Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-26
CHAPTER xxxv1r.
MOLLY STARTS FOR A DRIvl

A loosening OF his collar, a dash of cold
water into his face, a sip Of brandy, re-
stored Frank Marley to consciousness,
but he was an old man. He seemed visi-
bly, to have shrunk in his clothes, and
the flesh to have sagged In his cheeks He
tried to smile bravely, when they set him
in his chair but the attempt was
pathetic failure.
II guess I'm out of the game" he con-,
fessed. MY hearts bad"
Molly took up the telephone.
'Tll call Doctor Brand" she anxlously
decided.
"Don'r he begged, stopping her with
his hand. ut isn't physical, it'H mental.
I've lost my nerve Molly Sledge wins.
We're broken
How can that be7" she puzzled, unable
TO comprehend It. you even showed me
the check
Here 1t is," snld Bert, who had picked
It from the floor, and was smoothing 1t
out.
"worthessr' Marley groaned, at sight
of It. II can sue for 1t, but they'll beat
me-"
Bert edged in between Molly and Fern,
so that he could stand directly In front
of Marley, and see his face.
"Do you mean to tell me that our whole
plan has fallen to the ground?"
Marley nodded miserably.
How did 1t happen2"
II don't quite understand" wavered
Marley. II haven't tho detailsh but by
some trick Sledge has secured 50-year
franchises for every street in the city.
including mine"
How does that affect your" persisted
Bert, his eyes falling again to tho check.
That document looked so much like
real money that he was inclined to be-
lieve it rather than Marley.
Affect mev' protested Marley, warmed
into trne more of life as he explained.
"It renders my street railway company
junk heap. We lose everything"
But the sale" insisted Bert.
Invalid. Goldman claims ho was not
authorized to act"
Bert ripped out an oath.
II suppose that If the sale had been a
profitable one you never would have heard
of the invalidity."
Marley smiled, and shook his head.
"Then all our plans are off" discovered
Bert. "The Porson tract Is unstable for
enough to clear its own mortgage Your
stock and mine are worthless. You lose
this house. 1 am stuck for the loan I
made to give you control We haven't
money enough to go into business. and
we can't go back East. Molly, 1t looks
like n postponement"
Jessie Peters edged closer, and slipped
her arm around Molly.
Not on my account" protested Mar
ley, fumblnE at his collar, and he arose
feebly to adjust it before the mantel
mirror.
Molly, seeing that he wavered, hurried
to his support
He turned to her, and put his hands on
her shoulders.
I'm sorry, Molly" he said Gimply,
looking into her eyes with more fond
ness than he was in the habit of showing
her.
I'VE can stand it," she eomrorted him.
After all, It's only just. l feel so much
less wicked If we suffer with all the poor
people we have helped to ruin"
A short laugh from Bert interrupted
her, and she turned to him with a rising
flame in her eyes; but little Jessie Peters
had caught her hand, and was looking
up into her face.
The minister, n tall chap who had won
the hammer-throwing medal in his last
year at college, had withdrawn discreetly
to the parlor when the conversation had
begun, but now came back apologetically.
~ am sorry to urge you." he observed.
looking at his watch. "I have a brief
appointment, but can return"
IT don't know" hesitated Molly,
glancing at Bert "Wait just minute"
The thin butler who was now cross
door, which he opened, ard a second
later he was sitting in the umbrella rack.
"Say, youse!" beloved the voice of
Sledge, as his huge bulk, followed by
Tommy Reeler, slammed back through
the hall, filling the perspective like n
ferry crowding into her dock. rs it
Fern was the first one to recover from
the shock.
NO" she said meekly, but her eyes
danced of the devil as they met those
of Tommy Reeler.
"Then it's off" yelled Sedge, and
grabbed the startled Molly by the wrist.
Bert endeavored to throw himself in
between the two, and to face Sledge, but
that experienced old ward leader who
had not forgotten, the training of his
early days, gave him a quick elbow in
the pit of the stomach, and Bert doubled
up in the middle like a jack-knife, and
dropped heels up on a couch. clawing for
breath. while Sledge, as resistless as an
auto dray. dragged the struggling Molly
steadily toward the front door,
Opposite the library he met with an
unexpected defender. The tall young
preacher threw himself upon the big boy
bodily, avoided the pile driver elbow,
grabbed Sledge around the neck with his
steel-like left wrist, and with his right
fist poked him in the jaw. Sledge shook
MS HCdo anu SpAulNSlSAt az io NCuiN az
a shower bath, but never let go of Molly's
wrist, and plodded on toward the front
door, trying to force off the clutch OF the
tall young minister with his mighty left
arm.
The minister, whose heart was partic-
ularly in his work, because this was the
first opportunity he had ever enjoyed to
wallop man in a righteous cause. in
dustrlously slammed Sledge on his other
jaw. and the smack was like kiss at
country dance.
Tommy Reeler, who had been clearing
the legs Of the limp butler out OF the path
OF progress, now sprang on the minis
ter's back, and pinioned his busy arms
from behind, while Sedge steadily
dragged them all toward the front door,
with Molly now screaming, and Nina, her
arms about her mistress waist. jerking
her from behind.
"MinaI" cried Molly Let go! You're
pulling my arm In two!'
The weight of Tommy Reeler told at
last. The minister's hold on Sledge's
neck loosened, and he and Tommy tum-
bled back with a thud into the middle
of the parlor. rolling under the very
chandelier which was TO have been the
pivot OF the wedding. Tommy, who had
risen to be a boss contractor largely
through muscular will, enjoyed a lively
tussle with the young minister. but luck
favored him, and he landed on top.
NOW. you behaved" he painted, with