The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-11-09
Harmon listened pneny. tnen broke

HNuuUtUu nrNtuCu Uhttugs Nnth iAVhD
out:
Nonsense. I'd stake my life on her.
Why. she's prostrated. It's either pure
blackmail. or it's my wife's work.
she's had detectives on me for some
time" Merkle nurmured something
more. "oh, come nowl l know what
I'm talking about. and I won't stand
for that" cried Harmon.
Merkle shrugged; his next words
were audible, and they were both
sharp and inclslve.
"Tbe harms done. They got away
clean. Now we've got to kill the story
and kill It quick in case they intend
1t for the papers"
"My God! Newspapers-at this
time" groaned the other. "It couldn't
be worse"
Right. We must move fast Is
your car hereT'
"Yes"
"Get It. Wen go in with you.
had an accident TO mine"
you'll see for yourself you're
wrong-about the other" Harmon
ierked his head meaningly toward tho
house, then strobe away to order his
motor.
Merkle favored his young companion
with a wlntry smile.
1T seems we're too late"
Lorelei nodded silently. "Don't tell
him who-spoke to us out there. Not
yet, at least. I--can't see him go to
Jail"
"Jail7 There won't be any Jail to
this-there never is. Jarvis will have
to settle for the sake OF the rest of
u.s."
Hammon's limousine rolled In under
the porte-cochere. and n moment later
the owner appeared with Lllas.
Lorelel stared at her friend In genu.
Inc surprise, for II was obvious that
Lilas was deeply agitated. Her face
was swollen with weeping; she verged
upon hysteria. No sooner were the
four In the ear and under way than
she broke down. sobblng wretchedly.
ITS all my fault. might have
known he was up to something; but
didn't think he'd dare" she managed
| to say.
! "He3 whog" Merkle asked her.
"Max Melcher. He as much as told
me. II hadn't been a fool I'd have
guessed, but he oh. I could kill
\, myselfr She burst into strangling
sobs and hysteric laughter.
"why did you let him come to the
8 dressing roomT' Lorelei inquired.
y. Hes been doing It for years. I've
s. always-known him. We were-en.
gagged"
III Harmon verified this. That's right
e They were engaged when met her
le She didn't know the sort OF ruffian b,
&c IL till l proved II. She's afraid OF
a him. and he knows It."
" 81 tried to break with him. but h'
wouldn't let me. and I've had to b.
~ nice to him. He'd have murdered m'
=, II l."
"a "Rotr Merkie exclaimed. testify.
n. "Rot, ELI :" Jarvis answered. He
: done as much. more than once; but he'
"a. so powerful that nobody can get him
He'e the king OF his ward; he keep
" gang OF gunmen on the East side
ed and he's the worst thug In the city"
an Harmon soothed his charmer in hi
re-. clumsy. elephantine way, showin
lr- that, despite Merkle's recent lnsinua
Is; tions, he still trusted her. This Is tn
ce only woman who ever cared for me
er John" he explained, after some hes
tn tatlon. "and we're going TO stick tc
to gether. We have no secrets"
he "Your little Fifth avenue establish
a ment rather complexities matter,
"a doesn't III What are you going to
about thatf" MerlSle inquired.
be "This thing-tonight-is likely {
S. settle the matter for me. You knot
We the kind OF home life I've led for twer
'rs ty years. and you know wouldn't r,
lk' gret any change. When a man goe
er- ahead and his wife stands still th
nt- right and wrong OF what either choose
&C. to do is hard to settle. At any rate,
ler has ceased to concern me. l want
few years OF happiness and compaI
re ionship before die. I'm selhsh-T'
pay the price"
They rode on in silence. n