Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-08-24
CHAPTER VLlL.

When T.orelei awoke on the follow
inc afternoon her nrst inquiry was for
jim but he had not come home. and
abO,its. I.orelei ate her breakfast in
silence: then. IN reply to q question,
accounted for the lateness Of her ar-
rival by saying that she had dined with
Mr. Merkle
At the name Mrs Knight pricked un
her ears She undo, took TO pick out OF
her daughter all that had occurred
down to the most insignificant detail
l.orelei had always made u coniillante
Of her mother in such cases but this
time the latter's inqnisitiveness era.
ed ON her. and she answered the que
lions put To her grudgingly. She con'
mol help likening her mother to ms,
pie. although the thought shocked h,.
There was the same sly angle OF cou,
trnahce. similar furtiyeness OF pu;
pose: the very expression OF Mr.
knights keen. hard eyes was lik
ing birds Displeased ut her own iIli
tation, l.Orelei made the excuse of IL
shnppih. "Trip To escape from the house
Al the nearest news stand she
bought the afternoon papers. and was
relieved to find no mention OF the In.
c1dthts OF the night before 1t APP
paared That Hamlnon and Merkle had
succeeded in their attempt to suppress
the story if, indeed. there had ever
been any intention OF making 1T public
Looking back upon last nights home
ward ride. she was wholly ut loss.
In view of Jiin's words and OF what
she had gathered at the theater she
had felt sure of ilas' complete knoWl
edge Of the blackmail plot but Ham
mons unwayering faith in the girl and
Lflhs own story Of her relations with
Max Melcller had awakened doubt
What concerned her far more than the
moral complexion OF the !iaison was
lief brothers connection with the un
lawful scheme OF extortion jim, she
SAW. had gone wrong with q ven
geance. and the consequences to him
troubled her. for In spite of all that he
might be or do she cherished a sisterly
affection for him. Family ties were
very real and very strong to her
strong enough to keep her loyal to her
Kin even after the demoralizing change
In her whole mode OF life. The firm
EST. in fact. the only bond that she had
ever known. was that OF blood: obedi
ence. faitllfnlness and affection had
been born I'm her. and She never
thought to question their sacredness
ldling down Fifth avenue. she found
partment store. A knnt of curious
people were gaping at u unique auto
mobile which stood In the line Of We
hicles along the curb. and she paused
to look. The eqnipage was snow white
In color: the chauffeur and stiff
white racinss on their livery A tiny
mop of a lapGiog. imprisoned within
The closed body OF the car. was barking
rren2ietlly at the thfong. Across the
doors. in gold letters an inch high. was
The name ".adoree DemOrest.''
As siie tIllttttl tIlt store l.Orelel re-
f1ectrd with some disgust that no Wis
iting ra1ah. no barharic potentate--
M one. In fact. except self advertised
musical comedy queeli-would so na
GRAVITY defy good taste as to ride in
such IL vehicle
She was engaged in her final pur-
chase when u dazzling creature In red
and white d-scen1ed upon her with ex
elamatiolis OF SURPRISE aud delight. 1t
was Mad-nOselle Denorest herself.
and her greeting was so effnslye that
the stream al shoppers halted in the
aisle. She carried the pate To the ex-
cilable poodle that aetied the curiosity
seekers outside.
Miss Knight. l'm so glad to SEE
you again" she burbed. How sweet
yon look. | hoped we'd meet again:
hut where have you been: Have you
finished your shopping? Then do come
and help me match some rose dn
Barry
Iorrlei felt herself flushing uncom
ror1ably under the stares OF the OIL.
lockers. and, glad to escape. she
moved away beside the undisturbed
cause Of all the furore.