The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-12-28

with disgust, and then again I'm
frightened. All the men ! meet are
beasts. That whole party was sordid
and mean-old men drinking with girls
and paving them over. Mr.. Merkle
was the only nice one there The
mother was dlsmaysd to feel her
daughter SILVER.
Good Lord! You people make me
sick" cried Jim, rising and making for
his room. "Anybody'd think you'd
been i%nsultcd."
When he had gone Mrs, knight
asked. accusingly:
"Lorelei, are you In loye?"
NO. whyT"
you've said some queer things late.
never be tempted to do anything To-
to, be foolish. I don't intend TO let you
make n mess OF things by marrying
some chorus man. When the right per-
son comes along you'll accept him. then
you'll never have to worry again. But
you must be careful"
"Do you think I'd be happy with a
man like Mr.. Whartonf'
"Why not? You'd Mt least be rich.
and II rich people can't be happy. who
can? II you accepted some poor boy
he'd probably turn out TO be a drunk
ard and n %loafer, just like Wharton Is
now" She sighed. I'D like to see
you settled; we could take Peter TO a
specialist, and maybe he could be
cured. We could go abroad and get
the help of those German surgeons.
I've always wanted to travel"
When Lorelei reached the theater
that evening she found Iilas Lynn en-
t%ertainlng n caller who had been more
than once In her thoughts during the
day. Miss Lynn's visitor was n we'll
tailored man who gave a first impress
sion Of extreme physical %neatness. He
was immaculate I'm attire, his ska was
fine, his color fresh; n pair Of small,
imperturbable eyes were set In a smll.
Ing face beneath a prcmaturely gray
head. Max Melcher was a figure on
Broadway: he had the ontree to oil the
stage doors: he frequcnted the popular
cafes. where he surrounded himself
with men. Always afYable. usually at
leisure. invariably obllglng, he had
many friends.
At Lorelci's entrance he smiled and
nodded without rising, then continued
his earnest conversation with Miss
Lynn. None OF their words We're au-
dible to the last conner until Mclcher
rose to leave: then L!las halted him
with a nervous laugh. saying:
Remember, II II doesn't go, It's a
Joke, and I run to cover"
at will 60" he told her, quietly, as
he strollcd out.
"what are you two planning?" in
quired Lorelei.
Nothing. Max drops In regularly:
he used to be sweet on me-" Lilas
completed her makeup, then idgeted
n~ervously. "Gee!" she presently ex-
claimed, "I'm tired OF this business.
We're fools to stay in Il. Think Of
Atlantic City on n night like this. or
the mountains. This heat has com
pletely unstrung me-" She rummaged
through the confusion on her table,
then inquired Of the dresser, Croft,
where are my white glovesf"
"They haven't come back from the
cleaners" Mrs. Croft answered.
"Not back? Then you didn't send
them when I told you. You're getting
altogether shlftless. Croft. When I
tell you to do n thing I want 1t done"
81 hope I drop dead If"
81 hope you do" snapped the indig.
nant girl. 81 told you to attend to
them; nov I've nothing but soiled
ones"
The dresser began to weep silently.
She was n small, timid old woman,
upon whose manifest need OF employ.
ment Lorclei had taken pity some time
before. Her forgetfulness had long
been n trial to both her employers.
"That's right; turn on the food.
gates" Knocked Lilas. you stop that
snivellng or I'll give you something to
cry for. I'm nervous enough tonight
without having you In Mysteries. Re
member, II II ever happens again you'll
go-and you'll take something with
you to think about" Selling the clean
est pair OF gloves at hand. she flung
out Of the room in n fine fury.
"You won't let her-fre me? need
work, l do" quayered Mrs, Croft.
"Now, now. Don't mind her temper
You know Lllas Is excitable."
"Excitable:" Croft wiped red eyes
with n corner OF her apron. as thai
what you call III I'll be glad II hei
millionaire takes her out OF the busi
ness, like she thinks he will. Pool
man! He's laying up trouble for him
self, that he Is. She'll land him in the
divorce court-with her flash-llght pho
tographs."
Lorclci swung around from her mir
ror. what do you meanf'
"Oh, I heard her and that Jew-tha'
Maxey Melcher. They've got a pho
tographer and witnesses. Your brother
Is one OF EN-"
"Jim? what"
ats true. It's a bad crowd MisteI
Jim's in with. And there's something
-