Meade County news., 1916-11-23
Hammon listened DrIeny. tnen broke

Hammon listened brIefiy. then broKe
out:
'Nonsense. I'd stake my life on her.
Why, she's prostrated. It's either pure
blackmail, or It's my wife's work.
She's had detectives on me for some
time" Merkle murmured something
more "Oh, come nowI know what
I'm talking about, and 1 won't stand
for that" cried Harmon.
Merkle shrugged; his nexts words
were audible, and they were both
sharp and incisive.
"The harms done. They got away
clean. Now we've got to kill the story
and kill 1t quick in case they intend
it for the papers"
my God! Newspapers-at this
time" groaned the other. "It couldn't
be worse"
Fright. We must move fast. IL
your car here2"
eyes"
sect It, We'll go in with you. I
had an accident to mine."
"You'll see for yourself you're
wrong-about the other" Harmon
jerked his head meaningly toward the
house, then strobe away to order his
motor,
Merkle favored his young companion
with a wintry smile.
"It seems we're too late"
Lorelei nodded silently. "Don't tell
him who-spoke to US out there. Not
yet, at least. I-can't see him go to
jail"
"Jail? There won't be any jail to
this-there never is. Jarvis will have
to settle for the sake of the rest of
u.s."
Hammon's limousine rolled in under
the porte-cochere, and moment later
the owner appeared with Lilas.
Lorelei stared at her friend In genu-
inc surprise, for 1t was obvious that
Lilas was deeply agitated. Her face
was swollen with weeping; she verged
upon hysterla. No sooner were the
four in the car and under way than
she broke down, sobbing wretchedly.
"It's all my fault. might have
known he was up to something; but I
didn't think he'd dare" she managed
to say.
"He2 WhoT" Merllle asked her.
"Max Melcher. He as much as told
me. II hadn't been fool I'd have
guessed, but he oh, could kill
myself" She burst into strangling
sobs and hysteric laughter.
"Why did you let him come to the
dressing roomY" Lorelei inquired.
"He's been doing 1t for years I've
always-known him, We were-en-
gagged"
Harmon verified this. "Thats right.
They were engaged when l met her.
She didn't know the sort of rufflan he
is till / proved 1t. She's afraid Of
him, and he knows It."
81 tried to break with him, but he
wouldn't let me, and I've had to be
nice to him. He'd have murdered me
If l."
"Rot" Merzle exclaimed, testify.
"Rot ehp Jarvis answered. Hes
done as much, more than once; but he's
so powerful that nobody can get him.
He's the king of his ward; he keeps
gang Of gunmen on the East side,
and he's the worst thug in the CITY,"
Harmon soothed his charmer in his
clumsy, elephantlne way, showing
that, despite Merkle's recent insinua-
tions, he still trusted her. "This is the
only woman who ever cared for me,
John" he explained, after some hesi-
! tatlon, "and we're going to stick to-
gether. We have no secrets"
, "Your little Fifth avenue establish
ment rather complexities matters,
doesn't it? What are you going to do
about that2" Merkle inquired.
This thing-tonight-i likely to
settle the matter for me. You know
the kind Of home life I've led for twen-
ty years, and you know wouldn't re-
gret any change, When a man goes
ahead and his wife stands still the
right and wrong Of what either chooses
to do is hard to settle. At any rate, IL
has ceased to concern me. want q
few years of happiness and compan-
ionshlp before die. I'm selfish-Pll
pay the price,"
| nho.y node ~, IL, atlauoa