Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-12-30
CHAPTER VIs-continued.

3
~And you found her and told Drum
kriond-"
Whitaker leaned over the table.
studying the mans face with intense
interest.
"No-and yes. I found Mrs. Whit
aker. I didn't report to Drummond."
"But why-in heavens name?"
Ember smiled somberly at the droop-
ing ash of his cigar. There were sew
eral reasons. In the first place didn't
have to: l had asked no retainer from
Drummond, and l rendered no bill:
what l had found out was mine, to
keep or to sell, as l chose. l chose not
to sell because-well, because Mrs.
Whitaker begged me not to-"
"Ah!" Whitaker breathed, sitting
back. "Why?"
"This was all of a year, I think,
after your marriage. Mrs. Whitaker
had tasted the sweets of independence
and-got the habit. She had adopted
q profession looked upon with abhor-
renee by her family. She was already
successful in a small way, had little
need of the money she would get as
claimant of your estate. She enlisted
my sympathy, anil held my tongue"
"That was decent of you"
The man bowed quiet acknowledge
ment. 81 thought you'd think so.
. There was a third reason"
He paused, until Whitaker encour-
aged him with "Yes-T'
"Mr. Whitaker'-the query came
point-blank-''do you love your wife?"
Whitaker caugh, his breath. "What
right he began, and checked alb
ruptly. The blOoo darkened his lean
cheeks.
Mrs. Whitaker gave me to under
stand that you didn't. 1t wasn't hard
so perceive, everything considered, that
your motive was pre- chivalry-Quix-
otism. l should like to go to my grave
with anything half as honorable and
unselfish to my credit"
II beg your pardon" Whitaker NUT
tered thickly.
''You don't, thenW
Love her? No"
There was slight pause. Then, 81
do" said this extraordinary man, meet
ing Whitaker gaze openly. Il do"
he repeated, flushing in his turn, "but
hopelessly However.
that was the third reason" he pursued
in more level voice-"I thought you
ought to know about it-that induced
me to keep Sara Laws secret. j..
loved her from the day found her.
She has never looked twice at me.
F.. But that's why never lost in
terest"
you mean," Whitaker took him up
diffidently-"you continued to-ah-?"
Court her-as we say? No" EN-
ber's shoulders, lifting. emphasized the
disclaimer. I'm no fool. l have had
the sense not to invite tle thunderbolt.
She doesn't know 1t, Unless Max told
her against my wish but it was l who
induced him to bring Ter before the
public, four years ago, az 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-
picius."
What in blazes do gu mean2"
Whitaker demanded, myst1ed.
did it strike you to wnder at the
extraordinary mob her frewen per-
Torrance attracted tonighR"
''Why-yes. 1t stuck ne as rather
unusual. But then, Ma1 had done
nothing but tell me of her tremendous
popularity"
THAT alone, great as it J. wouldn't
have brought so many peoIe together
TO stare at the outside Of a theater.
The magnet was something tronger-
the morbid curiosity Of NV York
Those people were waiting thrilled
with expectancy, on tiptoe 70 the sen
sation that presently came them:
the report of Drummond's dc h"
What the deYfl-I'
"Patieneel This is the thir lime It
has happened-the same THU. prac-
tcally: Sara Law on the erge Of
leaving the stage to marry. atal &C.
cident intervening. Did Maxby any
chance mention the hickman New
York has bestowed on Sara La"
Nickname? MOI"
They call her The Deroyirg
Angel
what rot :"
Yes; but what coincidence. Three
uleu loved her-and one by On they
dled. And now the fourth. b you
woader 2"
"Oh, but--The Destroying Ang-!"
Whitaker cried Indignantly. Hey can
they blaT1e herT"