Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-08-04

| of this. Gee! If she'd only told u,
she was going out with Merkle W.
might have framed something worti
while-I don't mind telling you this IL
a pretty weak case"
wouldn't he marry herr"
mot q chance. In the first place
she wouldn't have him. Bob Wharton
Ia the white hope"
"She hates him, too. Goodness
knows what we're going to do with
her"
II think she'll stand for Wharton If
we work her right; it's him or nobody.
She's getting harder to handle every
day, though, and one of these times
she'll fall for some rummy. II she
ever does lose her head she'll skid for
the ditch, and we can kiss ourselves
goodby. She'll be rs easy to steer as
a wild boar by the tail. guess you're
sorry now that you didn't listen to me
and let Max handle her before she got
WISE"
II wouldn't feel safe with any Of
that crowd. I'd be terribly afraid"
Mrs. Knight shook her head obviously.
Say! She's got you doing it, too.
Why, they don't take chance. Gold
berg handles the legal end, and his
brother is in the Legislature But that's
not aik Melcher's partner in his gam
bling house is Inspector SHELL You
can't beat that"
Just the same, I'm frightened-and
this isn't honest. l wish she would
listen to Robert Wharton"
James winked meaningly. Leave
that to me. She's going to Proctor's
with me tonight. Maybe he'll join us.
But meanwhile we've got Merkle for
some quick money If we work him
right. Pm off for Goldy's Office now.
I'll meet you at three"
When Jim appeared, dressed for the
street, he gave bit of parting advice:
"Better lay on the Mysteries when
she wakes up. It'll make 1t easier for
me tonight"
Lorelei found her mother visibly up
set by the story in the mornings
newspaper
You told me you only went to sup
per with that man." Mrs. Knight cried,
4 ro ri no1lv ssJnetaod of that Won tmo
were off in the country together all
night. Here's the whole thing" She
brandished the paper dramatically.
"Well, told you flb. But there's
no harm DONE"
Harm, indeed? You're ruined. I
never read anything more dlsgraceful;
! daren't show 1t to Peter-it would
kill him. What ever possessed you,
after the way we've watched over you,
after the care we've taken of you?
It's terrible"
why, mother! You're more insult
ing than that newspaper. The career
of show-girl is something of joke"
Lorelei undertook to laugh, but the at
tempt failed rather dismally.
Indeed. What will the other men
say? You had a character; nobody
could say word against you until
now. Do you think any decent man
would marry girl who did thing
like this? OF course, l know you're a
good girl but they don't, and they'll
believe absolutely the worst. You've
spoiled everything, my dear; I'm com.
pletely discouraged Mrs. Knight be-
gan to weep in weak, heart-broken
manner, expecting Lorelei to melt, as
usual; but, seeing something in her
daughters expression that warned her
not to carry her reproaches too far, she
broke out: You're so hard, so unreal
sonable. Don't you see I'm frantic
with worry? You're all We have, and
and the thought of an injury to your
prospects nearly kills me. You mis-
understand everything | say. wish
you were safely married and out Of
danger. | think could die happy then.