The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-10-18
CHAPTER V-Continued.

=
"Where's Miss Law?" he asked.
81 dunno-go ask Max"
"Where is hep
"YOu can search me; last | saw Of
him he was tearing the star dressin'
room up by the roots"
Whitaker hurried on just in time to
see Max disappearing in the direction
of the stage door, at which point he
caught up with him, and from the
managers disjointed catechism of the
doorkeeper garnered the information
that the star had hurried out of the
building while Max was making his
announcement before the curtain.
Max swung angrily upon Whitaker.
"Oh it's you, IS it? Perhaps you can
explain what this means? She was
up / saw her"
Perhaps you'd better find Miss Law
and ask her" Whitaker interrupted.
'Have you any idea where she's
gomez"
Home, probably" Max snapped in
return.
"Come on, then" Passing his arm
through the managers, Whitaker drew
him out into the alley. Wen get
taxi before this mob"
But, look here-what business've
you got mixing IMP
ASK Miss Law" said Whitaker,
shortly. 1t had been on the tip of his
tongue to tell the man fatty: 'Tm her
husband" But he retained wit enough
to deny himself the satisfaction of this
SCATTERING rejoinder. Il know her." he
added; that's enough for the pres
emit"
At the entrance to the alley Max
paused to listen TO the uproar within
his well-beloved theater
I'D give five thousand gold dollars
If | hadn't met you this afternoon ~
he groaned. 81 always knew that wom-
an was Jonah !"
you were calling her your mascot
two hours ago"
She'll be the death of me, yet the
little man insisted gloomily. He
stopped short, jerking his arm free.
Look here, I'm not going. I've got my
work cut out for me back Herewith
jerk of his head toward the theater
Whitaker hesitated. then without re-
greet decided to lose him 1t would be
as well TO get over the impending in
terview without third factor.
Very WELL" he said, reckoning a
taxicab in to the curb. whats the
addreSs?'
Max gave it Sullenly.
$50 long" he added morosely as
Whitaker opened the cab door; sorry
| ever laid eyes on you"
Whitaker settled back in the cab
and, Oblivious to the lights of Broad
way streaming past, tried to think. 1t
suddenly presented itself to his reason,
with shocking force. that his attitude
must be humbly and wholly apologetic
1t was a singular case: he had come
home to find his wife on the point of
marrying another mainland she was
the one entitled To feel aggrieved +!
Strange twist of the eternal triangle
Far too soon the machine swerved
into Fifty-seventh street, slipped half
way down the block, described a wide
arc TO the northern curb and pulled
up, trembling, before modest modern
residence between Sixth and Seventh
avenues.
Reluctantly Whitaker got out and,
on suspicion, told the chauffeur to
wait. Then, with all the alacrity of
a condemned man ascending the scat
fold, he ran up the steps TO the front
door.
man-Servant answered his ring
without undue delay.
Was Miss Law at home? He would
see.
This indicated that she was at home.
Whitaker rendered Il card with his sur
name penciled after that of Mr.. Hugh
Morten in engraved script.
He stared round him with pardon-
able wonder. If this were truly the
home OF Mary Ladislas Whitaker-her
property-he had builded far better
than he could possibly have foreseen
with that investment of five hundred
dollars six years since. Soft. shaded
lights, rare Furnishings, the rich vet
delicate atmosphere of exquisite taste.
the hush and orderly perfection of a
home made and maintained with con-
summate art: these furnished him with
dim, provoking limitations of an indi-
viduality to which he was stranger
less than a stranger
Almost Immediately he became
aware of feminine footsteps on the
staircase-there entered to him lady
well past middle age, with the dignity
and poise consistent with her years, her
manifest breeding and her iren-graJ
haix.