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Show 9eria1T! I f STORY VJ j lHERl I INFINITE I I VARIETY 1 $ m By lirand Whitlock $ lluslrailon by Rar Wallen H tueuirialil. IIW, kr Puklo Mwrlll vm.t SYNOPSIS. nnnl.,r V .tl. V, in,.n' vlll with Ma n,n Ii,i.rru,l,.l hy ll fi"'" I ,.,llti. ,l ,t lli m,n. , HHil llxth r, ki-m,'I M. Kill iifTf I"IM h. 1'nti.-r llml ...i,ln lll. hlin Hlia nu .! v.-,.r....l f..r ii.iii.. n..l -111. - f..r l.im in V.ii .1 -k In II U..I- I," f.'iii'.l a r. .1 r."..-. mnl. -I ! f"r m,ni.. ..r ...ii. li II, i.i-l it." I'll,. I'-ll,. ..... ,.li Mix Mi.U ilM.no of !;:;!;,',,,:'v:.rp;;:::;::,r.i.:.'n":,N.. "-' MI...I,... , , ,ir...l V. riii.n uronilao In toll. t..r II,- .inr,... HI..H. II.. il" al.l.'l lr Mr ...minima ,.ll,.r Hn I.H.k llklnx In Hi., r. ir miniiia.'llo Ml" xzr 'xv::::;'!. x,:::;,:: ;::;::-:.v ?;: Iho .i,ITr.li.. l.,ol -llrr.-.l a almim- f.-l-Ina wiilili. hlin II- r..r.,l In r.-..1 lila II ... a Ml, r V. rn.m iim.l.. a aroal aH..Hl, In (.,r ..f .iiffmuo. anl.il ! uliiiii. a finni Mi" ilrr.-n... 'I'll- r.-...liitl,in ... ii,.oli. a I..I nr.l.-r V.tll..ll ,.a t.iill.1, .n,.il. i, ll.r ir Hla for III.' r.-a- nl I. II" .i Hi" '., "I 'Ir-.n-" roll.,.ilir V.fm.n l,.l-. 1,-1 ulna i.f Al II- I.." Ml., ill.-, no ilruma an.l lal.1 mil .lna l..r II,.- an, . . aa ..( Il.a ra. iill.,n V. rn.in a a-. . I, r I t"nl n.'.-i..H.r I....H..II II- ma ' lila kn. r V. MI..II la H....l ..rr Jli.il Ina M.a""'r.rn."'''.a''.ln. Hi., f n. morning morn-ing h I I'" '"'ra Mlaa llr.'.-n.. nr- n.ad n.i.i i,r....kf.io,i Iil'n.l' a.iiii.n ,,...,ti.ma 'of Ih" aiirrr.ik-.' rra.ilnll.-ii lia aplrd Amt-lla. IU alartol limar.l li"r CMAPTER XI. None of the ladloa rolaiod at Ver-nnn'a Ver-nnn'a opiinmi h. Mra. Overman llndao-l.iilhroi llndao-l.iilhroi lonal of nil. On Ihe contrary aho aiH'tin-d lo awotl Inlo prnHirtloua that worn roloaaul anil ti-rrlfylim. and whon Vornon came within hor aphoro nf Inlliionre hla mannnr at onre aub-duod aub-duod llaolf Into an aimloy. "Why. Amelia Mra. llodKo-l-a-llirop!" he cried, "and Mra. Hlandlah. Mra. Ilarhniirton. Mra. Traloa, Mra. Ijiimdon how do you do?" Hn went, nf rourae, atralKhl to Mra. Overman llodKe-l.alhrop'a aide, the Ida that ahellon-il Amelia, and bo trlod to tnkn the handa of both women at once. Amelia anve Mm hnra coldly, without a word and without a look. He grow weak, Inane, and launhed un-eaally. un-eaally. V "Oelliililfiil moridna." he aalil, "thla country air dowrl hero la" "Morloy," anld Mra. Ovormnn-HihIk" Ovormnn-HihIk" l.alliroi. aovoroly. "lake that enat at thn font of the tnlilo." Hn oheyoil, meekly. Tho luillea, he HmiiKlit. from Iho ruaile of their aklrta, wllhdrow themaelvea auhlly. Vornon ahriink. "Morloy Vernon." Mra. Overman llodKo Lathrnp ooiiiluned, 'do you know whul I have a not Ion lo do?" "No, Mra limine Ijiihrop," ho anld In a very little voire. "Well, air. I've a notion to give you a good apanklnx " Vornon ahnl a Klam e at hor. "Oh, you needn't look, air." aho ron. tlniied. "you n -iila't InnU! It wouldn't tw thn Drat lime, aa you well know nnd It lau't ao many youra oko- and I have your niollnTa full pormlaalon, Inn." The rhnln of ladylike avmpathy that puaaed nlioill Iho lulilo III I Ilia ili rllira Hun waa broken only when lla elide coiiverK. il mi Vernon. Kveii then they .'omeil lo plurh him. "Your piMir, dear inollier." Mra Ovormnn HmUe -Ijilhrnp wonl on. "In-Ihli'd, "In-Ihli'd, luilevd. on rntiiliiii down h.'i ael(, hul t knew alio roiild never ntiuid urh a trip. I told hor," nnd here Mra. Ovormnn Undue Lnlhinp piuiaed for mi liiHtniil. "I tnld her tliul I lliointlit I cniitd miiiiiii;v." There wna a vnal Imilfii-iuiro In Ihla ai.ee,h. 1'ho wntter hnd hrouxht tho autiHtiin-Hula autiHtiin-Hula lo tlie liulli a, nnd Mra. Ovormnn limine I ati limp heniiii eiiilug dolor mlnedly. "It ua, of ronri.iv unt wliut I hnd alwnya predlrti-d," aho went