Show ri M -J ? I 5 JOSEPH VANCE ft 77i photo-drama corresponding Judith felt she could ar better so: not trust herself to say farewell to him without breaking arrangement down and confessing the utter wretchedness that threatenedto overwhelm her each time she forced possible to herself to face the O’Hearts"in this paper thought that this parting must be final but also to see each installment of it at the moving picture theaters Like a thief she stole across the creaking floor to Alan’s side hesitated bent her head to his and (Copyright 3514 by Louis Joseph Vance) touched her lips to his cheek— a caress so light 15th Installment that he slept on in ignoranceof it to the The TreO’Hearts” mayBynow be seen this unique moving picture theaters instamenh of This then was the crue) fruition of his mercihounding of Alan Law' from the woods of northern Maine to the hills of southern California! There was no other occupantof the room he had lain nearly two days in from half a dozen throats within another Instant "As if from-the path of coma some grizzly visitant from subsequent progress toward recovery the world beyond the grave the throng pressed state had been the normal or last back and cleared a way for Seneca Trine father The last bitter drop that brimmed his cup of twenty-four hours he had been in full possession of the bride misery wTas added v’hen Alan of his faculties and (for Law himself some reason impossible And as the way opened and he looked up toward leaving the miners’ cabin in with for Judith to cheerful company fathom) uncommonly the altar and saw Alan his betrothed—Rose standinghand in hand with soothed and comforted rom this circumstance shedrew a certain sense ftose while the minister smiling invokeda blessing upon through the traces of her recent tears as of mystified anxiety Twice in the course of the the union added strength the strengthof the she clung to her lover nestling in the of she had caught his eye following hollow morning her wjth she lifted was given to Then as her head and stood erect his arm Seneca Trine sardonic' a’ gleam of he nursed exuitancy as though Alan THE LAST TRUMP bosom convulsed with silent sobs When she annoyed by the disturbancein the looked To Alan on the other hand thisrencontre some secret of extraordinarypotentialities body of the chapel is the “death-sign” squarely into the face of Rose SYNOPSIS — The looked round it was to see the seemed to afford nothing but the pleasantest surprise quite by Seneca Trine an aged and crippled And yet (she argued) impossible aged maniac standing within a dozen feet of him monomaniac in the private war of vengeance which he imaginable" wages against that he should have some fresh scheme brewing and as he looked and Alan Lavr son of the man (now dead) who was Innocently cried out in II— THE OLD ADAM he cried releasing ’the wonder Trine "Well!” Rose and running for assassinationof Alan responsible for the accident which rendered Trine helpless long revolver from the A minute before either whipped a elapsed pocket of his dressing invalid for lite Alan fails in love with ICoe Trine’s woman aown to tne car "Here’s luck! And at the very yet she was by a great And oppressed and it steadily to bear daughter and his love is returned Judith Rose moved or spoke gown swung upon Alan’s twin moment when was calling lucky star hard and double but of violent passions and erratic my uneasiness head Transfixed beside Alan’s chair steadyingherself temper promises herwoman names’ How can ever reward your thoughtfulfather to compass Alan’s death but A considerabledegree of restlessness was surely with a hand Its back At that instant the storm broke with infernal under dramatic circumstances Alan saves her lite and upon Judith stared at the nessiur Tr hnn Iiatv trnn so inne mo iiuir from her window unwillingly wins her love figure in the vivr ACCjJ pardonablein one who watched fury upon Judith then turns against her In tho land doorway a temper at once discomfited of this father and successfully track me happening like this effortsto cause Alan way— along opposes his and defiant a carnage-drive populous with vehicles (for the A crash of thunder so heavy and prolongedthat to be assassinated by his aides’ and mercenaries With this she suffered a phase need After every time a car the worst way in the most part motor cars) bringingto the hotel gayly it many adventures Alan Rose Judith and Barcus of Alan’s Incredulity was scarce able to persuade herself seemed to rock the very building upon its foundations world!” best friend escape to the mountain country of Southern dressed men and women the guests invited to the that this was truly Rose who California and there leave Trine helpless and friendless accompanied the shattering of huge stained-glass confrontedher— Rose "Drive on!” Trine screamed to the chauffeur a of Rose Trine and Alan wedding Law through causing the death (in of whose sweet and gentle naturehad ever servedas his two do you hear?” window "Drive on first lieutenants