Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-01
WHO'S GUILTY?
3rd Story, The Tangled Web
By Mrs. Wilson Woodrow
author of ssThe silver Butterdy.v ~The
BACK Pearln .Sallx Salt.M Etc.

author Of "rhe silver BUTTERFLY" "The
BACK PEARL" "Sally Salt Etc.
(NoVelized from the series of photo
plays OF the same name released by
.athe Exchange nnd shown mt the VIC
tor Theatero
Copyright, 1916, Mrs. Wilson woodrow
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS
own mrs; Alden had made a failure Of her
solved to make a success Of her daughter o
w we Mrs. rd Alden e at hfty success mean,
sonifisd by Fleetwood Blair. Young Blair
a house party at the Aiden.. Tho young
people go coastinS. They declare their love
house. to tell Mrs. Alden OF their engage.
ment. Meanwhile. N.ndr!ck tells Mrs. al
d Den OF us desire to marry Ruth. Ruth aud
Fiet dash in with their news. Just as Mrs.
Alden has given her consent to Kendrlck 5
addressing her daughter. She is Mortified.
and outlines a plot to her. Fleet gets =
note. purporting to be from Ruth, urging
make hln. eep xendr c Offers n to ompiey HIN.
on a mission to Japan at 81. 900 a month.
provided no agrees to remain unmarried
during that time. Thinking Ruth under.
stands. Fleet accept. The noto was forged
Ruth overhears and is heart broken.
Continued from Wednesday,
He has wrecked my whole ltre,"
burst forth the girl, tearing free from
the soothing embrace anu springiag
up. her big eyes ablaze. HE has
killed my heart as much as though ho
had driven knife through It, An
hour ago I was a foolish, lovesick girl.
am woman now. My youth and
my heart are both dead. I hate him
Oh. j hate him! I didn't know I had
such capacity for hatred!"
Mrs. Alden shrank back IN dread
before the concentrated wrath in her
daughters voice. She did not know
this new Ruth Alden, whose vehem
ence SO terrified her. Yet with quick
womanly wit. the mother sought to
turn the situation to her own advant-
age and to Hendricks.
You are right to hate him. she
said. And If you are girl of spirit
you won't he contont with idle hatred.
You will be avenged on him. I can
show you the way. L"
II don't want revenge against him
stormod Eu;h. II loved a'm once.
Lot him 60 out of my life unhurt
Butch. l do want revenge against
the man who tempted him away from
mo by bait OF money"
why. what do you mean, dear?"
luivcrcd the mother uneasily.
Il mean MIR. Kendrick. 1t was he
WHO offered Fleet the salary that
tempted him above his strength. II
was he who made him promise not &c
marry me. j would give my life to
lie revenged on Batson Kendrick."
do you really mean that?" asked
Mrs. Alden In sudden earnestness.
"Do mean it?" ragged tho girl. "He
has robbed me of my lover and the
power to love and of my faith in man.
kind. oh. for way to punish him
May heaven grant me the power, some
day. to do It."
You have the power in your hand.
- Ill
DO you know why Batson Kendricl
came here to-day? To ask you to b,
his wife H"
ITO ask me-to ask mo to be
stammered tho girl incredulously.
Then as she saw the truth in he
mothers face. she burst into a pea
of laughter that was not pleasant t
hear.
Hush. dear! Hush" begged Mrs
Alden. You are hysterical. Listen tt
my plan. Tho hest way to aveng,
ones self on a man one hates is e
marry him. That may sound strange
but 1t Ia true. It
Toto marry him?" repeated tn,
girl in horror.
But all at once hor eyes dilated ant
her mouth set firmly.
You are right" she said CURLY
II understand now. Tell Mr. Ken
drick am ready to marry him as soor
as he may wish. II L don't make hin
repent thousandfold for what he ha,
done to-day 1t VIII be because m,
powers of invention fail me. He hal
robbed me of love. / will rob him O
everything"
Batson Hendricks Joy in winnint
SO young and beautiful a wife wa
short-lived. Within week after tn,
wedding he began to see his mistake
Within q month he cursed his foil,
in marrying Ruth; even while her love
| iiness still bound him to her like an,
slave.
From the first Ruth treated her hus
band with open contempt. She snecrc,
at his advancing age. at his gross
heshiness. at his boorish manners Sh,
had genius for finding out his weak
nesscs and the subjects on which h,
was most sensitive. and holding then
up to her vitriolio mockery. She mad,
his homo life a hell
She insulted the mon he most wishe,
to please. She was warmly cordia
to men he hated. She encouraged tn,
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