Meade County news., 1916-12-21


derstand2 You try cross and-the
cold-meat wagon for yours. I'll have
you Stabbed at the morgue."
Jimmy's reply left no doubt Of the
genuineness Of his fears, II not of his
intentions. Strange stories were told
in the Tenderloin-tales of treachery
punished and ingratitude revenged.
Jimmy knew several young men who
appeared out of the East side at Mel
cher's signal. They were inconspicu-
Gus fellows, who bore fanciful dime
novel names-and no rustlers strong
hold OF the old-time western cattle
country ever boosted more formidable
outlaws than they. Jim knew these
pnnmen well; he had no wish to know
them worse.
81 can't promise anything definite
when she's sore on me-" he declared.
"Hes about ready to ask her-she's
the one to fix. She hates men, though,
and that Merkle story made her crazy"
Melcher pondered for several mo-
ments. "I think know Lorelei better
than you do," he stated, deliberately,
"and believe we can pull this off, pro-
vlded Wharton really wants to marry
her. Anyhow, he's so rich It's worth
the odds, and she's just the sort to
fall for It. Meanwhile 1 want 1t un-
derstood with your mother that
share in what comes her way"
"Tll fix that" promised jim.
He found it, in fact, no very difficult
task to regain at least a part Of his
sisters lost esteem, though the process
took time. He went about 1t with the
lazy, catlike patience Of his kind, be-
haved himself, kept his mouth shut,
and assumed just enough Of an injured
air to be plausible. He enlisted the
aid of his mother and of Lilas Lynn,
and meanwhile made himself as agree
able as possible to Robert Wharton.
Melcher was as good as his word,
and there shortly appeared in the Dis
patch an unpleasant rehash of the for
mer story. 1t was published In con-
nection with the Hammon divorce pro-
ceedings, news of which was exciting
comment, and it further smirched Lo-
releis reputation. Jim was appropri-
ately indignant, but helpless, and Mrs.
knight unweariedly blamed everything
upon her daughters desertion of the
family circle, predicting more evil to
follow unless Lorelel came home al
once. She also dwelt upon the fact
that Peter was steadily falling and
was in immediate need of both medical
and surgical attention. The doctor had
pronounced sentence, prescribing a to
tai change of living and a treatment
by foreign specialists.
In some unaccountable way the story
Of Nobel Bergman's humiliation be
came public and afforded the basis fol
a newspaper article that brought him
to Loreleis dressing room in a fine
fury. Even after she had convinced
him of her innocence his resentment
was so bitter that she expected her dis
missal at any time.
Other press stories followed; the CIR
suddenly found herself notorious
scarcely day passed without some
dlsagreeable mention Of her. Adoret
Demorest, as indignant as Lorelei her
self, declared finally that her friend
must be the object of a premeditated
attack directed by some strong hand
and once this suspicion had entered
Lorelei's mind it took root in spite o.
, its seeming extravaganza. Her goo(
/ sense argued that she was Of too littl'
consequence to warrant such an as
sault, but her relatives seized the sug
gestion so avidly as to more than hal
convince her.
Mrs. Knight attributed this injustice
T first to Bergman, then to Merkle, whom
: she hated bitterly since her unfortu
/ nate attempt at blackmail; Jim wa
: inclined to agree with her. Mrs
} Knight, as always, ended her sympa
thetic reassurances by saying, IF yo'
} were only married, my dear, tina
> would end all our troubles"
: The climax of these annoyancei
3 came one night after a party at whicl
LoreIei had been presented to an oil
friend Of Miss Lynn's. Lilas had In
troduced the man as one Of her girl
hood chums, and Lorelei had tried Il
be nice to him; then in some way HI
arranged to take her home. The mem
ory of that ride was a horror. Sh
knew now that she was hunted; tn
man had told her so. She felt like
deer covering in a brake with tn
hounds working close. This first at
tack left her trembling and wary. He
cover seemed pitifully insecure.
Thus far Max Melcher's campaigl
had worked even better than he ha
expected; and meanwhile he had EN-
ployed Jim in assiduously cultivatin
Bob Wharton and arranging as man
meetings as possible between Bob an
Lorelei. A short experience had taugf
Jim to avoid his victim in daylight, 70
in Bob's sober hours the two did no
agree; but once mellowed by intoxica
ton, Wharton became imbued with
carnival spirit and welcomed Jim a
freely as he welcomed everyone. In
cidentally the latter managed to rea
a considerable harvest from the assc
citation, for Bob was habitual gam
bier, and the courteous treatment b