Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-31
CHAPTER MI.


CHAPTER MI.
The young Indian chief who had
found the girl Gloria, a tattered
runaway lost in the everglade,
and had tried to marry her, had been
the cause of her falling in love with
Dick Freneau. After five years the In
dian was still only a poor Seminole
selling his wares to Palm Beach visitors.
But Gloria had loved and lost, had been
the unwilling object of F'reneaus in
trigues and the helpless witness Of this
murder.
Now the chief had attacked the only
of her trust in Freneau. The
Indian had laughed at Gloria's story OF
the courage of Freneau and had given
the credit for the battle to DIR. Royce.
The young chief was in danger of un-
destroying the romance he
had unconsciously begun. DR.. Royce
had disclaimed the credit, and Gloria
had been overcome with remorse at sus-
pecting Freneau.
Still, the suspicion rested there. 1t
kent fitting back to mock her when
ever she tried to resume her quest.
What difference did ii make who killed
Freneau if he had been dog enough to
take. a. young girls gratitude and
alteration and praise for bravery when
ne had been a poltroon?
She was worn out with alternating
between upbraiding Freneau and herself
for turning against him on the word of
an Indian. She could not find Frank
whether he had gone back to New York
or not.
She Ioitered about Palm Beach and
responded to none of her fathers APP
peals or her doctors efforts to brighten
her eyes She went back to New York
at length. Of evenings she refused to
go out. She sat while her father played
solitaire. She played cards with him
once OF twice. but she was so absent
minded that he preferred to play alone
or occasionally with Judge Freeman, a
kind of relation-that is, he was the
father Of Gloria's brother Davids wife.
Lois.
Gloria pointed to Royce uues-
tioningly. The chief nodded.
Gloria protested She could not
permit the glory of her rescue to be
taken from her dead love. mo, no, it
wasn't that man. 1t was this one" she
cried. and caught from her gown a lit
tie portrait of Freneau in a locket.
The chief clutched at it and looked
hard The chiefs lip curls with scorn.
He laughed-almost
His? Humph. Him white liver!
Him run! That man there hand me big
wsllop! Ggh!'
Gloria was indignant. The chief de-
scribed with vivid pantomime and gut
tural words the true history Of her res
cue. his own proposal of marriage,
Glorias swooning with terror Freneau's
arrival, his terrified retreat before the
chiefs advance. The struggle for the
chiefs knife, and finally the tremendous
uppercut that had knocked the chief.
Meanwhile, during the fight, he had
caught glimpses of Freneau's hasty
gathering up of Gloria and his escape
with her, leaving Royce to his fate.
Gloria was aghast at the story. AS
the chief went on with it Royce saun-
tered up and paused. The chief turned
or him and was about to attack him.
Royce fell into an attitude of self-de-
Tense. but smiled and spoke soothingly
and put out his hand. The chief took
it. He was a good sportsman and so
was Royce.
Gloria looked from Royce to the pic
ture of Freneau in her locket. A ter
rible doubt of Freneau assailed her. She
seized Royce by the arm and dragged
him to one side. demanding:
cit was you that saved me. Why
didn't you tell me?"
Royce looked sheepish and shrugged
his shoulders He did not know just
what to say. Gloria looked at the locket
with hideous new suspicion, then turned
and hurried away with tears springing
to her eyelids.
Royce stared after her adoringly.
Gloria wandered far down the beach
alone. She was in a hopeless frame of
mind. She dropped to the sand brood
ing over the crumbling of her hero's
glory. From the sea the ghost of
Freneau seemed to come to her and,
kreeling by her. take her in his arms.