The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-11-23
CHAPTER vll-continued.

"And you found her and told Drum
uond-?"
Whitaker leaned over the table,
studying the mans face with intense
interest.
''No-and yes. found Mrs. Whit
aker. I didn't report to Drummond."
'But why-in heavens name?"
Ember smiled somberly at the droop.
ing ash of his cigar. "There were sew
eral reasons. In the first place didn't
have to: had asked no retainer from
Drummond, and 1 rendered no bill: /:
what had found out was mine, to
keep or to sell, as chose. chose not
to sell because-well, because Mrs.
Whitaker begged me not to-"
'Ahw Whitaker breathed, sitting
back "Why?"
"This was all of q year, I think,
after your marriage. Mrs. Whitaker
had tasted the sweets of independence
and-got the habit. She had adopted
profession looked upon with abhOr-
renee by her family. She was already
successful in a small way, had little
need of the money she would get as
claimant Of your estate. She enlisted
my sympathy, and-I held my tongue"
''That was decent of you"
The man bowed a quiet acknowledge
ment. 81 thought you'd think So.
There was third reason"
He paused, until Whitaker encour-
aged him with "Yes-?"
"Mr. Whitaker"-the query came
point-blank-"do you love your wife?"
Whitaker caught his breath. "What
right he began, and checked alb
ruptly. The blood darkened his lean
cheeks.
Mrs. Whitaker gave me to under
stand that you didn't. It wasn't hard
TO perceive, everything considered, that
your motive was pure chlvalry-qulx-
otism. I should like to go to my grave
with anything half as honorable and
unseltish to my credit"
Il beg your pardon" Whitaker NUT
tered thickly.
"You don't, then?"
Love her? No"
There was slight pause. Then, 81
do" said this extraordinary man. meet
ing Whitaker's gaze openly. 81 do"
ne repeated, flushing in his turn, 'but
hopelessly However,
that was the third reason" he pursued
In a more level voice-"I thought you
ought to know about it-that induced
me to keep Sara Laws secret
loved her from the day found her.
She has never looked twice at me.
But that's why I never lost In
terest."
You mean," Whitaker took him up
diftidently-"you continued to-ah-?''
Court her-as we say? No" En-
oers shoulders, lifting, emphasized the
disclaimer I'm no fool. / have had
the sense not to invite the thunderbOlt.
one doesn't know It, unless Max told
her against my wish but It was who
lnuuced him to bring her before the
public, four years ago, as Joan Thurs
Jay Since then her destiny has been
Father too big a thing for me to tam
per with but I've watched and won
uered, sensing forces at work abou.
her OF which even she was unsus-
piclous."
What IN blazes do you mean p
whitaker demanded, mystihed.
Dld II strike you to wonder at the
extraordinary mob her farewell per-
iormance attracted toaightY"
Why-yes. It struck me as rather
unusual But then, Max had done
nothing but tell me Of her tremendous
popularity"
Ihat alone, great as it is, wouldn't
nave brought so many people together
-, w. stare nc the outside of a theater.
ne magnet was something stronger
tne morbid curiosity Of New York.
nose people we're waiting. thrilled
WIN expectancy, on tiptoe for the SEN
Hon that presently came TO them
" report OF Drummond's death"
what se devil"
Falenco This As the third time A.
Has happened--the same thing. prac-
ucoliy; Sara Law on the verge of
'.uNng the stage to marry, n fatal nc
C,oent Intervening. Did Max by any
,uhce montlon the nickname New
'orh mas bestowed on Sara Laws
Nicknsme3 Nor
'hey call her The Destroying
What rofrs
ies but what coincidence. Three
l'h loNri her--and one by one they
i'' Aud now the fourth DO you
""nder o.
nnt- The Destroying Aneel'- q"
cried Indignantly How can
herr"