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Show y IASH of tte CMMSIANCE struck mo as ae deliciously nonsensical that I could not refrain from laughing. . It is absurd, Clare. Certainly Mol-llIs strictly all right hut she would look like a mouse beside Mrs. Dace. She nodded spiritedly. Now you are talking sense, like a nice little white mouse beside a leopardess, exactly." I did not like the comparison. Do you mean to say that Mrs. Dace is a leopardess?" I demanded with some warmth. Clare was as cool as a cucumber. "Oh, I dont know. Anyway, she Is as beautiful as one. And viewing her as I have only from a distance, I have somehow gained the impression 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 slde-wiysaw 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 say, Tom, dear. I really know at most nothing about you- - charmer,' and I trust to your level head to. take care iff you. Only please do be earful. So we laughed together and' dropped that subject hard then and Mol lie the entrance acroae the way. Instinctively I paused in the shadow to watch it Its door swung open and out onto the pavement there stepped a, great man with a massive bull-doshaped head and neck, and mustaches that flowed from his lips Uke yellow fountains. By the gaslight I could see the bear-likpower of his arm as he the. Yosonde Author thrust out hie hand to soma one yet llhiotrstflone jy Mtfnu O. Kettnoi within the car, and a cold premonition aflBurr.ia of something wretched to come swept over me. To my ears there came a to me and she told me that I was forSYNOPSIS. short, peculiar cough, and from this getting myself and must leave her at mannerism iff which I had .heard, as Abner Halliday, a mtsarlv millionaire, once. Uncertain as to whether she well as from pictures which I had la found laind, bound ana Insensible in his room, hu safe rilled and MO.OOO miss- had submitted to my outburst with seen In the newspapers, I instantly ing. The thread of the story Is taken up more or less Indifference as the 'best recognised him. The dragon had arhis by nephew Tom. Living In the same Richard house are other relatives; reckless Bruce way of extricating herself from an rived In his Juggernaut and pretty Clare 'Wlnton. Bruce, Halliday situation, or whether Mackay, the infamous, the moral lepwho Is a bona broker, has been trying to embarrassing raise 110,000 to put through a deal and she was secretly angry, yet worried er, who, corrupt of soul and body, had save himself from flnaclal ruin. He has greatly over the consequences of my long reigned as autocrat of thunder applied to his miserly uncle and to others Impetuosity, I held out my hand apworld and prince of spoilsmen, loomed fnr the loan but has been refused. Tom d for William LeDuc, an old-tlpealingly as I begged her forgiveness across the way. Fearless and able, friend conected with a detective agency. In relating the story Tom reverts to his that In my great love for her I had powerful yet subtle, always a domiof my superior acquaintance with a Mrs. Dace, a wealthy taken advantage nant force for evil, he was one 'from widow, whose business agent la Richard strength. My hand she eluded by a whom any man might recoil with selfackay, a boodlar and political step backward and her perfectly modcret fear. ulated voice once more bade me a CHAPTER Vc (Continued.) And an instant later the wretched good night came to pass. From out of the thing overcoat arm I over threw my my, waa Tou have come at last. I car and into his grasp there stepped But to at and the turned door. least growing Impatient. I waa loneaome the woman whom I loved with all my and wanted aome one to talk you may tell me If I am forgiven, I there. soul, and my heart seemed to stop. to me preferably you. Do you know, pleaded, as heavy of heart I paused Up to this time toe course iff ns1 With his arm around her waist, witI had been thinking of you Just be- upon the threshold.. Her expression indifferent as to who might man's love ever ran smoother than remained changeless.'. fore you called me up. Perhaps it he passed across the walk by was Dace. Mrs. had mine for it T will Tet have not fully decided. Tou waa though transmission that made conversa- her side end threw the door wide by a few know after this later. only days you ring me a moment later. Who sweep of hie free hand. For some Then I may hope that I have not tion with Clare that there happened areason know a T" She laughed musically as I I learned later it was because me time to so at the awful sinned thing beyond redemption and that I took her lingers and bent my llpa to of weakened a spring the door foiled that hades itself could have offered to close may see you again?" them. promptly, and I distinctly saw I had no more torture Tou never, me In call few a exquisite. may up days Mrs. Dace, thought transmission the sim- them in the