on, In a aiiii'i ulo Unit wna timed hy Iho rlao of bor fork In her Hp". "I knew lhal pol II lea would Inevliiilily corrupt you, eiMiii or Into. And now II hue broiiithl you In thla." "To whul?" uakod Vornon. audilenly growing hold uiul roi klina. Amellii bail not Klten bltn one klunco; alio wna pli king at hor chop. Mra. Overman Ho.lKe-I.atlirnp, rnta lug ber gold glnaea uiul aetiliig them arlatiHTiitli'iilly on the IuIiIko of ber noao, fixed her cyoa on Vernon. ".Morley." aim miI.I. "wn know. Wo have heard nnd wo Imve read. The (.'lilcn;o preHH la an liiatltuilnu tliul, (orltiniitely, atlll aurvUea In theao leoiiiK'liiatlc diiya. You know very woll, of cnurae, what 1 menu, l'leiiao do not t'onipel me to ko Into thu ro-voltlng ro-voltlng iiurllciiltira." Hho took hor glnama down from hor none, aa If Hint ottlrliilly teriiilniiled the mutter. "Hut renlly, Mra. limine I. uthrop," uld Vernon. He wna growing ungry. and then, too, hu wua roiiai Imm aoiuu. how tliul Mlaa dree no wua looking lit him. Ilia wulter, John, timidly up-pruutlied up-pruutlied with a glumv ul the awul pri-Hoiu-o of Mra. Overturn) lloilto-Viihiui), lloilto-Viihiui), uml saa. "To br. nl; fun. aonnlo', ! gettli col'" 'Tliul may wnlt." anld Mra. Oot mun Hoilai -Ijithrop, and John apninl liiu-k out of rango. Vernon waa determined, then, P Imve II nut. Iteully, Mra. Ilmlge l.nllirnp, Jeailnl aal.l. " "Jetln'" cried Mra. Overm llnilin- Ijiihrop, "Jeatlng! Indeed, In' linv, thla la nulte a aerloini ImihI ii. i- : Hho iiipKi wllh her fon-flnger. "Well, then, nil rlxht," aald Verm "I don't know what I'm done. All I have done hna he n to rhnmpWin I menauro and I may add, wlllio' lionalllig. I hope, with eome aurroaa-nll aurroaa-nll I hnve done baa been In champta! a menauro wblih waa lo bonellt yoa ii'i, lo aerurn your rlghta, to" ".Morley!" Mra. Overman HimIkt Latlirnp anld. cutting him ahnrt. "Mnr loy, hnve you Indeed fallen ao low? I la liiromprehenatlilo In me, Ihnt I young man who had the mother yoi have, who lind thn advanrag.-a yen hnve had, who wue born and hied at you weru. ahiiuld ao enally have log hla ronpcot fnr wnmell!" I "lmi niy reapei-r fnr wniuen!" crlotl Vernon, and then ho laughed. "No. Mra HndKe Ijitlirop." ho went on wlt a aha. In of Irritation In hla tone, "thu la loo much!" Mra. Overman Hodge Lutbrop wn calm. "llavo you ""linen her any roaiortr i.iio went on. "Have you not, on iKv contrary, anld and done everylhlnl you could, in drng her dnwn from h I'jalle.l atntlon. In pull her to la earth, to bring her to a level will men, to make her anil horaolf wltt poll Ilia, by a. homing and voting aaa raiieiialng and lull I on holing and wire pulling? You would hnve her dogma nnd miaou horaolf hy going lo let pulla. In rauriiaoa and convent Inni; you would hnve hor, no doubt, In Hint. Iiililiylng for nnd agaluat moaaiiroe la the couiuil chambor and tho legislature." legisla-ture." Mra. Overman Hodge Ijilhrnp iiauioi nnd lifted her gold oyo-glnaaoa once mom lo the bridge nf her high, arl tiH'rntlc noao. "It la Ihnt kind of women you hart boon brought up with, Morley? U n,-i Oaeyel mm "Pleaae Do Not Compal Me le Go Into Revolting Particulara." wo look like that aort? Illume around Ihla table do wo look like tha aurt of women?" Tho ladloa atlffonod hauuhtlly, dla-ilnlnfully. dla-ilnlnfully. under the Imia iiilltii Inflection, Inflec-tion, knowing full well how eailly they would paaa muaier. "And, If lhal worn nnl enough," Mra. Overman Hodge luithrop went on, liiexoiubly, "we rumii born to ptead. with you and llml you hotmohlitng with that in 11 11 I li thing, Unit female law-yerl" law-yerl" Hho aaiko Iho word female at If It conveyed itimii dlatlnet Idea of re-priuirh. re-priuirh. Hho waa probing unothar chop with her fork. Hho hud aont the pot of rnfTi'o baek to tho kitchen, urdi-rtng the wuller to loll the conk I hat ahe waa nccuatoiued to drink her coffee hot. "And now. Morley Vernon, llil.