kept them at bay. Having win take luncheon here in my apart may or may not wish to avail myself You answer me Just that, ported? to notice this, and of course Tom Halliday." of my privilege to make a renlv: Hut ments. Will you come?" wing secretly delighted by It. I nevNow I had rather expected some My head swam and I leaned aealnst having had that opportunity you need ertheless one day asked her the wall for support. The day previous not rear that I shall esk anything why she thing like this from Clare, but never "tinned tho who wished to pay her theless the question annoyed me an invitation such as this would have further of you. Still, I feel that there "Mentions. She stifled a i one identical It was the somewhat. brought me from a sick bed to her on must be some mistake. Yon must ex. yawn her handkerchief. erutcnes, nut now I shuddered as plain yourself." that had been making my sane mo I turned my face from her as I an"Most men bore though a toad had been dropped down me," she answered, ments a bugaboo for many nights and swered I I bitterly: leaned closer. my spine. That she whom I had flatly. davs past; still hated to he remind "I wish "Had any one In the world told you to tell me frankly-- nd ed of It by another person. Kven now adored, defended against the world, do I?" and given my heart, could be so vilely me what I now know I should have I was beginning to feel the drain of She i treacherous! And. now with the struck him down. When rumors came swayed away from me slightly, her unon my resources, although I I had of an j sweetness she would lure to my ears I always shut them out beher cheeks swept by had done nothing extravagant. angel Jt w answering, me to ner mat sne might resume her cause of my faith In you. Hut what falling lashes and her bosom taken her to the theater, paid for carown eyes see I cannot doubt. I "filing to its round fullness. I drew riages, and bought her luncheons and play of cat and mouse! Yes, Clare my hau close that her soft grown to trust you lmpiiclty, and had been right. In stealth and cruelty-shhair brushed my flowers, but beyond that had done you "Matie-t- ell yourself molded and cemented was all certain a in And And she leopardess. me," I pleaded, practically nothing. would even have the scene of the next my faith by your protestations. That ,n wnose fathomless uiv tiiero was much satltifaction in ye?' dp th act In the sanctuary of the blessed I loved you better than my own lifd lthe 801,1 of any man miht wel1 the thought that I had offered her so I have told h you nnd I think convinced ?Te b"en drowned, looked disciple of love and truth! up at me. little In the way or allurement uesme You have paid me back with you. were full of there I ns While music a and one Softly, own bell. feH nand llrt'mlled society. my .... 1.1 upon my own, heard her voice calling to me and heartless treachery." nc every men by tne score who wuum setting "I demand that you tell me Instant8 ,0 tingling as a money to wt why 1 did not reply to her. nnd asking squander harp vibrates been overjoyed en ly why you say these things, sir," sho driven to excused .... Immediate lauehinclv hint Kiie swept broadcast by a hand. And action my mind i,t,r " I would go and cried, the hot crimson flarinc in her suddenly changed. rthwork Is annihilated by a herself to them for the sake of Inex- S see her. I would look upon her once (hecks. With the cold deliberutlnn me. As . 1u1a Jjudbunt. so was all my restraint peiiMr iini Mi'jkntniru i. more it me and then coldly tell her that our with which a gladiator might dispatch away h? th5 flood of passion proof that she really preferred tlat arnon .,1,1.1. must at once cease. I would his crippled enemy I returned to the relations the was and thing ""'n me; my blood icap-h,- I seemed conclusive, Inr no l m-go further, would give her no attack. ta mountaln torrent and my that gave nie tne niimi iiupo. went (TO BE CONTINUED.) satisfaction at all, but making my Clare and fighting it, way to my throat. ever not did speak i stopping to the excuse forgotten for keys respondthink what I said or on a His Star of Mercy Had Set. ing to her call, would claim them and scarcely realizing; only knowing Some of her gowns c ost more than - U unite as for bid farewell to her forever. In that Pd ,hl8 creatur a Little in imnnu Arthur was very earn tl . of you way I would end the' whole miserable his membership In the "band proud troLi , Would no lon8er bf Con supporting an establishment at the or merbusiness. voice Commanding my He wore the badge, a small by ' to me and held Arcadia wen, ui ner hl'i cni8,1G1 an effort I answered that I would cy." . neipipB, as I rained kisses Now why don't you as If It were a policeman's star, Is preposterous. upon come at once, and hung up the rees Hid llDa Anil Hat nnf tnv what . and could often be heard re--' he sensible?" I smiled, scenting love fn. hill In K ceiver without waiting for her to ad. . .. . proving the other boys for their cruel nairconereni was coming ient me I dress further. went to the mir- treatment of dogs and cata. 8 flld not And what is your Idea of sense, i douht reslt. and I ror and looked Into It. My lips were Out one a lady of the nelga- -' would I have rtJ nown inquired. had Clare?" It she ter.e and colorless, my eyes blood- borhood wasday little astonished R' 8llch was the Intensity of to find him In "Well, take up with a nice shot, and 1 (teemed to have grown the very act of Nor d,d 8he respond In girl like Mollie Osborn. for instance. I tormenting the cat thinner and pounds for years older over- most cruelly. She protested, "Why, "d When my flrst ardor It was Just as I had suspected, had nh. f night! Once more I bathed my face Arthur, what are you doing? chums and are ,8ted lt8elf and Mollie I and Clare laxed In cold water and set out for the Arinthought you belonged to the 'band of In advancing each others "ie l l6 ,QUletly broke away fom cadia. man. , mercy?' " Was flu8hed and terests. But the Idea that anyI knew "Mr d larL She opened the door at the first Out of the Car and Into His Grasp There Stepped the Woman I "From as "I did.", ha 'said, "but I lost my star." Dace Mrs. but her olc. was as once knowing lm rSer!d' Loved." sound of the bell, and royally beauti like a Tbe Metropolitan. time she ever bar could be content with girl (Contlnutd.) u lr nni i.t s . " e y oe-lo- n d e .... "r u'n, 1 S IT aa spoke d |