subdued light of the into remind me of you would be grossly when you have recovered your bal- been Jealous of Mrs. Dace forno cause terior as they stood( dose together ance. ple reason that I had seen superfluous. I am, going to be perof awaiting the descent of the elevator fires to knew the I must And for I until then be; wait that, my yet fectly plain with you. It Is barely poscar. It was but a fleeting glimpse, me like within slumbered that answer? passion sible that I have thought of something yet had it lasted' longer I believe I mere volcano. iff The a latent Until then you must wait Good those else since I saw you last, but If I have should have cried outright in my agthought of another making love to her I do not now remember what It was. night. ony. For as plainly as I ever saw me waa told torment that had She a intoI the I Demand That You Tell Mo Instant ly Why You hallway bowed, passed Say These Things, She withHowever, you flatter me. anything in my life I saw him draw fremen few In and the Interested and left her, hope and fear battling her, Slrl" drew her hand with a sudden as I as to close him her Impetuously quency of my attendance upon her my bosom. lng of her eyes, smiling again. seemed to preclude the idea of a rival had done in my outburst as he lifted twain. I must not even see her again ful' in her cool morning gown, stood " No, It was not flattery. I also am of consequence lurking in the back- her face and half burled It beneath for I dared not trust .myself in her smiling before me. At first she seemed CHAPTER VI. a plain person and do not speak In Then the presence. What I his sweeping mustache. might do if I should about to approach me even closer, bat ground. That I was being publicly parables. Besides, what harm to door mercifully dosed, shutting out meet her alone I did not know. as her eyes sought my face she drew and to attention attract exhibited When I called her up three days think of ones friends?" She half sheep-skito cloak a the sight and leaving me with horror Whether I would violently denounce back and her smile vanished as the turned an easy chair for ire and I later she seemed to have forgotten thus used as anever of her for her faithlessness, break down sunshine behind a driving cloud. entered my mind filling my breast and the coldness inseated myself In It, my eyes running that any such Incident had ever hap- real wolf, had hideous- death creeping over me. For an in all its until the miserably as I was now doing, or com-m- lt 111? she inquired, quick solicitude thought over the room. The quiet richness of pened. She passed the usual pleasof. movement, was I stant Incapable some other scene I could only in her tones. I shook my head as I me ness was forced upon purely by Its furnishings was a revelation. Ex- antries of the day over the wire, then regaining partial control of my- conjecture. But in any case matters stepped within. I had the accident evening spent as as softly and musically quisite taste was In the very air. laughed Benumbed iff was self, lurched awqy. She closed the door behind me. Oh, Several of the darkly rich pictures ever, and ended by telling me that I downtownand was going home at about brain, my knees turned to water, and would not be mended. The injury out of you men, you dissipate so, she said must I cast occurred ber circumstance a when irreparable. were either original masterpieces or might call that evening. When I did eleven, But to me. A few evenings before, when with Jealousy tearing at my vitals my life and pursue my way in wretch- with an attempt at bantering. copies so cleverly executed that I so she received me with neither more at Mrs. like a vulture, I staggered homeward. edness and silence. I returned to my am really surprised at you, Tom. I me had she Daces, requested could not detect the difference. The nor less than her customhry friendlihad thought your morals glmost too i Upon the night of horror that fol- rooms. oriental-vasewere magnificent to- ness. I was mystified. As to what to open a bottle of wine, which I had lowed I do not care to dwell. Like Uncle Abner was already puttering immaculate. However, a walk in the kens of barbaric art, and were over- waa going on In the wonderland that done by means of a folding corkscrew. one In a fever I tossed through the away somewhere and I threw myself outer air will do you good. We will I carried upon my key ring. When I flowing with great clusters of blood-re- d lay behind her eyes I had no concep- had reached save for the fitful into a chair In what waa nearly a omit the church If you dont care to hours In own door the later sleepless my roses. The furniture was of the tion further than the evident fact that dream moments when I wandered far physical collapse. I felt shrunken and go inside. I only used that as a subhandsomest and the tapestries heavy she had