The Arvada enterprise., 1917-09-13

himself.
After an lndeterminate duration in
his befuddled consciousness, nc found
himself Unexpectedly at home, the door
to his sitting room shutting out the
Weakening world.
He shivered again, bethought him Of
q certain decanter whose contents
ought to provide temporary relief for
tangled nerves, and in search for 1t
came abruptly upon framed photo
graph which decorated his study table.
The face that was pictured therein
was the face Of Patria, smiling, ex-
quisite, provokingly coquettish.
A phase of mock sobrIety possessed
the mind of Rodney Wrenn as he
picked up the photograph and stood
staring hungrily at 1t.
He recalled dny that was scarcely
six weeks old, when Patria. the self
same girl whose counterfeit present
ment was smiling into his eyes, had
seemed to be wholly his. pledged to
become his bride by an understanding
no less complete IL tacit.
They had been light.hearted lovers
on that day, and on many a day that
had gone before.
Then. In a twinkling, Donald Parr
had stepped between them.
In the opinion Of Rodney his suisse
quent sufferlngs had aged him swiftly
to full manhood. But he was herein
self-deluded; he remained a boy, Of
mans stature but Of youthful mental
ity. As he was presently to prove.
His look grew still more morose as
he reviewed the events which had fol-
lowed the coming Of Captain Parr.
There had been brief time when
Donald had seemed to be high in the
favor of the girl. So constantly were
the two together that the gossip Of
Newport had excusabIy bruited their
engagement. And that was something
which Rodney, for all his resentment
had been able to understand. The boy
ish herO-worship which he Ind always
accorded Donald Parr still maintained
Its sway upon his thoughts. 1t was
quite conceivable that the girl should
become-perhaps only temporarily-in.
fatuated with such a man.
But all the time she was changing,
her very nature was changing incom.
prehensibly. Hardly had society set
tied Itself to accept Captain Parr as
the fortunate sutton when. following
one Of Patria's business trips to New
York. all that was of. Donald was In
deep disfavor and Baron Huroki. that
sly. suave Japanese. and his constant
associate, Senior Juan de Lima, the
lanky. crude Mexican millionaire, were
constantly at Patria's elbows. with
Fanny Adair forming q triumvirate Of
her intimates.
Colncident Ind been the Punishment
Of Rodney and his mother. who since
Patrin's childhood had stood In loco
PARENTS to tho girl. managing her sew
+, ernl households In town and county.
supervising her education. chaperOning
her social life.
weeks unmarked by any token Of con-
triton from Patria or even Of rcmcm.
brance Of their existence-the papers
were publishing formal announcement
Of her betrothal to Juan de Lima!
It was NIL Incredible to Rodney.
Such henrtlessness, such Inconsistency.
passed comprehension.
Rage clOuded his wits and senses.
"Jnde!" he muttered sullenly.
Needless Of risk to his hands. he
shattered the glass In the frnme with
blow Of his fist. ripped out the photo
graph. and tore 1t across and again.
Then. a. the fragments fell to the
floor. he sank Into chair. dropped his
head on a forearm on the table. and
sobbcd Gustily.
Almost Immediately he fell asleep.
At precisely the same time Donald
was carrying the semi-consclous girl
into the sitting room Of his own loig-
inHs. his assistant Ryley lowering in
attendance. ready to lend assistance II
neetiei-or permitted.
The door was opened by a hnlf.fran.
tic woman Of middle nRe-Patria's
mnid-who took the girl to her mater.
nal bosom as soon a. Parr relInQuishetl
her.
''Oh. my denric!" she cried. "Whcrc
have you came from In such a statc?''
"Out Of the jaws Of denth, out Of
the mouth Of hell" Pnrr answered for
Pntria. III you Ind obcycd orders,
Anne. and stayed awake III she was
asleep. this would never have hap.
pened. She followed me to the