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

Ing unueE ner Sttfe' AooNo his WIS
was the sound of the beating rain, the
lashing wind; and from within tins
matron's room Joan heard Mrs Fra
ser crying In prayer:
"Oh. Lord, save her!" she walled.
"Save that girl this night. o Lord.
from the devil! Save her! Save her.
o Lord!"
"Maybe I got you wrong" contin-
ued the doctor. But II I did. 1 ash
you who's to blame? Didn't you
come to me at my house In Avon
mouth and ask for your Job bach:
Weren't you as sweet as sugar when
you wanted something out or mey
And didn't you agree to come up here
to work for me? Well. what's the in
ference. then2 You can have your
do better by you than that. You're
too pretty for nurses Job, and ! told
you SO that day you turned on me
in the theater like a wildcat. row.
then. it's up to you. Your no's'
partner!"
What do you mean by all that?'
asked Joan, What do you wish me
to do?'
He gave a gratified grin. Now
you're talking sense. my dear" he a.
swered. Live up to your promise.
that's all. A mods as good as wink
ard you can't fool me with your pre-
lenses. I'VE seen enough or women
In my life to know that they're all the
same. You know why l gave you this
Job here. Don't try to pretend 1t was
reckon that II I'd wanted nurse
/ could have gone no further and
found better one. Live up to your
agreement and don't be little cheat.
That's all you've got to do"
Joan tried to push past him. but
he remained at the foot Of the stairs,
blocking her way.
Let me pass, please!" she cried
I'm going to leave the institute at
once"
without your hat?" he >sneered.
'Let me pass at once!'
,"Weu. 7 reckon can't stop you,
he rejoined. "Just one word more.
tho. Do you realize your situation
DO YOU know what people will say
| when you go to them with crazy
stories about me? Nobody will thinA
you came down here to the notorious
John Lancaster after he'd fired you
| Just because you were such n won
derful nurse that he couldn't do with
out YOU. What sort of reputation do
you expect to have in Avonmo.'n
You can go, but you won't go there.
Not hack to Avonmouth, understand
that well. I'll hound you out OF the
town, you little double -crosser!
| For the first time Joan felt her
spirit begin to shrink from the ordeal
| She was cowed, she was almost help
less as II he had used physical vio-
! lence toward her And thru the bane-
! full dream she was aware that Myers
had come out of his room and was
watching the scene from the emo oi
the hall. wearing a SNUG, complacen,
smile. Myers was getting hisovay and
having his revenge in one.
And because the situation was toe
horrible for belief, Joan could reinem'
Der only the Lancaster of Yesterday
She ran TO the man and caught him by
the arms. and looked into his 1ac'
with pathetic earnestness.
I'm going to stay. John!" she cried
my faith is stronger than that
remember what YOU have said to me
and I remember my promise to ~"
Some day you will come to yoursel'
and everything will be clear. I shall
call to the John Lancaster I know
against the man who claims TO DC
he and is not"
'What do you mean?" shouted the
other. "whom do you take me for?'
You are not the John Lancaster
who won my love-" cried Joan, with
an impassioncd gesture. Let your
better self hear and understand me
| You asked me to stay and fight your
battle with you, and nothing shai
drive me from you till you tell me &c
go: and not even that; nothing sha'
make me falter till 1 have won yoT
again."
The mans eyes blazed. you're
right: you're dead right there, Joan!
he cried, and caught her In his arms
He pressed his lips to hers.
She struggled wildly in his grasp
LET me go!" she painted. But s'i'
could not free herself. She screamet
The matron's voice shrieked thru th'
door. shoot him!" she cried. "Snoo
him dead Shoot hint"
Joan wrenched her arm free AZ,
struck at the man, but he pinioneC
it again.
umphantly, "and nothing uhce'
heaven shall make me let you Co."
Held as she was, Joan got fin
gers into her pocket She thrust !
upward into the mans face. He re
coiled with an oath, squinting at tn
weapon, his race COiNulscu. Anu u
that moment knowledge came to Joaf
| Wentworth.
"You are not John lancaster" sh'
cried.
As she spoke they heard thersount
of halting footsteps on the porth. I'M
door swung slowly open. Joan's han'
dropped to her side, she slid the re
volver mechanically into her pocket
she tried to cry but could not.
Upon the threshold of the door
looking out with a wry. distorted grill
on his pale lips, was the man who hat
held her. And on the thresnoio
looking in, with eyes drug -clouded
swaying and clutching at the door PHI
lars to support himself upright. wa
the John Lancaster Of yesterday. An,
even Joan, with aS her love and hate
could not have told the one man from
the other
But with n cry she ran to Iancas
ter and caught at him, and felt hi
] arms about her.
It seemed to Joan. long afterwara
like some dreadful picture: the sway
ing man upon the threshold, to whom
she clung and his double within; ant
then the rasping voice OF Myers brok'
the long silence.
well, WE'LL" said the secretary
rubbing his hands together, "here's
pretty kettle Of fish. 1t win all hav'