ten the Judith the butt of Judith’s Within another minutes man A bolt of bluish flame of dazzling brilliance supreme contempt and ruthless But Judith had stepped up on the running board loved with all her body and soul would be the husridicule slashed through the window’ like a flaming I— THE NEW JUDITH and was eyeing the driver coldly with one hand band of her sister sword and Here was revolution with a vengeance when smote the pistol in the hand of Seneca Trine significantly resting on the butt of the rom sleep as from drugged stuporJudith Trin® Rose weapon at against her will she and stole Slowly rose threatenedand Judith shrank! her side The dischargingth© weapon even as it struck him awakened strugglingback to consciousnessIlk® car remained at a standstill dead It was across the floor to her father’s chair as if the women had exchanged natures "But where’s Barcus?” Judith demanded when some exhausteddiver from the black depthsto the slow While they slept His breathing and regular: he fell beyond As the bolt swerved and struck two others surface of a nightbound pool after helping Rose into the car and running off doubt he slept unquestionablythere was 'no reaThe down— Alan Law and the woman who had just And for a little she lay unstirringher half-numb countenance that Rose showed her sister been wits fumbling with their was a thundercloudrent by the lurid lightning of made his wife business of renewing ac her eyes Her tense and alert witn the angry pose was quaintance world like the pose of an animal set to spring In her IV— THE WIE At first she could by no means recognizeher Again three days elapsed This hung a revolver and Judith rude returning chamber of rough plank from the double funeral of her father And slowly toward the end of that long mute walls and primitive and sister furnishings this wide hard doffed her mourning for a minute the girl’s grasp tightenedupon the grip of couch she sharedwith her still slumbering sister gown less somber and the and its CSS CBS EEB S3 BBS ras SE3 ra ¥3 suited to tho atmosphere of Rose the view muzzlelifted pE® more by at the weapon a sickroom then revealed an open window relieved the Remarking this a flash of her one-time in of Alan bedside fair of nurse charge a perspective tree-clad temper mountains Of a quickened Judith He remained as he had been ever since the falling through which a wide-bosomed sudden with a start she canyon rolled down the floor in single of the in absolute crossed a noiseless stride and thunderbolt— to an emerald plain conveyed nothingto her in coma threw herself before her sister But he lived and— or the physicians telligence lied—must "Well?” she demanded hotly soon regain A formless "What are you consciousness sense of some epochal change in the I habits and waiting for? Nobody’s stopping you: why don’t Kneeling besidehis bedside Judith prayed long mental processesof a young lifetime you shoot?” and earnestly to her added confusion The upward movement of the hand was checked: When she aroseft was to answer a tap upon the Who was she herself this strange creaturewho the door She admitted nested here so calmlyby the side of weapon hung level to Judith’s breast—as level Tom Barcus and suffered him Rose? If she and unequivocalas the glancethat to lead her into the recess of the her eyes probed window where were Judith Trine how came she to be there? and the £one of Rose's voice they In opposites in of as she demanded: conversed guarded tones in spite of the phase every character there?” fact that the subject of their the sisters had "What were you doing with communications could sedulouslyavoided association "If you from what not possibly have each other since must know you already heard them ever me childhood: they had not "I’ve know on the evidenceof your eyes— was bidding com® to tell you something” Barcus shared the shelter of four walls overnightsince good-by to the with characteristicawkwardness time beyond the bounds of Judith’s man love — kissing him without his Tve memory What leaving him then had or consent before to you known it for three days— ever since the wedding so changed them both that they should knowledge for good and all!” in fact—and kept it to be found in such close myself not knowing whether company? Where was the do you tell Judith "What mean?” ought to yet or not" of fearless you yesterday— proud S “That I’m going away— that can’t stand this He paused eyeing her uncertainly unhappily to arrogance the puppetof fiery passions the woman situation any longer “I Marrophat and Jimmy are who had been able to contemplate withouta am prepared” Judith assured him calmly my father’s helpless—and to “You’re nothingof the eort" he countered argumentative hand a see that qualm committing "with her own murder dead mean he remains so “You couldn’t be that her father's mind Nothing then stands in the way It’s the most might be eased his last amazing of your marrying Alan but me thing See here days soothed "with the And such- being imaginable sense of a