The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-12-15
CHAPTER V-continued.

"Where's Miss Law?" he asked.
II dunno-go ask Max
where is he?"
s"You can search me; last l saw of
him he was tearing the star dressin'
room up by the roots
Whitaker hurried on just in time to
see Max disappearing in the direction
Of the stage door, at which point he
caught up with him, and from the
managers disjointed catechism of the
doorkeeper garnered the information
that the star had hurried out of the
building while Max was making his
announcement before the curtain.
Max swung angrily upon Whitaker.
"Oh, it's you, is it? Perhaps you can
explain what this means? She was
looking straight at you when she dried
up! saw her"
Perhaps you'd better find Miss Law
and ask her." Whitaker interrupted.
"Have you any idea where she's
gomez"
Home, probably" Max snapped in
return.
'Come on, then" Passing his arm
through the managers, Whitaker drew
him out into the alley. "We'll get
taxi before this mob"
"But, look here-what business've
you got mixing in?"
"Ask Miss Law" said Whitaker,
shortly. 1t had been on the tip of his
tongue to tell the man fatty: I'm her
husband" But he retained wit enough
to deny himself the satisfaction of this
shattering rejoinder. II know her." he
added; "that's enough for the pres
ent.''
At the entrance to the alley Max
paused to listen to the uproar within
his well-beloved theater.
I'D give five thousand gold dollars
If hadn't met you this afternoon!
he groaned. 81 always knew that wom-
an was Jonah!"
"You were calling her your mascot
two hours ago."
shell be the death of me, yet" the
little man insisted gloomily. He
stopped short, jerking his arm free.
Look here, I'm not going. I've got my
work cut out for me back herewith
a jerk of his head toward the theater.
Whitaker hesitated, then without re-
gret decided to lose him. It would be
as well to get over the impending in
terview without third factor.
every WELL" he said, beckoning a
taxicab in to the curb. "What's the
address?'
Max gave it sullenly.
$50 long," he added morosely as
Whitaker opened the cab door; "sorry
ever laid eyes on you"
Whitaker settled back in the cab
and, oblivious to the lights of Broad
way streaming past, tried to think. 1t
suddenly presented itself to his reason,
with shocking force, that his attitude
must be humbly and wholly apologetic.
1t was a singular case: he had come
home to find his wife ON the point of
marrying another man-and she was
the one entitled to feel aggrieved
Strange twist of the eternal triangle !!
Far too soon the machine swerved
into Fifty-seventh street, slipped half
way down the block, described q wide
up, trembling, before a modest modern
residence between Sixth and Seventh
avenues.
Reluctantly Whitaker got out and,
on suspicion, told the chauffeur to
wait. Then, with all the alacrity of
a oopdompod man asoopdipp tho coof
fold, he ran up the steps to the front
door.
A man-servant answered his ring
without undue delay.
Was Miss Law at home? He would
see.
This indicated that she was at home
Whitaker rendered card with his sur
name penciled after that of Mr.. Hugh
Norten in engraved script.
He stared round him with pardon
nble wonder. If this were truly the
home of Mary Ladislas Whitaker-her
property-he had builded far better
than he could possibly have foreseen
with that Investment of five hundred
dollars six years since. Soft, shaded
lights, rare furnishings, the rich yet
delicate atmosphere of exquisite taste,
the hush and orderly perfection of
home made and maintained with con-
summate art these furnished him with
dim, provoking intimations of an indi-
viduality to which he was stranger
less than a stranger-nothing
Almost Immediately he became
aware of feminine footsteps on the
staircase-there entered to him a lady
we'll past middle age, with the dignity
and poise consistent with her years, her
manifest breeding and her iron-gray
hair