not been seriously offended. evening I had discovered that my Into the evil haunts of the nightmare. hollow as though my vitals had been terfuge to get you to come, you know. and rich. As to Mrs. Daces Income And that was solace enough for the keys were missing, and remembered I had laid time the at that Morning greyly into my drawn from my body and I had fallen Can you forgive such deceit In me? creeping the ring I had no knowledge, but at least her present Of course I would renew the looked at her helplessly, marveling them and the corkscrew room found me with head splitting into myself. I was incapable of thinkcontaining s assaultat-prmthe' when were of and rental opportunity apartments high set eyes that stared at the celling. ing logically and the weight that op- at, her duplicity. The shadow of a and botthe after table the opening upon ' For seemed propitious, but for the time equipped with extravagance. As one who is crippled with rheuma- pressed me was stifling. Before me frown came to her brow. some reason, Richard Mackay's name being I would resort to steady siege. tle. I had forgotten to replace them Why dont you say something? In my pocket, but knowing they were tism In every Joint. I arose stiffly, life stretched away as a voffl, hopecame creeping through my mind like I renewed my devotions. bathed myself and crawled out into less and destitute of light and through Tou only stand there end stare at me no felt I uneasiness; safe, perfectly an evil thing, and I squirmed InwardAs had been the case before, I again I would recover them the air. It was Sunday morning, and which I must drift miserably until it so unpleasantly, she Went on with a ly at the thought. I had never seen haunted her. Necessarily this soon told myself that trace of impatience, j'horoughly sick the chime of distant bells mel merged into eternity. the man's face outside of the papers, became bruited around the circle of upon my next visit, and ringing ttj, .already lowed In my ears. It was all plain to at heart I addressed her, as I changed Mrs. Tebbets. was for sat in bell admitted a I must have half stupor, by In but that Itself was enough. While our acquaintances, and' occasionally me now, her deceit and treachery; a my mind again into the determination Dace and seen Mrs. of as tinkle had the for the not since, long time, It was not unhandsome In a strong echoes of the gossip reached my ears. now on my way home decided to stop and had I been sentenced over night telephone bell sounded In my dead- to confront her with' her heartlessanimal way, the stamp of vice was In- Bruce spoke of It once or twice to the gibbet I could not have been ened ears like a death rattle I got ness. delible upon It It seemed a sacribut as I Ignored his remarks off for a moment at the Arcadia, and more wretched. In the miserableness upon my feet and saw that it was Mrs. Dace, I havq come to tell I would were home or if maid the she lege to even mention his name In con- he soon quit bothering me with them. I stood soul sick before the utter nearly ten o'clock. of disit to in avoid order claim the Mechanically I you that I cannot see you any more. keys nection with that of this exquisite Clare, as usual, had her little say. hollowness of all things. There could picked up the receiver and asked what That you made a fool of me for some woman, for his reputation was as I hear that you and Mrs. Dace are turbing Ithe housekeeper, who retired be but one explanation of it The was wanted. Over the wire there purpose of your own, it Is of course the from therefore stepped early. contaminating as his personality was exceedingly good friends these days, hideous Innuendoes that had haunted came to me a vblce which at first set not necessary a that I should inform the crossed where car at it the point he was and that you are with her nearly Furthermore, poisonous. my ears like the whisperings of a sea every nerve to tingling and .then you. That you have wounded me -she and which resided boulevard upon married. I everywhere, she began sweetly. shell had been less- than the truth, turned me sick and faint in the reac- greatly and caused me much suffering towards her building, It is not my Intention to go further wish you would tell me about it hurried and I had been used as the false light tion. For it was the voice iff Mrs. you may not know; but' if it Is any to side the be chanced upon opposite Into the particulars of my private af- Now as a matter of fact I was secretto mislead the world; as a dummy, Dace, softly musical, and filled with satisfaction for you to have that from street of the my destination, necesMrs. acDace Is to than fairs with be recognised as the ly proud fool. Oh, the treachery and the the cheerfulness of the morning' as knowledge I now confess it to you. I the I waa cross about 'to as and the way sary for a complete