wrong repaid in the case and because he’s as dear to “Well?" brimming measure? me as he is —I’m to to take gojng off and keep out “You understand don’t that Alan What indeed had become of that wild thing you— myself yon must never Judith know that Rose was killed by that gh tn Trine of yesterday? Surely she had little of the way” "or fear lest he find out that you love him?” stroke?” enough in common with this Judith of today in lip curled "Do you think hii so witless “What do you mean?" whose heart was no more room for envy hatred heJudith’s J‘I doesn’t know that already?” mean” the man flounderedmiserably "you malice or any uncharitablenessso full was it of he loved her "And so you leave him to me out of vour charity! see love "which though it was focusedupon the person so— I thought— a sure it would that it?” of one bebest — If you can bring yourself toit to let him man none the less embraced all the world— — go on belleying It wasn’t Rose even her sister and "Any way you like But if It’s so intolerable to successfulrival in that one who was killed but to think Judith you that dare love him and confess it that’s skating so close to man’s affections the truth to that it makes no difference you-rif you begrudge me the humiliationof the Judith Alan And this "was the w ork of Love! knew and the Judith stoopingto kiss a man who doesn’t want my kisses knew in the beginningis gone as She sighed but sighed softly that she might not disturb her sister —if you are so afraid of losing him completely as though she and not Roe® had beer and in this very act of consideration while live and love him killed" the very well emphasized then!” vastnessof the change that — had come over her With a passionategesture Judith tore open the After a long pause the girl asked him quietly: or a week ago to have roused "I Rose bosom of her waist offering her flesh to the muzzle understand But Is It possible you don’t underneedlesslywould have afforded Judith malicious of the revolver K delight while stand that if were to consent to thia today Judith was not only proposition lend myself to a deception which thoughtful of her sister’s minor comforts but stood A cry broke from the lips of Rose that was like must maintain the cry of a forlorn child with cruelty through all prepared to sacrifice herself to her punished my life to come — Alan would consider break own that its his wife?” heart with her two that Rose’s understanding She fell back me hands happiness passes own againgt the wall The revolver swept up through "Well but—you might be assured see—you are his wife Oh don’t think I’m off my bat: I’m telling you Now the chain of memories was quite complete the air — but its mark was her own head rather than Judith’s the plain In its no link lacking bosom unvarnishedtruth You are Alan’s wife continuity She recalled before her finger found No listen to clearly incident that had the-slow But to pull the You narked strength me remember that day every trigger the in growth of this great love she had for Alan Law man at the table startled from hfs sleep New York when you substituted for Rose when by the soundof Alan from that first day not yet a old voices from his chair tried to elope with her and month angry leaped you when he — went with with violence that it him to had a sent clattering to the floor JerseyCity and stood up to be married by a escaped the fiery deathtrap she had set for and hurled preacher-guy him and repaid her only by risking his life himself headlong across the room Wright— and Marrophat broke to thank their hosts Alan alone to the named anew returned she should not leave him son why for ten minutes the wrist of his betrothedwith one hand in just at the critical to save from car destruction down to this very moment and busted up the even though he waked it could not harm him to while the other wrested the weapon away and morning when the stream from a hydraulicnozzle Goodness only knows” the young man answered party?” await her return at the end of that scant period had passedit to Judith cheerfully "He would insist on "Well?” she demanded breathlessly swept over the brink of a three hundred-foot rambling off down Like a guilty thing on feet as noiseless as any he cried thickly precipice a "Rose!” does this the in folded crimson racing automobile containing "what mean? Barcus produceda canyon searchof an alleged town where we sneak-thief’s she crept from yellow paper from his the Judith ” two desperate could hire a room closed the coat pocketand proffered IL men bent upon compassing the death Are you mad? — motor car — down there” door silently ran down the hall and descendedby of her beloved Dragging the bosom of her waist together Judith "Read that It was handed to me-as Taking the seat next the chhuffeurhe gave the best a back way iittle-used staircase thrust the a to the lower man word to drive Just before the By that act of sheer the world was weapon into Its holster and turned away and they slipped It was on from the hall ceremony Seeing