Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-06-05

~ A"NSu AhuieM eagerly. Look here"
be urged desperately, 81 don't want to
quit just yet I've come across for
you, Now want you to come across
for me. Won't you? want to marry
Helen"
The Master Mind contemplated his
puppet with a superciious stare
You grow ambitious, Walter. Mr.
Wainwrights sister-a childg'
THE kids dippy over me-" the
young man contended warmly. "Any.
how, she's sixteen. OF course know
Wainwright would be sore on the
game. But | believe the kid would
slip out to the parson with me at the
drop OF the hat If only Lucene would
pass the word. Now, | want You to
speak on my side to Lucene. Be a
good pal, won't you, Andy?" He clan.
ped Andrew familarly on the shoul. |
der.
The Master Mind started back rs
one would retreat from some noxious |
pollution.
"If you please" he said. His tone
was dangerous.
Walter cringed abjectly. Pm sorry
forgot he stammered.
Without another look toward him the
Master Mind went out of the room.
Lucene entered.
"You wished to speak to me?" she in.
quired indilferently.
| NI fn 10 ,t,a
Helen"
"Ir Is absolutely useless, Walter"
Lucene declared promptly, with wearl.
ness in her voice ',rhe idea is absurd.
Helen is only child
"She's old enough to know what
she's doing, anyhow" Walter argued
LUcene shook her head emphatically.
"That's just It," she said, resolutely
"She isn't" She welcomed the coming
of Mr.. and Mrs. Blount, which put an
end to this intolerable tete-G-tete.
Mrs, Blount spoke to Lucene with a
half serious playfulness:
He's such naughty boyl Has he
been worrying you, dearle?" Suddenly
her greedy eyes fell on n bracelet that
the young wife was wearing for the
first time. "Oh, what lovely brace
leti' she exclaimed, and now her tones
were wheedlingly soft and sweet. She
lngly but the slender, skilled fingers
were busy.
Lucene, however, was in no mood to
be patient under the lmposltions of this
woman. She drew her arm away
quickly.
"No, you shan't have it," she de-
clared splritedly.
"Why, deariew Mrs. Bloupt cooed
placatingly the heavy lids dropping
low over her big, slumbrous eyes. 81
only wanted to-
Lucene was ruthlessly frank.
mo tell you. You've taken almost
everything have already"
The husband fairly glared at his wife.
"Yon told me she gave 'em to youl'
). he growed bitterly.
"And you did, didn't you, dearieT'
the wife persisted, alarmed
4 But any hope Of help from the girl
r as an ally was dssipated on the in.
stant.
!. 81 did notr' Lucene exclaimed with
9 vehemence rare In her.
r. The cold voice of Andrew sounded
4 dominant through the room:
q Mrs. Blountw
All turned to face the speaker where
he stood jnst within the doorway, but
the woman he addressed turned much
more slowly than did the others,
=. Blount, nevertheless, made bold tC
" speak up manfully in behalf Of bis
erring spouse.
N "Oh, that'l be all right" he declared
With an effort toward assurance
/, Shell give them back, Of course"
Andrew, however, made no answer
~ For that matter, he was no longer civ
p ing attention to the woman or her hus
"a band. He was, instead, listening t
the dialogue between Walter and Lu
70 Gene, for the young man had selzet
this opportunity to continue his plead
n ing with the girl.
10 Say, If you'll do this for me-" HI
was urging, "Ill never bother yot
- again. Come on now! Won't you"
O. mo-" was the steadfast answer, y"
m will not During the last month yol
n. have made my life miserable by forcini
m me to get money for you from my hus
". band to save you from disgrace, ant
OF incidentally myself. But you ma,
re threaten me as much as you llke-yol
Id sban't have Helen, No, nor
~ "Why not, I'd like to knowT waite
s. demanded blusteringly.
A The reply was explicit;
IN because you're not fit"
D? The contemptuous words caused th
W thiefs fury to pass all bounds.
"Oh, | amt eh" he stormed. "Wel
as I'd have you know I'm just as III TO
Helen as you are for Wainwright See
ID, And, If you don't help me, Why m
X. tlne lady, I'll just
tx Andrews voice broke Off the nal
en- spoken threat.
"That will do, Walter" he commah'
10. ed. "Lucene is right
The young man protested,
70. But | only want to marry Helen
"It is imposslble.' Andrew tetofte'