Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-22
CHAPTER XIV.
Copyright. 1909. by Dodd.
Mead & Co.

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CHAPTER XIV.
u LONG the heights OF Arizona,
"A where her father lay in most
preearious condition of health,
= = Shirley Bloodgood and her
mother had gone to care for the strick-
On man. The life in the open and I'M
der comparatively unconventional sur
Hosndings was much in the nature of
q revelation to the New York society
woman, and the novelty of it all made
q vivid impression on her.
1t was many months after the last
described interview between Broder-
lex and Murgaroyd that Shirley ar
rived back in her beloved New York
once more.
At the station exit she hesitated as
to where she would go, as she had not
notified any Of her friends Of her re-
turn. Finally she concluded to go to
the Bellerophon, an aristocratic and
conservative hotel, where her family
were known, and she asked the head
station porter to summon her cab.
At sight Of the unpretentious hostel
~, which rejoiced in the distinction Of
possessing such resounding name,
Shirley was conscious Of variety Of
emotions. For time in the old days
1t had been the fashion to patronize
the Bellerophon, and Murgatroyd had
been the first to take her there.
They showed her to her room, q won
derfully old fashioned room without q
particle Of brass or glitter in it. Even
the bedstead was of wood, a good, SOL
Id invitation to homelike rest and
slumber.
Shirley picked up one of the papers
lying on the table, She started and
laughed guilty. A name had caught
her eye-Murgatroyd! Paper after pa
ed his name, and with it invariably
was coupled another name-Thornei
The Pillar, the most conservative even
ing paper in the city, was holding up
its hands In reverential hero worship.
In two column article 1t reviewed
Murgatroyd's record from its invari-
ably impartial viewpoint "Murgatroyd
had been clean," it said. Ills repu-
tation was upsullied." 1t even re-
ferred to the Challoner incident as q
pitiful piece of falsehood which had
strengthened Murgatroyd in his posi-
ton. Shirley cried out, "Oh, what a
hypocrite he TSP
Of 1~l~ {~ko
/ was reminded Of sudden that she
was desperately hungry. Once in the
dining room, she directed her steps to
small alcove. Shirley threw glance
around the room. Palms screened her
table, making it impossible for her to
be seen, although 1t was perfectly easy
for her to see every one in the room.
The air Of the city was full Of life
and body. 1t gave her an appetite
She enjoyed her dinner thoroughly,
and yet her thoughts wandered.
IF only Billy had been different
Suddenly the palns were parted, and
fat man approached her table. On
seeing it occspied he mumbled his sur
prise and backed out again. But while
pushing his way through the palms he
extended short arm and said:
That table over there, them
The remark was made to a compan-
ion, whom Shirley could not see. An
answer Of disappointment, however,
came in mans voice. And the fat
man-his face was strangely familiar.
Shirley was sure.
Broderick-that was the MANTLE
funny, vulgar politician who had been
pointed out to her at the Challoner
trial. Shirley wondered what a man
! OF his stamp was doing in the Bellero-
phon. Somehow he did not seem to
belong there. She noted how broad,
how terribly broad. was his back.
But a power in politics-the real
thing!" she murmured. 1t was not
surprising, she told herself, that men
Of refinement hesitated long before
going into politics if this were a type
of the men they had to compete with.
Her thoughts running on in this strain,
yhe determined out Of curiosity to get
glimpse Of Broderick's companion.
The man sat facing her.
At the first glace Shirley was star
tiled. mo; it can't be possible that
At that instant the stranger looked up
and dispelled her doubts. She was face
to face with the man who had filled
her thoughts for the last two hours.
"And so that is Billy Murgatroyd!
she gasped. He was different from
the man she had pictured. And she
would have gone on indefinitely cfiti-
cising his looks, but she was suddenly
interrupted by the sound Of voices. 1t
z s1|T ::.s Frederick talking, his big voice
filing the room. Shirley listened at
tentively.
Blamed good place to get away
from the gang he was saying, and
there was u satisfied look on his face
as he glanced about the room.
Murgatr0yd leaned forward and
spoke. Instantly the tone Of his voice
and his manner told the girl that the
relations between the two men were,
I'm degree. confidential. Broderick
assumed the attitude Of a political ad-
wiser. Shirley observed that he ges-
ticulated graat deal. but in none Of
his movements was there q suggestion
Of hostility.
"And this is the use that Murgatroyd
has made Of poor Miriams moneyg'
she cried to herself. 'He's brfbing the
enemyi"
Shirley bowed her head in shame.
Presently she lifted it again. Muir
gatroyd rose and walked UP and down