-n o me," alio anld, ua If ho were about to hour the eiiiii'liiHton of the Mhole mat ter. "If you Inue uuy apnrk of honor left In you, you will iinilo v,hm yoii have already done. Thla toiohitlon lllllal be defeated III the m tulle today; I iiiii down heie to M-o that It In done. Wo go to the Hiate House after break-fiiHt, break-fiiHt, uml i hone lu, Ilea will aWI nni III laying before each member of the aeiinie thla mutter In lla Hue und ex-net ex-net light. Aa for our rlghta." aho panted and looked ul him llxedly, "aa lor our right. I think we mo perlirtly Clipnlile nf iieaertlig th. in." Her look pin Hint ipieailon beyond III! dlkpilte. "And now," ahe realllneil, "you would better take a llitle hreiikfnat youraolf; yn took an If )r,u tioMed atrength." Vernon mae. He alood for an In-atant In-atant looking at Amelia, but abe glanced at hlin only raannlly. "I atiptinao. Amelia, I ahaJI aoe you Inter In the mumlng"" "I ailppoae an, Mr. Veinnn." alio aald "Hut piny do not let me keep you from repilnlng ynur companion." Htii wna unite airy, nml lifted hor coffeorup with nno little finger quirked up high er than ho had ever aeen II lietnro. lie went baek fo where Miaa (ireono ant. and where hla hreakfaai lay. "My goodrioaa!" ho aald, aentlng hlmaelf. "I've hud n time!" "I ahnuld Imaglno ao," aalil Mlaa Greene. Hho wna Juat touching her napkin to her llpa with a final air. Hho carefully ptiahed hack hor chair, and roue from tho Inblo. "I beg ynur pardon." ho atnmmered, getting up hlmaelf, " I'll aoe you after broakrnal." Mlaa (Ireene bowed. Then ah lilt the dining room. CHAPTER XII. Morley Vermin ramn nut of tho dining din-ing room In n temper far different from that ho bad worn when he went In. Hla hrenkfaat, after ao mnny vl-claalludea, vl-claalludea, wna euro lo bo a failure, i hough John, alrlvlug agnlnat fate, bud tried to realnre Iho repeat to Ita original orig-inal excellence by replacing each dlah wllh a freah one. Ho affected a heroic eheerfiilneaa, too. but tho cheer wna hollow, for hla cxporli-nre of men and of brenkfnain niual hnve taught hlin that aurh dlaaatera run never be repaired. re-paired. Vernon, however, had heavier thing! nn hla mind. In hla new poaltlon aa knight .errant nf llllnnla womankind, ho hail look.-d forward to thla day aa the one of triumph; now, at Ita beginning, begin-ning, hn found hlmaelf with two offended of-fended women on hla hnnda. anil two hoiadeaaly Irrcroncllutilo mlalroaaoa to aervo. Ho begnn to eoe that tho lot nf a cnnatritrtlve atnteamnn la trying: he would never crltleiae leoitort agnln. The lobby of Ihe hotel waa filling rapidly, and men with their hair atlll damp from the morning combing wote panning Into the breukfaat room with nowapapora In their handa. In the center nf tho lobby, however, ho anw a group of aenaiora, and out of Ihe middle of the gmup roae a dark bonnet; bon-net; the flnwora on Ihe bonnet bolilied now and then dorlalvcly. Around II wore cluatorcd other bonnuta, but they worn moilonloaa, and, aa It wore, aub ordinate. "Can you tell me who that le?" aaked Hrooka of Alexander, Jerking hla thumb at the group. "Yen." aald Vornon, "I hat 'a Oen. Iloilgo I jitlinip. Bhe'a on hor way to the front to aaaumo command." "Oh!" aald Hrooka. "I aaw tome thing In the iwpere " And he went away, reading ae he walked. Vernnn looked everywhere for Mlai Oroone, but ho could not find her. Tho porter at tho Capitol avenue entrance told him Hint ahe had driven over to the Hlnm Houao a few mlnulea before. Vornon wna aelted by an Impulae to follow, but be remembered Amelia. Ho could nut let mattcra go on thui between thorn. If only Mra. Overman Hodge Ijiihrop wore not In command: If bo could get Amelia away from hur for a while. If ho could lee her alone, he fch Hint eipliinatlona would be pot-alblu. pot-alblu. TO IK CONTlNTKJI ) |