Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-10-26
ment. II thought you'd think 50

ment. II thought you'd think 50.
There was a third reason"
He paused, until Whitaker encour-
aged him with Yes
MIR. Whitaker"-the query came
point-blank-"do you love your wife?''
Whitaker caught his breath. What
right-i' he began, and checked alb
ruptly. The blood darkened his lean
cheeks.
Mrs. Whitaker gave me to under
stand that you didn't. 1t wasn't hard
to perceive, everything considered, that
your motive was pure chivalry-quix-
otism. I should like to go to my grave
with anything half as honorable and
unselfsh to my credit"
Il beg your pardon" Whitaker NUT
tered thickly.
you don't, then?"
''LOve her? No."
There was a slight pause. Then, 81
do" said this extraordinary man, meet
ing Whitaker's gaze openly. Il do"
he repeated, flushing in his turn, "but
:. h0pelessly However,
that was the third reason" he pursued
in more level voice-"I thought you
ought 70 know about it-that induced
me to keep Sara Laws secret.
I loved her from the day I found her.
She has never looked twice at me.
But that's why never lost in
terest."
you mean," Whitaker took him up
diffidently-''you continued to-ah-?'
"C0urt her-as we say? No." EN-
ber's shoulders, lifting. emphasized the
disclaimer. I'm no fool. I have had
the sense not to invite the thunderbOlt.
She doesn't know it, unless Max told
her against my wish but 1t was [ who
induced him to bring her before the
public, four years ago, as Joan Thurs
day. Since then her destiny has been
rather too big a thing for me to tam
per with; but I've watched and Won
dered, sensing forces at work about
her of which even she was unsus,
picious."
'What in blazes do you meanT
Whitaker demanded, mystifed.
"Dtd it strike you to wonder at the
extraordinary mob her farewell per.
Torrance attracted tonight?"
"Why-yes. It struck me as rather
unusual. But then, Max had done
nothing but tell me of her tremendous
popularity"
sHTba+ o1Opo crroo+ DC ~ ic wouldn't
have brought SO many people together
to stare at the outside of a theater
The magnet was something stronger
the morbid curiosity of New York
Those people were waiting, thrilled
with expectancy, on tiptOe for the sen.
satiOn that presently came to them
the report of Drummond's death"
''What the DEVIL"
patience! This is the third time il
has happened-the same thing, prac
tically: Sara Law on the verge OF
leaving the stage to marry, a fatal ac
cident intervening. Did Max by any
chance mention the nickname New
York has bestowed on Sara Law?'
nickname? Now
"They call her The Destroying
Angel"
"What rot !'
Eyes; but what coincidence. Three
men loved her-and one by one they
died. And now the fourth. Do you
wonder %
"Oh, but-'The Destroying Anger-p
Whitaker cried Indignantly. "How car
they blame herr"
"It isn't blame-it's superstition.
Listen
Ember bent forward, holding Whit,
aker's gaze with intent, grave eyes
''The first time" he said in rapid I'M,
dertOne, ''Was year or so after her
triumph as Joan Thursday. There
were then two men openly infatuated
with her, q boy named Custer, and a
man [ believe you knew-William
Hamilton"
Il knew them BOTH"
"Custer was making the pace; the
announcement Of his engagement to
Sara Law was confidently anticfOatpd