The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1916-12-21
at his desk and fishing box of cigars
from one of the drawers.

at his desk and fishing box OF cigars
from one of the drawers.
"Married?" HART inquired.
"No. That's the only mitigating cir
cumstance," said Greyerson, distribut-
ing glasses. Hes quite alone In the
world, as far as I know-no near rel
atives, at least. He's Junior partner
in young law firm down-town-senior
friend or classmate of his, l under
stand: Drummond & Whitaker. Moves
with the right sort of people. Young
Stark-Peter Stark-is his closet
friend"
Hugh Whitaker stood for long
time-how long he never knew-bare-
headed on a corner, just as he had
left Greyerson's office: scowling at
nothing, considering the enormity Of
the wrong that had been put upon him.
Later, realizing that people were star
ing, he clapped on his hat to satisfy
them and strobe aimlessly down Sixth
Avenue.
He turned across town toward Fifth
Avenue; came to his club, and went in.
Passing through the Office, force Of
habit swung his gaze to the letter-rack.
There was square white envelope In
the w pigeonhole, and it proved to be
addressed to him. He knew the hand
writing very well-too well; his heart
gave great jump as he recognized 1t,
and then sank like stone; for not
only must he die, but he must give
up the girl he loved, and had planned
to marry. The first thing he meant to
do was to write to her and explain and
release her from her promise. The
next thing.
i He refused to let the idea Of the next
step form in his mind. But he knew
very well what it would be. In the
backwards of his understanding 1t
lurked-a gray, grisly, shameful
shadow.
The elevator kept him waiting a
moment or two, just round the corner
from the grill-room door, whence came
a sound of voices talking and laughing.
Whitaker heard what was being said
without, at first, comprehending-
heard and afterwards remembered in
vivid detail.
Seems to be the open season for
runaways," Hamilton was saying. tits
only few days since Thurlow Lads
las daughter-what's her name?-
Mary-took the bit between her teeth
and bolted with the old mans chauf-
feur."
Somebody asked: "How far did
they get before old Ladislas caught
upT
"He didn't give chase. He's not that
kind. If he was put to 1t, old Thur
low could play the unforgiving parent
in a melodrama without any makeup
whatever"
"He's just like that" said Hamil-
ton. Remember his other daughter,
Grace, clipping with young Petit few
years ago? Old Ladislas had a down
on Pettit-who's a decent enough kid,
otwithstanding-so Grace was
promptly disowned, and they've no |
hope of ever touching penny of the
Ladislas COIN"
'But what became Of them-Mary |
and the stoker-person3
Nobody knows, except possibly |
/
"What's she like, this Marquette
inquired George Brenton's
voice.
ooh, nothing but a kid" said little
Flske.
"Not over eighteen"
The elevator was waiting by this
time, but Whitaker paused an instant
before taking 1t, chiefly because the
sound of his own name. uttered By
Hamilton, had reused him out Of the
in which he had overheard
he preceding conversation.
Anyhow, I'm sorry for Hugh Whit
lker. Hes going to take this hard,
mighty hard"
George Brenton asked, as II sur
1rised: "What7 / didn't know he
vas interested In that quarter"