addressed away approaching the scene of the marriage richer for the loss of two black-hearted blackguards "Be kind to her Alan” she said In an uncertain location of the mining to Alan and knowing he was in no frame of mind camp saluted by cheers Above stairs in the room Judith had quitted and Alan voice: "She didn’t understand and— and be bothered by be from the to slipped it into Law might now considered her goaded miners telegrams Seneca Trine opened both eyes wide and laughed my safe from further I’m afraid orgive beyond endurance me pocket and forgot all aboutit temporarily When persecution Half an hour passed withouta word spoken by silent — since there now — a laugh of savage triumph when the door took the liberty of remained not one soul loyal enough to Seneca but be kind to her always!” any member of the party Each was deep in his closed came to find it readingit behind his daughter Trine to prosecutehis private war of vengeance Somehow blindly she stumbled out of the cabin or her own especial preoccupation But read it for yourself” last he left to his into the At was against Alan open own devices — and- at And though that aged monomaniac possessed by a thought whose The aged monomaniac occupied the right-hand The typewritten lines of the long message had a time the most fitting imaginable for what ho blurred and ran temptationwas strongerthan her powers of resistance means whereby he might purchase otherscoundrels Thus his one able hand together almost indecipherably in comer of the rear seat Lad in mind and Judith’s vision What Rose had failed to accomplish might was next to Judith None tho less she contrivedto corrupt’them to his hideous purposes in close juxtaposition to the With a grin Seneca Trine raised both arms and Judith was that he serve to resolve Judith's the determined should never again now problem None revolver in the holster bn her hip grasp substanceof its meaning: stretched wide apart she told herself them have bitterly would seek to any opportunityso to do Though Alan she hinderher Without the least warning his left hand closed '"WHY DIDN'T YOU WIRE ME SOONER?” it Then grasping the arras of his chair he lifted ran: But she meant so to knew the "MARRIAGE TO ROSE IMPOSSIBLE REV would never lift his hand to hinder her arrange the matterthat none upon weapon withdrew it and leveled it at the himselffrom it and stood tremblingupon his own father’s shouldsee or suspect and be moved to Interfere freedom of action she Judith meant to back of Alan’s head MR WRIGHT INORMED ME YOUR MARRIAGE feet for the first time in almost twenty years take such steps as his persecutioncalled for Late though the afternoon hour was the business TO If As ho pulled the trigger Judith flung herself JUDITH LAST WEEK HAD GONE TOO Grasping the back of the wheeled chair he used of hydraulic there were any justice in the land if there were still the undivided bodily AR WHEN MARROPHAT INTERRUPTED JUDITH mining engaged upon the arm it was a — alienists attention of crutch to guide his feeble and uncertain any LEGALLY YOUR WIE capable of discriminatingbetween every man in the camp None Even so the bullet found a goal though in WOULD HAVE these movements But Trine’s noticed the girl as she sped up the road became momentarily the than the intended victim ADVISED YOU SOONER HAD YOU LET ME apparent sanity and his deep-rooted mania toward forearm The muscular and confident cliff— at least if any stronger one did it was more KNOW WHERE TO ADDRESS YOU without of the chauffeur receivedit HOPE TO — then surely not many days more should pass into 't'his then was the secret he had hugged to his history without the symptoms of the hysteria HEAVEN THIS GETS TO YOU BEORE TOO witnessinghis consignment to an which was With a shriek of pain the man released the embittered bosom a secret unsuspected even by institution for the criminally at the bottom of this mad impulse toward self LATE” Insane wheel and grasped his arm the attending that through the Judith to that and then destruction surgeon: motor signed with the She would see Before Alaa could move to prevent the disaster The message was name of Alan’s of three days ago he had regained the use confidential The woman sighed once more And yet such is the inconsistencyof the human the car man of businessin New York running withouta guiding hand of limbs that had been cannoned stricken for motionless— Then Rose and Alan would marry and live animal the instinct was off a low When Judith looked up she was alone in the embankment to the left and shot happily ever strangely enough by a motor car—nearly two decades into a afterward stronger than her purpose: when a touring car ditch on the right room but for the silent patient on his couch shallow shelling since But what of Judith? like peas from Slowly almost fearfully she crept to his bedside swung round the mountain and shot toward her a broken pod she checked hastily and Slowly but surely moving to the bureau in the and stood looking She made a small gesture