understanding of cepted suitor of so beautiful a wom- my steps were arrested and the black shame of she inquired for me. In tones that do not think that I have anything wickedness warnthe by the . circumstances which surrounded an, and Clare was an entirely differAnd this woman for whom I sounded for away to my own ears I mors to say to you except to ask for ' it! that motor car. a at honk of the mysterious crime against my ent proposition from Bruce to confide ing curb I watched its swiftPausing would have the keys I Inadvertently left here and given my hearts blood told her it was I who spoke. approach. uncle. Briefly, I will say that In the in. So I admitted nonchalantly that the bid you goodby. " v some could be guilty of such cruelty to me! like Its the of eyes not lights glaring did I your hello, next month we were much together, we were on excellent terms. She Broken-heartedlI sobbed beneath she went on recognise Her eyes opened wide and she stood monster. street the voice By Tour speeding briskly. She most time alone. of the and frowned a little. I I saw that It was a ponderous the oaks like a child. does not sound at all natural this staring blankly into my face. seemed to prefer It that way; I cerWell, I suppose, of course, that It lamps and a understand what I have done? dont iff regret stabbed one thing was but there am affair, pang . afraid Plainly I you dissipated tainly did, and under those auspicious is all right and anyway It Is none me that I was not able to possess Its could do. I must renounce her un- morning. "she stamyou look so strange last night Anyway, it is such a lovesurroundings our friendship rapidly of my business. But she Is such well-nigmered. I did not answer. h as a even as like. Almost It locomotive I though been huge have qualifiedly that thinking ly morning thickened. It was a delirious time to mysterious woman. She lives like Her mouth straightened a bit and it looked as It rolled to a point oppo- killed me, for I could never share perhaps you might wish to call and me, wherein during the days I walked duchess and everybody says her hus- site me, and then chill came into her voice. But I her with anybody ae well might take me to church and afterwards for like one In a trance when apart from band left her scarcely anything. When in a close circle suddenlyIn swinging of man be asked to cut his heart in a little stroll along the boulevard. I insist upon knowing. Tou have sudfront stopped . her; dreamed rapturously of her by that little Is gone what will she do have thought of lota of things over denly charged me with very unpleas-night and was In a chafing fever of unless she marries a rich man? ant to and have the things 'I right And Wish I. to tell you. night that discontent when not by her side. Of how on earth could you get money when we come back, if you care to demand an explanation in Justice to Bruce's dragon I saw nothing, while enough to support a woman of her That right lgelng given me, I give me still more of your time, we myself. ms for other would-b- e suitors, she tact- tastes as she would demand to be supin apart- may or may not Wish to avail myself here luncheon will take my ocme answer Tou at them Just that bay. Haring fully kept ported? of my privilege to make a reply. But ments. Will you corner casion to notice this, and of course Tom Halliday. had that opportunity you need I leaned swam and head against having My Now I had rather expected somebeing secretly delighted by It, I nevnot fear that I shall ask anything the wall for support The day previous ertheless one day asked her why she thing like this from Clare, but neverfurther of you. Still, I feel that there would have as such this an invitation me her theless the question annoyed shunned those who wished to pay must be some mistake. You must exbrought me from a sick bed to her on attentions. She stifled a yawn be- somewhat It was the Identical one plain yourself. 1 now shuddered crutches, but that had been making my sane mohind her handkerchief. I turned my face from her as I andown had been toad a dropped and though "Most men bore me, she answered, ments a bugaboo for many nights swered bitterly:' I had whom That she my spine. days past; still I hated to be remindquietly. I leaned closer. Had one In tbe world told adored, defended against the world, me what any ed of it by another person. Even now I wish you to tell me frankly1 now I know I should have and given my heart, could be so vilely I was beginning to feel the drain of And do him down. When rumors came struck now And with the treacherous! She swayed away from me slightly, her upon my resources, although to my ears I always shut them out besweetness of an angel she would lure not answering, her cheeks swept by had done nothing extravagant I had cause of my faith in you. But what me to her that she might resume her her falling