Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-10-12
BY Rex Beach.

! ing and at the first ring were admitted
4 to Apartment No. by Iorelei herself.
She led them straight into the library.
e Perhaps quarter Of an hour had
/ elapsed since the shooting, but Jarvis
Harmon still sat In the big chair. He
was breathing quietly. Bob Wharton
stood beside him.
joint" The ironmaster smiled pal
Idly as his friend came and knelt be.
side him. "You got. quickly"
Are you badly hurt, Jaryis?"
The thing Is In here somewhere y
Harmon took his hand away from his
breast, and Merkle saw that the fingers
were bloody. Can you get me out of
here quietly ~
John Merkle rose to his full height,
his lips writhed back from his teeth.
Harshly he inquired: where is that
woman?'
"She's back yonder In her ROOM -
Bob told him. "She's ILL.,
Merkle turned, but, reading his In
tent, Harmon checked him, crying in
4 strong voice: "None Of that, John. I
did it myself. It was an-accident."
II don't believe it."
Hammon's eyes met those Of his ac-
cuser; the two stared at each other
steadily for a moment
The other occupants Of the room had
listened breathlessly; now Lorelei
stirred and Merkle read more than
mere bewilderment in her face. He
opened his lips, but the wounded man
did not wait for him to speak.
"You must believe me-" he said, ear
nestly. sIt's the truth, and I won't
have I.ilas involved-we've been q
great deal to each, other. Tonight
accused her wrongfully. It was all my
fault-I'm to blame for everything"
There was pause. NOW get me out
Of here as quietly and quickly as you
can. I'm really not hurt much. Come,
come! There's nobody home except
Orson and some Of the kitchen help,
and Orson is all right-the women are
gone, you know. He'll get a doctor.
It's a-bad business, of course. but I've
thought It all out, and you must do ex-
ScIy 1S say.
The effort Of this long speech told on
the sufferer.
! Sweat beaded his face; nevertheless,
his jaws remained firmly set; his
glance was purposeful, his big hands
Were gripped tightly over the arms Of
the chair. There was something SUI
perb, something terrible about his un-
changing grimness.
lis your car outside, John?' he
asked.
Merkle shook his head. He was
thinking swiftly. II wouldn't dare risk
that, anyhow. The driver is a new
man."
Get cab" Jim offered, In panic.
K 1.-THE cab driver would be sure to-
"1'Il drive" Bob volunteered. SIN
drunk, but I've done it before when
was drunken. It's an old trick Of
mine sort Of 4 coke, see ~ Give me
some moneys cabby'll do anything
for money at this time % night
F: Merkfe eyed the speaker in momen-
tary doubt, then handed him a roll Of
bank-notes. It's a serious business,
Bob, but Jarvis can't stay here. There's
somebody else to consider besides us
and-Miss Lynn. I'm thinking about
Mrs. Harmon and the girls" He fol-
lowed Bob to the door and let him out,
stepped swiftly down the hall, then,
without knocking, opened the door to
Lilas Lynn's bedroom and entered.
Lilas was busted at her dressing At
his entrance she uttered a frightened
cry and a silver spoon slipped from her
nerveless fingers. Nerkle saw little
open box, glass of water, the cap of
a pearl-and-gold fountain pen, but took
scant notice of them. being too deeply
stirred and too much surprised at her
appearance. She was no longer the Vi