Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-10-07

Sne could nave owned. Better Dy
far. that he had returned as on that
earlier day, drugged and possessed by
the morphine spirit, than in the
chains of this devil. Better that he
had died. For Lancaster. even when
the shifty, false, lying drug fiend
was In control Of him, had never
been vicious and vile like this before.
And yet this was the John Ian
caster OF the Southern hospital. 1t
was the traditional Lancaster in his
hour Of relaxation. He treated
women shamefully, as the gossiping
nurse had said. Joan had never been
in fear of physical harm as she was
now. She rose from her knees, look
ing wildly about her. Then she heard
footsteps outside. and she sprang
back across the room.
But II was only the matron. Mrs.
Fraser cast scared glance at her
and ran forward. What did he say
10 vou2" she cried.
"Who is he? Who is he?" whis-
pered Joan. ''Hc is not the John
Lancaster ] KNOW"
"I don't know. Heaven help me II
know what has changed him!" Mrs.
Fraser cried. 1T is what ] was tell
ing YOU about this afternoon. Twice
or three times before he has come
back from Avonmouth like this. Hes
COIftc IKE tuiSt dttiib o~s - t'N
devil had his soul. What are you
going to do?"
81 am afraid of him. ] dare not
stay here. Where shall l go?" cried
Joan, losing all self-control.
In the midst of her terror Joan
suddenly realized that the look upon
, the matron's face was the same as
on her first night, when they had
held u, brief conversation in the same
room.
K For a moment Mrs Fraser did not
answer her. The women drew to-
gethcr, listening. They were having
supper below, conversing In bolster
GUS tones and laughing loudly. Joan
| heard her own name spoken. and "a
renewed outburst of mirth followed
| Mrs. Fraser said Joan, the
Doctor Lancaster whom l respect ana
| honor is not in that mans body.
am going away. ! am going at once.
l shall ask Doctor Jenkins TO protect
me until tomorrow. He Is a gentle
man: he will do So" =.
"You can't go thru this Storm y
exclaimed the other, and as she spoke
| Joan realized that the wind had risen
to hurricane and the boughs
creaked and snapped like pistol
shots You must stay here tonight;
STAY with me and j" swear he shall
/
She pulled n revolver from beneath
her apron and hanued it to Joan.
! 1--WE kept that ever since the last
time he came back like this, when he
went raving among the patients, mau
with liquor. That was the end or the
institution. He frightened a sick gir
almost to death. Use it on him If you
must-use 1t. because 1t won't be hin
you'll kill, but the devel that's go'
him"
She was almost incoherent WITH
| fear and excitement. Joan took the
revolver and slipped it into the pocke'
of her uniform. Oddly enough, she
felt that the Lancaster OF that evening
had so grossly wronged the Lancaster
of earlier days that to kill him would
he to avenge an intolerabie outrage
She hated him with all the intensity OF
which her heart was capable, hatec
him for the wrong he had done him
self. the outrage of their love; ant
under the hate the flame OF the love
she had borne burned pure and clea'
1t was long since dark, but the inaic
had not lit the lamp outside Mrs
Dana's door, near the head OF th'
stairs. The moon had not yet rIsen
The women crept cautiously aiont
the hall.
Lancaster and the secretary wer,
| IN MNcTS room. ihV uOOi WoS OPN'
Joan heard n cork fly with a bang
and the gurgle of champagne In th'
glasses. Their voices were raised higf
and there came the sound of a scurfie
"Sit down." the secretary was cry
ing. do you want to be a fool ant
spoil everything? Leave her alon'
until tomorrow"
"I'm damned il / do" cried Ian
l'caster.
q
agreed to come back here and put hel
ont. Why don't you do It now?"
Lancaster laughed coarsely. "be
cause she's too damned pretty
Myers" he answered.
TITS the drink in you. She ism
better looking than any average
woman In Avonmouth. See here nov
are you going to bust up the gam'
or are you not?"
"I'n show you!' shouted Lancaster
breaking from Myers grasp and rush
ing from the room.
He met the women at the foot o.
the stairs. His face was flushed, hi
! hair disotdered, his manner maniacal
"You sneak, what are you buttint
into this show for?" he demanded o.
Mrs. Fraser.
The matron, cowed by his violence
trembled. She tried to pull Joar
toward her room; tnen caught her eye
and made the sighting gesture indica
tive of shooting. Lancaster raised MI
fist threateningly.
The matron did not lift finger Il
defend herself. She stood quite calm
ly, awaiting the expected blow. Per
haps IL was some -dtavistic trait in
herited thru generations Of downtrod
den ancestors; and yet, servile altht
1t might have been, the look on th'
woman's face was almost heroical.
The man let his fist fall; he seize,
the matron by the shoulders and push
ed her back into her room. He turned
the key in the lock and put 1t in hi
pocket
"Thatsi settled, I reckon" he said
with satisfaction.
| Joan's hand went into her pocket
IHer fingers closed about the revolver
handle. But at that moment the sec
retary, who had come out Of his room
went up TO Lancaster.
'See here, now" he began Il
demonstrate, ''have a little sense, doc
tor. II you are bent on busting every
thing up, you and I part company.
The other turned on him with {
menacing gesture that Myers flunl
up his hands in despair and went bacl
Into his room. Joan stood facing tn
doctor alone. At that moment he
| dao;cio,, x,,ac pearlv ripened ana eu,