Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-10
Gl0rlia's Romance
ELEVENTH INSTALLMENT.

had come up to play for a little, to
throw off the family tragedy and the
formal duties of their city life, and to
forget them boisterously in the open.
For men and women resting in the
shadow of a crime they behaved
strangely like children turned out in
the yard to play after a rainy days
imprisonment. They ran through the
house shouting hilariously TO one an
other as they found their skates and
wraps for trip to the frozen swim
ming pool. The dogs added greatly
to the excitement by loud barkings
OF. Come on out and by remark
able gift for getting in the way.
No one played harder than Gloria.
She was trying to convince the others
that she had put the mourning off
her mind as well as her body. She
wanted to find out what her people
were concealing from her, and why.
The Stafford family lark was soon
invaded by neighbors. A tobogan-
ing party from another country
house appeared There were no invi-
tations or only mumbled words, for
ceremony had no place among flying
snowballs, and dignity could not be
kept up after bump on the ice.
Gloria found herself the victim OF
the attentions OF large jovial man
whose playfulness was little too
heavy for her liking. She was about
TO snub him when someone casually
alluded to him as Frank Mulry.
Gloria staggered in the snow at
meeting thus by chance the man she
had tried in vain to overtake in
town. Mulry, never imagining who
she was, thought that she had slipped
on the icy snow; he put out his hand
to catch her. Mulry was always ready
for Irritation. Preparedness was Null
rvs motto.
Gloria studied him moment, This
was the partner of her murdered
lover! He was too amiable of mien
to be accusablsfof such crime. She
acquitted him Of wishing TO do away
with Freneau. In fact, the papers
said that Freneau's death had nearly
wrecked the firm. Mulry did not look
bankrupt. Gloria did not know that
her father had given a large sum OF
money to Frcneau few days before
his death and that Mulry was living
on that.
There was a shifty flippancy in
Mulry's eyes and manner that made
Gloria distrust him. She felt little
added distrust OF her dead lover for
having such man as partner. The
hateful proverb about birds Of a
feather" ran through her mind like
tune. In. any case, here at last was
the man she sought, and she was inn
patient to question him. There were
too many people on the crest OF the
hill TO permit OF conversation there.
So she dared him to tobpggan
ride.
He accepted. She got aboard and
he steered. They swooped like
descending airship. But at the foot
Of the hill the toboggan careened
and slid tAem deep into the drift be-
fore it capsized.
Mulry, for all his bulk was agile
and he was soon helping Gloria to
her feet.
Thank you q million times, Mr..
Mulry." she said. "You saved me
from drowning in the snow"
He beamed and congratulated him
self on making such success with this
pretty creature. He had not recog-
mixed her. He had seen photographs
OF her in Freneau's possession and he
had seen her at the opera. But she
was disguised to him now BY her
close-htting cap, her rough sport
suit and, most of all, by her coquet-
tish smiles. Suddenly he had to leap
for his life to escape another scooting
toboggan. On it were David and Lois
and q young man from the same
house party Of which Mulry was a
member.
Hurt yourself. Gloriar David sang
out
did you get hurt, Miss Staffordia
the other young man cried.
Gloria shook her head and called
alter them, not noticing that Mulry's
eyes were popping and his jaw droop-
ing. He had pieced the name together,
"Gloria Stafford" He had come up
here to escape her and he had just
coasted down the hill with her, and
she knew his namel He remembered
Doctor Royce's warning Of the danger
of meeting Gloria face to face.
He pretended to be suddenly i'll.
he begged Gloria's pardon and said
be must 60 home. He was too big
for Gloria to hold and she could not
run after him without attracting at
tention. She stood bewildered while
he got away
Later she telephoncd to his host
and asked to speak to him. She
learned that he had just taken motor
to the train.
Gloria forgot her suspicious Of Lois
in her newer suspicious of this man
Mulry. He was evidently running
away from her. Therefore she must
pursue him. His flight was evidence
Of some mysterious guilt.
Gloria cut short her visit to the
country and announced her intention
Of going back to town at once. Her
father and brother were used to her
whins and did not oppose them now
adays out Of pitylfor her.
The next morning Gloriae made an
other journey to Mulry's office. She
went early to make sure of catching
him within business hours. The stem
ographer told her that Mr.. Mulry had
gone to Palm beach the night before
with rich client who had invited
him to be his guest
Gloria was furious at this new es-
cape. She pondered It all the way
home. When she saw her father she
told him that he was not looking at
all well; he needed some golf and surf
bathing. He ought to go to Palm
beach. He accepted the suggestion
heartily. He was more than willing
to undertake the golf/ and he was