Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-08-17


ger, staring doubtfully at the cause of
der delay. Wharton as on the evening
before, carried his intoxication with an
! air. He was steady on his feet. i'm
| maculate in dress. punctilious in de-
| meanor: only his rowing. reckless eye
betrayed his unnatural eXhilaration.
The Judge had enjoyed the scene.
He chucked; lie clicked his loose front
| teeth like castanets. Bob turned at
the sound and regarded him with be-
nignant interest. his attention rvetel
upon the old mans dental infirmity.
You're quite COMEDIAN Regain
wheezed
/, Click 'em again. said Bob, pleas
antly. Wonderful, Age has its com
petisations. Play Home. Sweet Home
when you get 'em timed up Or per
haps they are for sale?"
( Lorelei secured her number and was
| surprised to recognize her brothers
/ voice. She made herself known, to
: Jim's equal a,nazelnent and then in
(, quired:
rs Max thera:"
! bile"
Call him, please"
What do you want of him? How'd
you know was hcre:"
i Never mind Call him quickly"
! At last Melcher's voice came over
the wire, and Lorelei recited the mes
sage. There was moment of silence.
then she explained how she came to
| be talking instead of Lilas.
| He thanked her, and she heard him
muttering as he hung up. She turned
to find her annoyer nodding with sat
isfaction.
1 splendid! l thank you; my father
thanks you; my family thanks you.
/ Now where would you like to dine:"
How can person get rid of you?"
She inquired stifily.
''I'm sure don't know-it isn't he
ing done But III try to think Wear
Your prettiest gown. won't you? for
! intend to enrage all the other fell
4 lows"
She turned with sllrug of mingled
annoyance and amusement, and he
| called after her:
1.-The Judges teeth will entertain
! me till you come I'll be waiting"
Miss Lynn, as she dressed after the
performance, was still In an evil TEN.
per; but she thanked her roommate for
aiding her; then, as if some explana-
ton We're due. she added THAT note
was from Jarvis"
You puzzle me. Lilas" Lorelei told
her, slowly. 81 don't think you care
for him at all.''
Lilas laughed. Why do you think
that? ! adore him. but we had an ell.
gagement and he broke 1t. Men are
all selfish; the bigger they are the
more selfish they become. They never
do anything you don't make them
life can't sacrifice his business fol
you"
Sacrifice! It's women who sacri
fee themselves. D'you suppose any OF
those men we net last night would
sacrifice himself for anything or any
body? Not much. They are the
strong and the mi shty. They got ricl
4 through robbery, and they're in the
habit of taking whatever they want
They made their money out of the
blood and suffering of thousands OF
poor people. That's what it is-blood
money"
rs that why you're planning te
blackmnil 1t out of him?"
Lilas paused in her dressing ant
turned slowly, brows lifted Hel
dark eyes met the blue ones unwaver
4 ingly
"BlacEmail? What are you talking
about?" Mrs. Croft went pale. and
retired swiftly but noiselessy into the
lavstury. closing the door behind her
What did Max tell you over the
'phone:" asked Elias, sharply.
Nothing"
Then where did you get-that'
from Jim?'
''Jim's pretty bad. l imagine, but
he keeps his badness to himself. No
I've overheard you and Max talking
Nonsense. We've never mentioned
such a thing. The idea is absurd
get mad at .Jaryis-he's enough tt
madden neutrality-suspicious. Pm jealous
but blackmail! Why, you're out OF
your head"
Lorelei delayed her toilet purposely
and finally dismissed Croft. When
4 quiet had finally descended she opened
her door cautiously and peered out
Robert Wharton sat on the top stel
of the stairway near at hand, but his
head rested against the wall, and he
slept Beside him were his high hat
his gloves and his stick. AS Lorelei
with skirts carefully gathered, tiptoed
past him she saw suspended upon his
cleaning white shirt bosom what al
first glance resembled a foreign deco
ration of some sort. but proved to be
Mr.. Regan's false teeth. They were
suspended by ribbon that had once
done duty in the costume of a cory.
phee; they rose and fell to the young
mans gentle breathing.
u
Lorelei telephoned to Merkle on the
following day. and about the close OF
the show that night his card was
brought up to her dressing room. A
moment later Robert Wharton's fol
lowed, together with tremendous box
of long-stemmed roses. She went down
triae apprehensively. for by this
time the current tales Of Bob's drunken
freaks had given her cause to think
somewhat seriously. and she feared an
unpleasant encounter More than once
she had witnessed quarrels in the al
leyway behind the Circuit, where pes.