The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-11-02
The girls answer was made with her

I've heard about such things. Tye
heard about men prylng into each 9TH
er's private affairs, pretending to be
friends when they were enemies, and
using scandal for business ends. Lilas
Lynn Is my friend-at least in way
and Mr.. Harmon is my host, just as
he Is yours. oh, know; this isn't a
conventional party, and I'm not here
as a conventional guest-inside the
little coin purse he gave me is a hun
dred-dollar bill-but, just the same,
don't care to act as your spy"
Merkle's grave attention arrested
Lorelei's burst OF indignation.
"will you believe me-" he asked,
when tell you that Jarvis Harmon
and Hannibal Wharton are the two
best friends have in the world7 This
is more than a business matter, Miss |
| Knight"
81 can hardly believe that"
"Its true, however; l mean to serve |
Harmon. At the same time | must
serve myself and those who trust me.
fear-in fact, I'm sure-that he is
being used. I've learned things about
Miss Lynn that you may not know.
What you have told me tonight adds
to my anxiety, and I must know
more"
| "What, for instanceT
"Her real feeling for him-her inten-
tions-her relations with a man named
Melcher-"
"Maxey MelcherT
''The same. Do you know his busl-
ness"
"No."
"He is n gambler, political power;
a crafty, inscriptions fellow who rep.
resents-big people. BY helping me
you can serve many innocent persons.
and. most OF all, perhaps, Harmon
himself"
Lorelei was silent for a moment.
'This Is very unusual" she said at
length. 81 don't know whether to be-
lieve you or not"
Suppose, then, you let the matter
rest and keep your eyes open. When
you convince yourself who means best
TO Jarvis-Miss Lynn and MeIcher and
their crowd, or and mine mase your
decision. You may name your own
price"
There wouldn't be any price," she
told him, impatiently. "Tll wait"
Merkle bowed. 'I can trust your
discretion. Thank you for listening to
me, and thank you for being agreeable
, to an irascible old dyspeptic. VIII you
permit me to drive you home when
you're ready"
"I'm ready now"
But as Lorelei made her way unob-
trusively toward the cloakroom she en-
countered Robert Wharton, who barred
! her path.
"Falry Princess, you ran away" he
declared, accusingly.
"Im leaving" She saw that his in.
toxication had reached more ad.
vanced stage. His cheeks were flushed
his eyes were wild and unsteady.
:, "Good news! The night Is young
i wen watch 1t grow up"
v THANK you, no. I'm going home
q "a common mistake. Others have
h tried and failed" With extreme grav
v ity he focused his gaze upon her, say
q ing, Home is the one place that oul
e mayor can't close"
l. She extended her hand. "Good night.
q 81 don't understand. Speak Eng
l. lish."
n- "Good night"
m Wharton's countenance darkened un
pleasantly, and his voice was rough
"where'd you learn that line? IT.
| country stuff Well leave when In
i ready. Now we'll have a trot."
\ The music was playing; othe
couples were dancing, and he seize
her in his arms, whlrling her away. Il
and out among the chairs he piloted
dizzy course, while she yielded reluct
antly, conscious, meanwhile, that Ado
rec Demorest was watching them wit
7 interest.
] For an interval Wharton said notf
7 ing; then, with a change OF tone, b
A murmured in her ear: "D'you think L
! let you spoil the whole night? Can
you see I'm crazy about your"
| Lorelei endeavored to free herse
| from his embrace, but he clutched he
| the tighter and laughed insolently.
] Nothing like a good turkey to 81
n acquainted. Is there? We're going
A dance till we're old folks"
III She continued to struggle; they wei
III out of step and~out of time, but
III held her away from himself easil
N bending a hot glance upon her u
II turned face. She saw that he WI
N painting and doubly drunk with h
i nearness. "Don't fight. I've got you
4 She was smiling family, out of habi
but mistaking her expression, he DIRE
= her close once more, then buried h
face in her neck and kissed her just
the turn of her bare shoulder.
-l Then she tore herself away, and h
op triumphant laugh was cut short as 81
. slapped him resoundingly, her stingiI
Ich fingers leaving their imprint on b
,ci- cheek.
Do Her eyes were flaming and her III
were white with fury, though she co
ne; tinued to smile.