Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-17
GLoria's Romance
Twelfth Installment.

IA OF her falling in love with Dick Fren-
eau. After five years the Indian was
II still only poor Seminole selling his
wares to Palm Beach visitors. But
Gloria had loved and lost, had been
1 the unwilling object Of Freneau's in
trigues and the helpless witness of
this murder. r.'
Now the chief had attacked the only
foundation of her trust in Freneau.
The Indian had laughed at Gloria's
story of the courage of Freneau and
{ had given the credit for the battle
to Doctor Royce. The young chief
was in danger of unconsciously de-
stroying the romance he had uncon-
sciously begun. Doctor Royce had
disclaimed credit, and Gloria had been
overcome with remorse at suspecting
Freneau.
Still, the suspicion rested there. It
kept fitting back to mock her when
ever she tried to resume her quest.
What difference did it make who
killed Freneau if he had been dog
enough to take young girls graft
tude and alteration and praise for
bravery when he had been poltroon1
She was worn out with alternating
between upbraiding Freneau and her
self for turning against him on the
word of an Indian. She could not
find Frank Mulry, and she did not
care much whether he had gone back
to New York or not. /
She loitered about Palm Beach and
responded to none of her fathers ap-
peals or her doctors efforts to bright
en- her eyes. She went back to New
York at length. Of evenings she re-
fused to 20 out. She sat while her
father played solitaire. She played
cards with him once or twice, but she
was so absent-minded that he pre-
fered to play alone or occasionally
with Judge Freeman, kind of rela-
tion-that is, he was the father of
Gloria's brother David's wife, Lois.
One evening while the two old men
were playing Doctor Royce dropped
in. He found Gloria in deeper
lethargy than usual. He cudgelled his
brains to think up something to in
terest her, but without success until
>fhe Judge rose and said:
IT hate to quit when am winning,
Pierpont, but I'm overdue at the night
court. I mustn't keep the criminals
up late"
That's it," muttered Royce.
That's what1" Pierpont inquired.
Royce, startled from his reverie,
apologized. i
some unusual sort, Mr.. Stafford. Now,
while l would not call Judge Free
mans decisions a diversion, exactly,
| do think that his night court would
be interesting enough to compel
Gloria's thoughts" 49,
1.-THE very thing" said Pierpont, 1T
will appeal to her heart, and possibly
she will try to mother some Of your
black sheep, if you'll let her, Judge.
Will you take us?
"Of course; glad enough to have
you," answered Freeman.
Gloria received the proposition
languidly, but consented to be taken
along. When they arrived 1t the
courthouse they entered Judge Free.
mans room. He donned his judicial
robe and they followed him to the
bench, where chairs were placed for
them on either side of him. Every
BODY in the court room rose as the
Judge entered and then sat down with
him to the banquet of justice. Gloria
sat at his left, and frequently he
leaned toward her, explaining a case
or answering a question.
\ She became at once another Gloria,
'vividly alive and interested in the
human documents spread before her.
Sometimes the row of faces seemed
like her childish memories of the
chambers of horrors in Nine. Tus-
sard's waxworks; then again the no.
bility of some countenance would
completely bewilder her when the
Judge told her that it belonged to the
worst confidence man in New York
or to a professional beggar who would
certainly refuse any offer of real
work, however real the remuneration.
Gloria was constantly amazed at
the judges insight into human nature
and his general fairness and discrim-
nation.
A ferocious Irishwoman Of huge
proportions begged protection of the
court from a much battered and meek
little husband whose head bore,
among other decorations, the outline
of the familiar flatiron. His face
was almost lost in the wilderness OF
bandages and adhesive plasters. His
legs were a complete wreck and he
chung to the officers arm for support,
The Judge motioned the policeman to
take the stand As he did so the
little man tried to follow him. He
was restrained and upheld by another
officer, who protected him from the
threatening uppercut Of the woman.
The policeman on the stand took
the oath and tried to conceal his grin
as he explained:
Your honor, the lady had me ar
rest her husband for assault and bat
terry"
The spectators shook with laugh
tetr. Even the solemn Gloria had
to smother her smokers. The judge
pounded on his desk for order. The
court officers silenced the spectators.
The Judge motioned the woman to
the stand The policeman stepped
down. The injured innocent began
to talk on her wa to the chair. She
was interrupted to take the oath, and
threatened the clerk, took the oath
with indifference, and began at once
to harangue the judge about the wick
edness and brutality of her husband: