Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-07-07

Wharton" Mrs. Knight commented,
when she heard the full story of Ham
mons party. Hell dislike you now"
The girl shrugged dantlly HE was
drunk aud fresh. cant bear a man
III such Il condition.
You shouldn't antagonize man
like him, my dear He's single, at
least, and naturally he's impulsiye like
all iilose young milionaires."
Bob Is an alcoholic. He's no good.
SO Mr. Merkle said
jim, WHO was immersed in the morn
ing paper spoke from his chair near
the window
why don't you 90 after Mcrkle him
self, sis? Easy picking, these bank
ers
Jim also had come home in the still
hours Of the night before and was now
resting preparatory to his daily battle
with the world. just how the struggle
went or where 1t was waged the others
knew not at all.
His mother shook her head. "Those
old men are all alike. Mr., Harmon
will never marry Lilas"
rs that so?" James abandoned his
reading, THE older they are, the
softer they get. Take ii from me, on
the word Of a volunteer fireman, I.ilas
will cash in on him quicker than you
think. | know"
How do you know inquired his
sister.
"Maybe | got the dogeared dope"
mocked the brother. Maybe Max Mel
cher told me, Anyhow, you could land
Nerklc just as easy IL you'd declare
Max In
Nov, Him. protested Mrs. Knight
IL won't let YOU put such ideas into
her head. You and-that gang of
yours-are full Of tricks. but Lorelei's
decent, and she's going to stay decent.
You'd get everybody in Jail or In the
newspapers"
Has Maxey ever been in Jail? Has
Tony the Barber? No, you bet they
haven't and they never Will be This
jail talk is funny Just walt and see
how easy lilas gels hers OF course
II l.orrlei could marry Wharton that
would be different, but he's no sucker
How IS l.ilas going to get hers?"
insisted Iorelei
wait and see James returned to
his paper.
Shell never marry him She hates
him"
Jim laughed and his sister broke out
lrritably;
'Why he so mysterious? Anybody
would think you'd robbed bank.
Jim looked up again. and this time
with a scowl We'll, every time
come through with Il suggestion MA
crabs it What's The use of talking
TO pair OF hnymaEers like YOU. any
how? | could grab lot Of coin for us
If you'd let me Why MaXey has been
after me n dozen times about you, but
| knew YOU wouldn't stand for it.
"Blnclslnai ah?2
Jim was highly Disguised What's
the difference how you pronounce it.?
II spells k-a l-e and il takes Il good
looking girl to pull off a deal in this
town All right-play for Bob Whar-
ton I'd ike 10 meet him though; he
can do me a lot of good.
How?
well, he dropped eight-four hundred
In Hebling's Sixth avenue joint the
other night MaXey owns a place on
Fory-siXth street where the sky is the
limit
His sister was staring at him curl.
ouSly. she had voiced EiSgivmgS con
corning his activities of late, but jim
had never satisfied her inquiries. Now
she asked What is your sharc?'
The young man laughed n little I'M
comfortably. Forty per cent. That's
usual. If he's going to gamble some
where might as We'll be in on it,
The girls next words, however. left
no doubt as to her feelings.
You're fine specimen. aren't you?"
Her lip 2urle1; mother ana son started
at the bitterness of the tone Ugh!
! What mess you've made OF things
Two years ago we We're decent, and
now" Lorclei's voice broke, her
eyes filmed over with tears I'D give
( ANYTHING in the world if we We're all
back in Vale 1t took only two years
of the city to spoil us
"Ha! Better try Vale again. You'd
end in straightiacket If You did You
think you could so back, but you
conldn't-nobody can after they've
mad taste Of the city"
ITS all wrong The whole thing
is--rotten. Sometimes l hate myself"
! L0relei choked,
Mrs. Knight spoke reprovingly.
Don't be silly. dear, You know we
I did It all for Won But we're not com
planning Mrs Knight put added feel
ing INTO her words. I'VE don't want
you 10 live the way we've had to live;
we want you to he rich and to have
things. After all we've done; after all
poor Peter has suffered
DON'T" cried the girl, fate"lngly.
Il think of him every hour
"Ile isn't the sort that complains,
consider 1t very thoughtless of you to
behave as you do and make it harder
for US" Mrs. knight shifted and
wiped her eyes. whereupon Lorelei
went to her and hid her face upon her
mothers shoulder
Il don't want to be unklnd," she
murmured. but sometimes I'm sick
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