The Washington times., 1913-02-22

nearly a week before you REGISTERED
there as Hugh M-o-r-t-e-n, and IN. the
space Of q few hours married her un-
der your right name. and shipped her
Right" whitaker agreed steadily.
II traced her to the Hotsl Belmont.
where she stopped over night, then
lost her completely. and 30 reported to
Mrs. Petit. I must mention here. In
derstand my subsequent action. that
my bill for the investigation was never
paid. Mr.. Petit was not in very COM
Portable circumstances at the time NO
matter. I didn't press him, and later
was glad Of 1t. for 1t left me free
further report
II don't understand you"
A moment. came into a little money
about that time, and gave up my bust
ress; save 1t up; that I. N far
ice M of A's the public public was va copcerned.
i retained my devouring curiosity
about things that didn't concern
me personally. although they were Of
ten matters of extreme interest to the
general public. In other words, con-
tinued to employ my time profession
ally. but only for my private amuse-
ment or in the interests Of my friends.
After some time Mr.. Drummond sought
me out and begged me TO renew my
search for Mrs. Whitaker: you were
dead. he said; she was due to come into
an independent woman"
And you found her and told Drum
mond"
whitaker leaned over the table,
studying the mans face with intense
interest.
'No-and yes. found Mrs. whitaker.
Y Ans 20
But why-in Heavens name?'
Ember smiled somberly at the droop-
ing ash of his cigar. There were sew.
eral reasons. First among them,
didn't have to. l had asked no re-
tainer from Drummond. and 1 rendered
no bill. What ] had found out was
mine' to keep or to sell, as 1 chose.
chose not to sell because-welI, because
Mrs. Whitaker begged me not to-
"Ah" . Whitaker breathed. sitting
WON'T This m,n1;,sn was all of year; think. after
tasted the sweets of independence and
got the habit: She had adopted pro-
fession looked upon with adherence by
her family; she was succeeding at 1t.
NAV say she was experiencing intima-
tions Of that extraordinary power which
made her Sara Law-as you saw her
tonight. II she came forward as the
widow of Hugh Whitaker, II meant re-
nunciation of the stage; 1t meant pain
ful scenes with her family II she re-
fused to abandon her profession; II
meant the loss OF liberty, Of freedom Of
action and development which was hers
in her decent obscurity. She was al
ready successful In q small way, had
little need Of the money she would get
as claimant of your estate. She enlisted
my sympathy and-I kept quiet"
That was decent of YOU"
- The man bowed a quiet acknowledg-
ment. 81 thought you'd think SO. There
was a third reason"
He paused, until Whitaker encouraged
MIR. Whitaker"-the query came
you love your wife,
Whitaker caught his breath. What
right" he beCan. and checked
abruptly. The blood darkened his lean
cheeks.
Mrs. Whitaker gave me to under.
stand that you didn't. 1t wasn't hard
to understand. everything considered.
that your motive was pure chivalry-
Quixotism. I should like to go to my
grave with anything half as honorable
TO my credit"
Il beg your pardon" Whitaker NUT
tered thickly.
You don't, them"
Love her? No"
There was a slight pause. Then, Il
do" said this extraordinary man. meet
INK Whitakers gaze openly. Il do" he
replied, flushing in his turn, but nope,
lessly. However. II was that third
reason" he pursued In more ievel
voice, which / thought you should
know about, that induced me to keep
Sara Laws secret. l loved her from
the day / found her. She has never
looked twice at me. But that's why
never lost interest.
You mean," whitaker took him up
continued to-shT"
Court her. as We say. No. Embers
shoulders lifting, underlined the dis
claimer. I'm no fool; mean i m able
to recognize a hopeless case when ITS
as intimate to me as mine was-and Is
Doubtless Mrs. Whitaker understands
II she hasn't forgotten me by this time
but, II so. IL is wholly through intu-
ition. ] had the sense not 10 invite the
I'v sat quietly in the back
ground, watching her work out her des-
tiny. feeling a good deal like god In
the machine.
She doesn't know IL, unless Max told
Ter against my WISH but II was 1 who
induced him to take her from the ranks
Of a provincial stock company and bring
her before the pubic four years ago.
as Joan Thursday. Since then her des-
tiny has been rather too big thing
for me to tamper with; but I've watched
and wondered, sensing forces at work
about her OF which even she was un-
What do you mean?" Whitaker de-
mystified.
Ibid II strike you to wonder at the
mob her farewell per-
formance attracted-the rabble that
packed the street though quite hopeless |