Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-06-30

Lorelei shook her head with a smile

body likes me then, but I'm agreeably
picked Merkle won't take you any
whore, for he's full of distilled water
and has directors meeting at ten"
"Why don't You ask Miss Demorestl
She came with you"
Wharton sighed hopelessly. Some
thing queer about that Jane. D'yOu
know what made us late? She went
to mass on the way down"
Mass? At what hour?
1T was special midnight service
conducted for actors. sat in the taxi
and waited. 1t did me lot of good"
Some time later Merkle returned to
find Bob still animatedly talking;
catching Loreleis eye, he signlfied a
desire to speak with her, but she
found 1t difficult to escape from the
intoxicated young man at her side. At
last, however, she succeeded, and
Joined her supper companion at the
farther edge of the fountain, where the
tireless cupids still poured water from
the cOrnucopias.
Merke was watching his friends
son with frown.
you have just left the personifica-
ton Of everything l detest," he volun-
teered. you heard what his father
said about raising him-hOw he taught
Bob to drink when he drank and follow
in his footsteps. But that isn't what
want to say to you. Help me feed
these foolish goldfish while talk"
ado you think anybody would under
stand IL they overheard you? fan
cied you and were the only sober
ones Left
Some Of the girls are all right"
Merkle eyed his companion closely
"Don't you drink"
~ have nothing but my looks
Wouldn't be a fool to sacrifice them?"
you seem to be sensible, Miss
Knight. Something tells me you're
very much the right sort. know
you're trying to get ahead, and-I can
help you If you'll help me. need an
agent, and I'll pay good price to the
right person.
How mysterious!"
"Ill be plain That affair yonder"--
he nodded toward Jarvis Harmon and
Lilas Lynn-"strlkes you as a-well,
as Irritation. 1t is something very
different. for he's in earnest. He thinks
he is injuring no one but himself with
this business. and he Is willing to pay
the price; but the fact Is he Is putting
other people in pail-me among the
rest Nobody outside of a mans fam
lily has the right to question his private
life so long ms 1t is private IN Its con-
sequences. But when his secret con-
duet affects his business affairs, when
1t endhngers vast interests in which
others are concerned, then his associ-
ates are entitled to take hand. Do
l make myself clear?"
Perfectly But you don't want me;
you want detective"
MY dear child, we have them by
the score. We hire them by the year,
and they have told us all they can.
We need inside information"
The girls answer was made with her
habitual self-possession.
I've heard about such things. I've
heard about men prying into each 9th
er's private affairs, pretending to be
friends when they We're enemies, and
using scandal for business ends Lilas
Lynn Is my friend-at least in a way
and Mr.. Harmon is my host, just as
he Is yours, Oh | know; this isn't a
conventional party, and I'm not here
as conventional guest-lnside the
little coin purse he gave me is hun
dred -dollar bill-but, just the same, |
don't care to act as your spy"
Merlsle's grave attention arrested
Loreleis burst of Indignation.
"Will you believe me-" he asked,
when tell you that Jarvis Harmon
and Hannibal Wharton are the two
best friends have In the world? This
Is more than business matter Miss
Knight"
II can hardly believe that"
ITS true however; | mean to serve
Harmon. At the same time l must
serve myself and those who trust me.
| fear--in fact, Pm sure-that he Is
being used. I've learned things about
Miss Lynn that you may not know.
What you have told me tonight adds
to my anxiety, and l must know
more"
what, for lnstanceT
Her real feeling for him-her inten-
ttons-her relations with man named
Melcher-"
"Maxey MelcherY
'The same. Do you know his bust
ness?"
mo"
HE is a gambler, political power;
a crafty, INSCRIPTIONS fellow who rep
resents-big people. BY helping me
you can serve many innocent persons,
and, most of all, perhaps, Harmon
himself
Iorelei was silent for a moment
This Is very unusual" she said at
length. II don't know whether to be-
lieve you or not"
Suppose, then, you let the matter
rest and keep your eyes open. When
you convince yourself who means best
to Jarvis Miss Lynn ana Melcher and
their crowd. or and mine-make your
decision. You may name your own
Price.
There wouldn't be any price," she
told him, impatiently "Pll wait"
Merkle bowed. Il can trust your
discretion Thank you for listening to
me, and thank you for being agreeable
to an irascble old dyspeptic. VIII you
permit me to drive you home when
you're ready?'