of resignationto her jumped aside in ample down into the face of her good twenty feet through the destiny time to What became of her no longer mattered air and room he opened one of its drawers and' took out husband escape being run down alighted with such force that he lay he had that Alan next instant the something without her so were made happy in such happiness The knowledge seen And while she looked Alan’s lashes fluttered machine was lurching to a stunned for several moments he Judith put there while she he slept his as halt and the away thought coveted respirationquickened a faint color crept into sonorous accents of Seneca Trine Vhen he came to he found Barcus helpinghim with this And Thon his pallid cheeks— and were saluting her: his feet: hidden in the pocket of his his eyes opened wide now the thought stirred her sharply that to and hpnw CAirbn TVn onernn what to be done dressing gown he steered a if looked into hers was must be done quickly If "Judith! You here! halted very deWhat the devil! Where’ve in the roadway indicated the manner in liberate to the door let himself out at all and lips moved and been? Where are and his friend course His breathed a word of recog you Marrophat Jimmy?” which had arrived on the of the dike a scene specter of the he once And the almost level rays of the declining sun girl replied him materialized nition: "Dead!" the sententious eyeing accident man had beenstriking in navigated the corridor to the head of through the open "Judith!” window counseled strangely When damages were assessedit was found that the W’ith haste if Judith were to broad central staircase and step by step clinging a low cry of accomplish her intention "Dead?” he echoed "Who’s dead?” A ekam tenderness the girl sank to none of tho nariv YnA snfforoH corinnclv Ivni 41 a with both of leaving this place and her knees and finding her father hands negotiatedthe descent encircled his head with her arms of internal joy lighted up his grim and lowering chauffeur and Seneca Trine himself The again former The lobby of the hotel was before nightfall You deserted As the she don to tell had "Judith” whispered hiding her face in his countenance Alan only his to while meanme wound show however Trine "Judith is no more With’ the utmost care she rose from the bed vuu evciy guest ana servbosom nHii r ant in tho house was crept to the door of the she cut him to the and then the feeble (now "No” short again "I crowding doorway A voice:room recognizedas a the wrecked automobile pause mean to tell ce from the quarters chapel of the foreman of the hydraulic None opposed the progressof this ghastly "Then if mining you that Marrophat and Jimmy are dead” was mistaken if you aren’t Judith outfit) and out Into the "I don’t believe it!” the old vision in dressinggown and slippered feet chuckyou must' be room adjoining Rose— my wife!” man screamed’ III— THE LAST TRUMP ling insanely to himselfas he tottered through' the “I And there pulling the door to gently behind her She salt! steadily: aghast "I won’t believe it You’re lying to me am-your ‘wife” the of ’the Toward evening third dav follow!: she paused and for empty halls and corridors finding an almost sunerHis You’re lying—’’ hands fumbled with her face closed upon many minutes stood in tense-strung you jade! the motor spill Judith sat in the deeply recessed’ natural strength to sustain him till he contemplationof the man she loved She indicated with a her lifted her head until her found hiw eyes gesturetwo forms that lay winaow oi a Deacuamoer on tne second must — Alan floor of a self face to face with his and victim lo6k into his Law asleep in a chair beside a table his head at a little distance back from the roadsidemotionless chosen enemy situated in the heart of California’s The first that blockedhis on his folded arms orange beneath a sheet of canvas— the ’bodies of hotel way into the chapel a And for many minutes he held her so looking lands 1 growing of the hotel at the first into This was eave between them— and he Trine’s creatures bellboy looked round touch deep the soul of the recovered by the mining gang her Seneca womanBehind sat asleep of the claw-like hand Trine apparently upon his shoulderand would never know and brought up for a Christian burial shrank Then quietly he said: "I know in a wheeled invalid chair back with a cry of terror—a (cry that was echoed END O THE: TREY O’ HEARTS With the Universal ilm Mfg read " The Trey Co at the leading therefore not only it is less Though her of - father’s his -rapid appeared -n©w ' insane 3-of-Hearta employed it-was a I a I r a 3 I ' ' self-defense) ’ - ' -was star-smitten - id r ? surroundings -hand : z : ' Irreconcilable I i announced I I high-spirited I I t -Is I -And i I I ' I I imprisoning -her -somewhere self-defense ‘ I I I I another remarking accident self-preservation full-tilt itspassengers - Alan-catapulted a : ' ' - - a c a n- : -straight ’ t - 2 5 r - i -the 1 I ’ ' " ' ’ - ’ -cheeks pillowed ' - - 1 - - -taking ' " ’ '1 |