Meade County news., 1916-12-07

him now as the three made their way
downstairs.
While Jim went in search of their
belongings, Bob propped himself
against the wall and regarded her ad-
miringly through eyes that were filmed
and unfocusable.
"Fairy princess. you are more ador-
able every minute" he said, thickly.
"Yesi A thousand yeses. And I'm
your little friend, eh? No more slaps,
no more mysterious exits, what?"
"That depends upon you"
I'm behaving finely" he vaunted.
"I usually act much worse than have
tonight, but like you. like you diff
ferently-understan Not like the
other girls. You're so beautiful! Makes
me dizzy. You forgive my little joke
eh?"
"What joke"
Meeting you the way did tonight.
Jim's nice boy-obliged to him."
81 see. Then it was all planned"
He nodded vehemently and nearly
lost his balance.
How much-dld you pay him?" Lo-
relei queried, with difficulty.
Mr.. Wharton waved his hand in a
magnificent gesture. whats money,
anyhow? Somebody's bound to get 1t. ;"
"Fifty dollars?"
He looked at her reproachfully.
That's an insult to Jim-he's busl-
ness man, he is. More than that Oh,
yes, and I'll take care of him again
this very night. I'll stake him. He
knows place"
"Will you do me favor?" she asked,
after a pause.
Wharton assured her with abnormal
emphasis that her lightest wish was
law.
"Then go straight home from here"
she pleaded
81 say, that's not fair" Bob looked
ludicrously shocked. 81 promised jim
Wouldn't have me break sacred
promise, would you? We're expected
little game all arranged where we
can bust 1t quick. If you hear loud
noise-that'll be Melcher going broke ;
"Melcher!' Lorelei looked sharply
at her brother, who was approaching
with her wraps, and noted that he was
perfectly sober. A moment later she
checked Bob in the act Of giving di
rections to the cab driver:
"Wait. Where do you live, Mr.
WhartonT
"The Charlevoix." 1t was the mos
expensive bachelor apartment building
in the city.
"Drive to the Charlevoix," she TOLD
the chauffeur.
Hold on, SIS" cried Jim. "We'r'
going to take you home first"
mo"
"But-" Jim saw in his sisters fac'
something that brought smothereC
oath to his lips. Drawing her out o
hearing, he muttered, angrlly, mine
your own business; I've got something
on"
II know you have" She met hi
eyes unhinchingly. "But you shan
rob him."
Jim thrust his thin face close to hers
and she saw that 1t was distorted wit
rage. "If you don't want to go home
stay here. He's going with me-"
"We'll see."
She turned, but he seized her rough
> ly. "What are you going to do?" b
demanded.
"I'm going to tell him he's beInI
. taken to crooked gambling house
and that you're working for Max Mel
cher. He isn't too drunk to under
stand that"
Her brother clenched his fist menac
ingly, but she did not reOoil, and h
thought better of his impulse.
care you grand-standing?" he quer
led. brutally. "Are you stuck on tn
boob? or do you want your bit?"
without reply she walked back t
the cab, redlrected the driver to tn,
Charlevolx, then seated herself beside
Wharton, who was already sinking
into a stupor Jim skunk In behind her
and they were whirled southwark.
1t was a silent ride, for the besot
ted young millionaire slept, and jim
dared not trust himself to speak. LO
relei closed her eyes, nauseated, disil
lusioned, miserable. seeing more clear
, ly than ever the depths into which sh
had unwittingly sunk, and the infam!
| Ia 4. 1.1
At his hotel Wharton reused himself
and Lorelei sent him reellng into tn
vestlbule. Then she and Jim turned
homeward through the deserted streets
CHAPTER XII.
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