The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-12-21

Ben-HurS uay. Mulry paid his eX
hausted man well and took the neares
way to the cottage where he was guest
He did not leave it that night, and 1
was we'll, for Gloria hunted for hin
everywhere.
She would not dance, though man!
asked her. The music hurt her cruel
ly. She remembered how she haC
wanted to dance that moonlit night Sc
long ago, but had been put to bed BY
her heartless governess. She remem
bered how she had suffered till sne
could bear it no longer, and had riser
to dress in the dark and steal out
leaving her gOyerness ashore.
She had envied David his liberty and
had stolen the car that David brought
round so that he might take Judge
Freeman's daughter Lois for a moon
light spin-and spoon. Gloria had not
prevented David from marrying Lois,
and she had run herself into a series
Of adventures that had promised every
thing wonderful only to stop short in
black disaster. Her poor, brave, pa
tient lover would dance no more, smile
at her no more. Love was gone from
her life already and she was only
| twenty.
Frank Mulry did not dance that
night, either. He sat at his window,
listening to the music and wondering
would last. He was tempted to go out
and surrender to this young girl who
was stalking him with such relentless
| stealth.
! But he thought of the money her IA
5her had given to Freneau and he was
afraid he would have to give 1t up.
| He thought of his share In Freneau's
trickery and the ugly look it would
ave in court. He beat his fat head
'Or some clever lie that would explain
everything gracefully, but no inspira-
ton came and he went to bed like
spanked and supperless child.
/ The next morning Mulry looked out
ate upon the flood of sunlight gliding
the liquid emerald sea. The breakers
called to him. He could not resist the
summons. He stole down a corridor
and along an unfrequented walk to
1athhouse. He Unpeeled his clothes
and squeezed into bathing suit and
80 made into the ocean. Friends Of
his lolling on the beach said that the
water rose when he went in and fell
when he came out. But Mulry was
happy He wallowed and dived like a
porpoise till he was blissfully weary,
then he stretched himself on the sand
for an Oriental snooze.
He heard voice that sounded ia
miliar. He sat up. Gloria was COM
ing along the beach directly toward
him. In her sea clothes she was an
approval of all eyes except Mulry's.
He did not make the mistake of the
ostrich. He buried his entire self in
the sand and tried to hold his breath
till Gloria got past. Luck was against
aim and she casually stepped on him
IS she crossed his equator.
When she had gone, he exhumed |
himself hastily and made for the water,
70 clear off the sand that loaded him. |
Just as he set his toe in the first froth' |
aer start that she recognized him. He |
can into the waves, she followed. He
lived through the first breaker and a
second and a third. When he looked.
pack she was not to be seen. He
aughed and began to foat-which was
he easiest thing he did. Suddenly he
saw a red turban come through the
wall of big billow. Under it appeared
Gloria's face. Mulry struck out to sea.
Gloria came crawling after. He was
lstonished to see how well she swan.
But he swan WELL too.
He wondered if he would have to
cross the Atlantic and he regretted the
necessity Of landing in Europe with his
bathing suit and nothing else. He
vas still at some distance from Europe
when he suddenly felt twinge Of
balm in his ankle-then in his knee
n both knees. He was doubling up
With cramp! He knew real fear now.
lie looked back to shore and the far
If, misty crowd. He shouted for help.
Nobody heard him except Gloria, and
lie placed no reliance in her.
She called to him, but he was past
Gloria had been raised
n athlete and her brother David had
aught her how to rescue drowning
eople. But her first practical demon
tration alarmed her. She had not
ounted on so huge a barge to take in
ow.
She set up a cry to shore. No one
card her. No one missed her except
ne man. Doctor Royce was looking
Or her. That was not strange. He
,as almost always looking for her or
t her. Pierpont did not know where
he was. David and Lois had no idea
f her whereabouts. She was not
mong the crowds on the beach.
Royce stared out into the farther
alters. Sc saw her turban-or at
last he was afraid that it was hers.
e saw her put up her hand, though S
e could not hear her cry.
He hOwled to the life-saver in the
pat and pointed to where Gloria swan C.
18th one hand, the other clutching at fl
ulry's collar. The life-saver bent to II