The Washington times., 1913-02-21
CHAPTER VII.-(Continued.)

TIE tried desperately, and with
IL equal futility, to frame some
excuse for his fault.
Far too soon the machine
swerved into Fifty-seyenth street.
slipped halfway down the block, De
scribed a wide arc to the northern curu
and pulled up, trembling, oe1ore
modest modern residence pet"ee"
Sixth and Seventh avenues.
Reluctantly, Whitaker got out, ana
on suspicion, told the chauffeur to wait
Then with all the alacritJ of con-
demned man ascending the scanolo' he
ran UP the steps to the 'front.' ooor:
A man servant answered MS rihs
without undue delay.
Was Miss Law at home? He would see
hat indicated that she was at nome.
Whitaker rendered q card with MS sur
name penciled after that OF MI Husn
Morten in engraved script He was SUI
fsred to enter and wait in the halfway
He stared round him with pardonabie
wonder. II this were truly the nome
of Mary Ladislas Whitaker-her prop
erty-he had builded far better than
he could possibly have foreseen. with
that investment of $500 six years since.
But who could have pref1gured the Sara
Law of today from the shadowy, hunt-
ed. haunted child of yesterday-the
woman. who. before ms eyes, ~ltnrll onnnn
terfeit of her self Of yesterday like
some splendid creature emerging from
Soft. shaded lights, rare furnishings.
the rich vet delicate atmosphere OF ex-
ouisite taste, the hush and orderly per-
function of a home reared and mann
tanned with consummate art; tneee
things furnished him with dim, proVok-
ing sfnumidations- of an Individuality 70
which he was a stranger-less than a
stranger-nothing.
The man servant brought his dignity
downstairs again.
Would MI Whitaker be pleased TO
wait in the drawing-room?
M w1itsker surrendered top-coat
and hat and was shown into the desig-
mated apartment. Almost Immediately
he became aware of feminine footsteps
on the staircase-the tap of heels. the
faint murmuring of skirts. He faceo
the doorway, indefinably thrilled-the
blood ouickening In throat and temples
-steeling himself as if against crisis.
To his intense disappointment there
entered to him woman Impossible TO
confuse her with whom he sought-a
lady well past middle age, with the dig
nity and poise consistent with her years,
her manifest breeding and her iron-gray
hair.
He bowed, conscious that he was be-
ing narrowly scrutinized, nicely weighed
in the scales of a judgment prejudiced,
If at all, not in his favor:
II am Mrs Secretion, friend of MISS
Laws. She has asked me to say tnat
she begs to be excused, at least for to-
night. She has suffered a sever shock
and is able to see nobody.
Il understand-and I'm sorry" said
Whitaker. swallowing his chagrh'
And am further Instructed to ask
If you will be good enough to leave
your address"
Certainly: I'm stopping at the Ritz:
Carlton: but'-he demurred-"1 should
7
Mrs Secretan nodded an assent. you
will find materials in the desk there,
she added, indicating an escritoire.
Thanking her, Whitaker sat down and,
after some hesitation, wrote few lines:
please don't think mean to cause you
the slightest inconvenience or distress.
shall be glad to further your wishes In
any way you may care TO designate.
Please believe in my sincere re-
Rret''
Signing and folding this. he rose and
delivered II 10 Mrs. Secretan.
Thank you" he said tremendously.
The usual cool civilities passed be-
tween them. Receiving his hat and
COAT and The freedom of the door from
the man-servant, he found himself in
the street, with his trouble for all re-
ward for his pains. He wondered what
TO do. where TO go, next. There was in
his mind a nagging thought that he
ought to do something or other. some
how or other, to find DrUmmond and
make him understand that he Whitaker,
had no desire Or inclination to stand in
his light: only let the thing be con-
summated decently, as privately as pos
elbIe. with due Difference 20 the law.
The driver of the taxicab was holding
the door for him, head bent. to catch
the address of the next stop. But his
fare stood still in doubt
Dimly he became aware Of the violent
Rawlings Of a brace Of news venders
who were tramping through the street
one on either sidewalk. Beyond two
words which seemed to be intended for
extra" and tragedy" their cries were
rs inarticulate as they were deafening
At the spur of a vague impulse bred
of an incredulous wonder If the pa
pers were already noising abroad the
news of the fiasco at the Theater Max,
whitaker stopped one OF the men and
purcha sed paper. 1t was delivered into
his hands roughly folded SO that sec
tion of the front page, which blazed
with crimson ink. was uppermost-be-
sides being indicated by ridiculously
dirty thumb.
.'Ther'y'are, sir. orrible moider -
The man galloped on. bowling. But
his attention was clearly legible in the
light of the nearest taxicab lamp.
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