Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-23

whitaker nearO WnaC was being Sal0
without, ut first, comprehending-
heard and afterwards remembered in
vivid detail.
Seems to be the open season for
runaways," Hamilton was saying. "1t's
only a few days since Thurlow Lads
las daughter-what's her name?-
Mary-took the bit between her teeth
and bolted with the old mans chauf-
feur."
Somebody asked: GLOW far did
they get before old Ladislas caught
upY
HE didn't give chase. He's otlthat
kind. If he was put to it. old Thur
low could play>the unforgiving parent
in q melodrama without any makeup
whatever"
Hes just like that" said Hamil-
ton. Remember his other daughter,
Grace, clipping with young Petit a few
years ago? Old Ladislas had a down
on Pettit-who's a decent enough kid,
observation-disclosures Grace was
promptly disowned, and they've no
hope Of ever touching a penny Of the
Ladislas CON-" ~
But what became Of them-Mary
and the stoker-person"
Nobody knows, except possibly
themselves"
"What's she like. this Marquette
contrary" inquired George Brenton's
voice.
"Oh, nothing but q KID" said little
Fiske.
"Not over eighteen"
The elevator was waiting by this
time, but Whitaker paused an instant
before taking it, chiefly because the
sound of his own name, uttered by
Hamilton, had reused him out of the
abstraction in which he had overheard
the preceding conversation.
anyhow, I'm sorry for Hugh Whit
aker. He's going to take this hard,
mighty hard"
George Brenton asked, as If sur
prised: ."What? I didn't know he
was interested in that quarter"
"You must be blind. Alice Carstairs
has had him going for a year. Every
body thought she was only waiting for
him to make some big money-he as
much as anybody, I fancy"
Brenton added the last straw.
That's tough, he said soberly. "Whit-
aker's a white man, and Alice Car
stairs didn't deserve him. But I
wouldn't blame any man for feeling
cut-up to be thrown over for an out
and-out rotter like Percy Grim
shaw. F. :"
Whitaker heard no more. At the
first mention of the name of Alice Car
stairs he had snatched her letter from
his pocket and was reading. Nobody
will ever know just what Alice Car
stairs saw At to write to Hugh Whit
aker. The blood ebbed from his face
apd left it CHASTITY. and when he had
torn the paper to shreds and let them
flutter about his feet, he swayed per-
ceptibly-so much so that one Of the
pages took alarm and jumped to his
side.
beg pardon, Mr.. whitaker-did you
call mel"
Whitaker steadied himself and
stared until he recognized the boy.
NO." he said thickly, 'but I want you.
Give me a bar order"
The boy produced the printed form
and Whitaker hastily scnbbled his or
der or it. Bring that up to the IL
brary," he said, "and be quick about
it."
he stumbled into the elevator, and
presently found himself in the library.
There was no one else about, and
Whitaker was as glad Of that as it was
In him to be glad Of anything just
then. He dropped heavily into a big
armchair and waited, his brain whirl-
ing and seething, his nerve on edge
and screeching. In this state Peter
| Stark found him.
Peter sauntered into the % with
a manne elaborately careless. Be-
meath that mask he was anything but
Indifferent, just a. his appearance was
anything but fortuitous. Moreover,
Peter had already heard about Alice
Carstairs and Percy Grimshaw.
"Hel-lo" he said, contriving by mere
I accident to catch sight of Whitaker,
who was almost invisible in the big
| chair with its back to the body of the
room. 'what you doing up here, Hugh?
What's upT
TITS all up" said Whitaker, trying
to pull himself together. "Everything's
up"
"Don't believe it." said Stark, coolly.
my feet are on the ground; but you
look as If you'd e e a ghost"
II have-my own" said Whitaker.
The page now stood beside him with
a tray. "Open it." he. told the boy,
indicating a half-bottle OF champagne;
and then to Peter: SIN having a
bath. Won't you jump inT
Peter whistled, watching the wine
cream over the brandy in the long
glass. "King's peg, chi" he said, with
a lift Of disappearing eyebrows. Here,
boy, bring me some Scotch and plain
water for common people"
The boy, disappeared as Whitaker
lifted his glass.
I'm not waiting" he said bluntly.
II need this now"
II hope" Peter said thoughtfully,
"that the man who started that lie
about drink making a fellow forget
died the death Of, . dog. He deserved
10, anyway. He stopped At Whttaker's
: ride ana dro0ped ~ hand on hfa