lashes and her bosom taken her to the theater, paid for carmy own eyes see I cannot doubt. - K Clare and mouse! I cat of drew fullness. Yes, play swelling to Its round riages, and bought her luncheons and had grown to trust you impllclty, and had been right In stealth and cruelty so close that her soft hair brushed my flowers, but beyond that had done cemented And she you yourself molded and she was all leopardess. Matle tell me, I pleaded. face. practically nothing. And In a certain my faith by you:; protestations. That next the scene of even the have fathomless In would In whose was Her eyes. way there giuch satisfaction loved you better than my own life act In the sanctuary of the blessed I have told depths the soul of any man might well the thought that I had offered her so you and I think convinced, have been drowned, looked up at me. little In the way of allurement besides disciple of love and truth! you. Tou have paid me back wittff t feather-ligha music ns of full fell one hand bell, She smiled and Softly, my own society. While there were heartless treachery. heard her voice calling to me and upon my own, setting every men by the score who would . have T demand .that you ten me instantnerve to tingling as a harp vibrates been overjoyed to squander money asking why I did not reply to her, and ly why you say these things, sir," she driven to Immediate action my mind when swept broadcast by a hand. And upon her, she had laughingly excused the hot crimson flaring in her and cried, suddenly changed.. I would-go- . as an earthwork Is annihilated by a herself to them for the sake of inexWith the cold deliberation cheeks. see her. I would look upon her once with which a cloudburst, so was all my restraint pensive little evenings with me. As gladiator might dispatch more and then coldly toll her that our his swept away by the flood of passion proof that she really preferred me it crippled enemy I returned to the would I once cease. must at relations that arose within me; my blood leap- seemed conclusive, and was the thing attack. go no further, would give her no ing like a mountain torrent and my that gave me the most hope. How(TO BE CONTINUED.) satisfaction at all, but making my heart fighting Its way to my throat ever I did not speak. and Clare went excuse the for respondor forgotten keys Not stopping to think what I said on: Hie Star'of Mercy Had Set ing to her call, would claim them and Some iff her gowns cost more than did, scarcely realising; only knowing bid farewell to her forever. In that Little Arthur was very proud of that I loved this creature with a pas- you earn in a month, while as for way I would end the whole miserable fils membership in the band of mersion that would no longer be con- supporting an establishment at the business. a Commanding my voice by cy. He wore the badge, a small trolled, I crushed her to me and held Arcadia well, of courqp the very idea an effort I answered that I would star, as if it were a policemans Inher helpless as I rained kisses upon is preposterous. Now why don't you come at once, and hung up the re- signia. and could often be heard reher eyes and lips and cried out my be sensible? I smiled, scenting wbat V ceiver without waiting for her to ad- proving the other boys for their cruel was coming. love for her In broken, dress me further. I wpnt to the mir- treatment of dogs and cate And what is your idea of sense, sentences. She did not resist and I ror and looked into it My lips were But one day a lady of the neighdoubt If I would have known It had Clare? I inquired. teaee and colorless, my eyes blood- borhood was astonished to find him In she done so, such was the Intensity of Well, take up with a nice little the very act of tormenting tho cat shot, and 1 seemed to have g my fervor. Nor did she respond in girl like Mollle Osborn, for instance. ardor was first as when I pounds thinner and years older over- moot cruelly. She' protested, Why, and It had Just for my the least suspected, night Once more I. bathed my face Arthur, . what are you doing? ( had exhausted Itself and my arms re- Clare and Mollle are chums and dein cold water and set out for the Ar- thought you belonged to the band of laxed she quietly broke away from voted in advancing each others incadia. waa flushed and her terests. idea But mercy V " face the that me. Her any man, I did. ho said, "but I lost my star, She opened the door at the first hair dleordered, but her voice was as once knowing Mrs. Dace as I knew From Out of the Car and Into Hie Grasp Thera Stepped the Woman I Tho and beauti of content sound ever bell, the she could be time a Metropolitan. like with first royally as the spoke her, girl ipi Loved. , Harry Irvino of of e Greene Wilderness iftniwn g e s, al . to-nig- bra-senl- y . - . . n s quls-slcall- it. ' I J . l . ir ' K n . half-cohere- . n Hr r)- - . rJ - |