The Tupelo journal., 1916-11-03

be "such Il cat"
We're she more experienced in the
ways of the world she would have
understood the real cause of Marion
Miller'S annoyance. Beatrice was
young, sylphlike, and unconsciously
attractive, Marion was already Il full
blown rose whose petals were in dan
ger of dropping, ana Arthur Hard
Wicke, in the brief half-hours he al
lowed himself from an Unflaggiug at
tendence on his doomed wife, had
shown a marked partiality for the So
ciety of that lively chatterbox, Be
atrice Tourneur. What more need be
said? Marion hated the girl and would
have welcomed anything which re-
moved from her path a rival whom
she deemed all the more dangerous
because of the artlessness of her ri
Yalry.
But Beatrice was just as much a
daughter Of Eve as the other woman.
The very next time she saw Hard
wicke and Miss Miller chatting on the
lawn of the hotel she did not scruple
to signal the man with an inviting
glance as she passed, with the certain
result that he quilted Marion abruptly,
being only too glad of Beatrice'S com
~panionship.
The incident was seen by many eyes,
and correctly interpreted by at least
n of the residents in the hotel. Doc
tor Merriam, c%oncealing a cynical smile
behind a cloud of cigarette smoke, gave
the angry woman a little time to re-
cover her self-control before he
strolled up.
"Good-day," he said cheerily.
"Charming weather we're having,
aren't WEI"
ooh, quite! !" came the curt answer.
Miss Miller did not like Doctor Mer-
RAM, and vas in NJ mood to conceal
her feelings at that moment.
Sad thing about Mrs. Hardwicke,"
he persisted, land the position is par
ticularly hard for her husband, who is
really a delightful fellow and worthy
of a better fate"
The woman wheeled around on him
as though his words had aroused her
interest.
rs Mrs. Hardwicke very i'll, then?"
she asked.
III isn't the word. She's fatod
In a week or two Hardwicke viii be
absolutely compelled to send her to
81 -sauagaf.uln, here she will Finger
for 81 tew 1ao..ss uajl death sends
81 meaojrul r~e.ease.'
Are you surc:" demanded Marion
fercoly.
>"Nhy otherwise should l tell you
such q thing:" said The doctor slowly.
Nov look here. Miss Miller, it is
part of my business to keep my eyes
open. You help me in this matter and
I'll help you"
A Sordid plot was entered into that
afternoon, and its development was
not long delayed. Doctor Merriam's
prophecy was borne out within a week
by the stricken Mrs. Hardwicke, be-
cause her mental condition became so
bad that it was impossible to keep her
in the hotel. The doctor persuaded
Arthur Hardwicke to leave all the ar
rangements in his hands and remain
quietly at Lakeside, regaining his WI
vitality, while his wife was taken care
of by others.
The distressed man agreed. AS a
consequence he found the society of
Beatrice TOurneur more and more N
genial, and Doctor Merriam had to
bend his wits to the task of persuading
Marion Miller that she must keep with
in bounds.
In this world it too often happens
that the way of evil is made easy by
circumstances. One day, when Hard
wicke was somewhat recovered from
the shock of the knowledge that MS
wife's death under most distressing
conditions could be Only n matter of
a month or two he met Beatrice by the
side Of the lake. In tie distance, some
four miles away, q large island loomed
through the haze. It was a rocky
place, little wooded, and providing no
p~asturage, so no one lived there.
But it offered excellent facilities for
fishing. and the hotel hac built a hut,
with rough provision-il the shape of
stored food, hunks and materials for
a fire-for parties who might wish to
spend the night.
Somehow, the chance conjunction
of Il charming girl, a boat, and an OBJ
%jective in the hard physical exercise
of rowing to and from the island, ap-
pealed to Hardwicke.
The weather was fine when they
started. They were so engrossed in
each others conversation hat they
paid little heed to a bank of heavy
black clouds gathering over the dis
tant hills. A summer storm came up
swiftly and broke in fury when the
boat was about half a mile from the
island. The comparatively shallow
waters of the lake were soon dashed
into a turbulent and dangerous state.