The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-11-16
SIXTH EPISODE.

The sudden and perilous illness of
Gloria Stafford threw her official lover,
Freneau, also into sudden and peri
1ous situation. He and his partner,
Mulry, had counted on using Freneau's
engagement to the daughter of the
great Pierpont Stafford as a kind Of
collateral at the bank.
When the girl was stricken down
with pneumonia, Freneau's heart was
wrung as well as his purse. He was
genuinely in love with Gloria. 1t was
not hard to love so beautiful, SO rich,
and so infatuating girl. But he had
not counted on death as a possible
rival
And there was another, a more GER
Gloria's brother, David, had called in
to take charge of the case. Royce had
loved Gloria before Freneau ever saw
her 1t was Royce who had actually
saved her from the Seminole Indians.
Royce despised Freneau and had told
him so. Royce would not even permit
Freneau to enter the sick room, where
he was master.
Freneau was permitted to send up
flowers, but he could not be sure that
they reached her. He wondered what
Royce was saying about him to Gloria,
and whether she believed it.
He did not know that Royce had
been discouraged to make even what
protest he might have given voice to.
When he first entered Gloria's room,
Royce saw on the little table near her
bed silver-framed portrait of Ere
neau. Gloria was too delirious to see
how his lip curled with scorn. But
her father saw it, and when Royce
said, "This fellow is a scoundrel,'
Pierpont answered, sternly:
81 called you to treat my daughters
health, not her heart"
Freneau did not know that he had
such an ally in the family. But he
knew that he had an enemy of Pc
culiar sort, an enemy who loved him
not wisely, but too we'll And that was
Lois, the wife of David Stafford
The poor Don Juan of Freneau
had never dreamed when he began |
casual Irritation with Lois that she |
would prove SO desperate worshiper. |
He had expected that she would let |
him go with sigh or a smile, as his
other sweethearts had done when they
realized that his heart had wings and
used them. He was to learn how Sc
riously Lois took his attentions and to
learn it at most inconvenient time.
He had respected Pierpont's wish that
the engagement to Gloria should be
kept secret, and had told no one but
his partner, Mulry. He had most de-
not told Lois. He was plan
ming to discard her as gracefully as
possible before the news broke
Mulry had chucls1ed with Joy at the
news of the engagement. But he grew
as glum as an owl when he learned of
0orias illness. At length he said to
Freneau:
my boy you've got to go and bor-
row of your papa-in-law to be, or we've
got to close the shop. Our branch Of
fees are bowling for their back pay,
and we've got to pull down some cash
somewhere or pull down the blinds.
10 talk to Pierpont and show him the
books. Show him the big killing we're
yoing to make in the street if he'll tid0
Is over. Go on, and come back with
he bacon, or don't come back at ALL !
Freneau would almost rather have
zone to the electric chair, but needs
must when the devil drives. So he {
ook big bouquet and a big ledger
nd taxicab to the Stafford house.
And whom should he meet as he
vas ushered in but Lois telling Pier |
ont good-by. And what should Pier /
ont say but, II am going to tell you t
reat secret, Lois. Dick, here, is en- s
aged to Gloria. Don't tell anyone" a
Lois had no more self-control than +
} topple over. Freneau was Disguised b
18th her more than ever now. She
ad enough presence of mind to blame n
er collapse on the heat Of the room h
nd her alarm for Gloria And the r
Reuse sufficed for old Stafford, but as G