Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-24


electric lights installed m the house.
A thought later, while still al were
blinking and gasping with surprise,
Max strobe into view Just behind the
f6otlights. Hating, he swept the ar.
ray OF auditors with an ominous and
truculent stare.
So quickly was this startling change
consummated that Whitaker had no
more than time to realize the reap
pearance Of the manager before he
caught his wrathful and venomous
glance fixed to his own bewildered
face. And something in the light that
fiickered wildly behind Max's eyes re-
minded him so strongly of a similar
expression he had remarked In the
eyes Of Drummond. the night the lat
ter had been captured by Ernber and
Sum Fat, that In alarm he half rose
from his seat. rs '
simultaneously he saw Max spring
toward the box, with distorted and
snarling 'countenance. He was tug
ging at something In his pocket. It
appeared in the shape of heavy
pistol.
Instantly whitaker was caught and
tripued by Ember and sent sprawline
on the floor Of the box. As this hap
pened, he heard the voice of the hrer
arm, sharp and vicious--a single re-
port.
Unhurt, he picked himself up in time
to catch a glimpse Of Max. on the
stage, momentariIy helpless in the en-
brace of a desperate and frantic wom'
an who had caught his arms from be-
hind and, presumably, had SO defect
ed his arm. In the same breath EN-
Der, who had leaped to the railing
round the box, threw himself across
the footlights with the 1.-THE certainty
Of q beast Of prey and. seemingly IN
a. many deft motions, knocked the
pistol from the managers hand, wrest-
ed him from the arms Of the actress.
laid him nat and knelt upon him.
With single bound Whitaker fol-
lowed him to the stage; in another he
had his wife in his arms and was
soothing her first transports Of semi
historical terror. !.
It was possibly quarter Of an hour
later when Ember paused before a
door In the ground-hoor dressing-room
gangway Of the Theater Max--a door
distinguished, by the initials IS. L."
in the center Of q golden star. With
some hesitation, with even little
dindencs, he lifted . hand and
knocked
At once the door was opened by the
maid. Elise. Recognizing Ember, she
smiled and stood aside, making way
for him to enter the small, curtained
lobby.
'Nadam-and monsieur" she said
With smiling Significance, told me to
show you in at once. Monsieur EN-.
ber.s
From behind the curtains, whtta-
ker's voice lifted up impatiently
THAT you, old mani Come. right In r.
Noddins to the maid. Ember thrust
aside the poHtieres and stepped into
the brightly lighted dressing room,
then paused, bowling and smiling his
self contained, tolerant SMILE: in ap-
pearance a. imperturbable and we'll
groomed ~ though he had Just
escaped from tho attentions Of a valet,
rather than from furious hand-to-
hand tussle with . vicious monon1a-
MAC.
Mary Whitaker. a. yet little pale
ana distract. an6 stu In costume. was
reclining on haise-longue. Whita-
ksr was standing close beside his wife
his face the theatsr Of conflicting
emotions; Ember, at least. thought
with . shrewd glance to recognize a
pulsatdng light Of jpy beneath mask
Of interest and distress and flash Of
embarrassment.
II am intruding!" he suggested
gravely. with slight turn as If offer
ing to withdraw.
mo"
Tho word faltering on the lips Of
Mary Whitaker was lost In an en-
phatic iteration By Whitaker.
"Sit down. he insisted. "As If we'd
let you escape now, after you'd kept