The Arvada enterprise., 1917-03-01
6heKNCIION BLOCK
Aufhor of
" Tile Iron Trail"
Tile Spoilers"
Tile Sj/ver Horde" Etc.
CsS,,YAs, b Hl1sr y Srsfis7

perb, something terrible about his un-
changing grlmness.
as your car outside, John?" he
asked.
| Merkle shook his head. He was
thinking swiftly. 81 wouldn't dare risk
that anyhow. The driver Is new
man."
Get a cab" jim offered, in n panic
"The cab driver would be sure to-
'I'll drive" Bob volunteered. "1'm
drunk, but I've done it before when
was drunker. It's an old trick Of
mine-sort of Joke. see? Give me
some money! cabby'll do anything
for money at this time O. night"
Merkle eyed the speaker In momcn-
tary doubt, then handed him a roll Of
bank-nOtes. ITS n serious business.
Bob, but jarvis can't stay here. There's
somebody else to consider besides us
and-Miss Lynn. I'm thinking about
Mrs. Harmon and the girls" He fol-
lowed Bob to the door and let him out,
stepped swiftly down the hall, then,
without knocking, opened the door to
Lilas Lynn's bedroom and entered.
Lllas was busted at her dressing At
his entrance she uttered frightened
cry and silver spoon slipped from her
nerveless fingers. Merkle saw 4 little
open box, a glass Of water. the cap Of
a pearl-andgold fountain pen, but took
scant notice OF them. being too deeply
stirred and too much surprised at her
appearance. She was no longer the Vi
tai. dashing girl he had known. but a
pallid, cringing wreck OF a woman.
She shrank back at sight Of him, bab-
bling uninteligible words and cover
ing as il expecting a blow.
did you shoot him. he asked,
grimly.
Shiverng. choking. speechless, Lllas
stared at him. A repetition Of his Ques-
tion brought no reply.
Selling her roughly, he shook her,
muttering savagely:
"If were sure, by God, I'd strangle
you"
She remained limp; her expression
less stare did not change
Merkle heard a stir behind him and
found Jimmy knights blanched face
peering In at him. Even fright could
not entirely rob the younger mans fea.
lures Of their sly inQuisitiveness.
Mr.. Hammon's calling you," said
Jim, then blinked at the wretchedly
disheveled woman.
Here" Merkle beckoned him with
n jerk Of his head. This girl must get
away from here. She'll ruin every thing
In her condition. Try to put her in some
kind Of shape while Lorelei packs her
bag. We had better get her out of the
country II we can"
Jim's quick eyes took in the articles
on the dressing table. "Ha! Dope"
he exclaimed. "She's a coker-she's
filled herself up. But, say-you don't
really think she-did it. do you?"
II don't know what to think It's
just as bad, either way. Hammon's
wife and daughters must never know
Now, quick. See what you can do with
her"
: Merkle returned to the library, sent
: Lorelei in to her brothers assistance
then scanned his friends face anx-
iously. But Hammon had not moved !:
the sweat still stood upon his lips and
forehead, his jaws were still set like
stone.
Several months before. Bob Whar.
ton. during one OF his hilarious mo-
ments. had conceived the brilliant no
tion OF hiring our.wheeier and driy-
Ing conyivlal party of friends from
place to place. The success OF his ex.
; plot had been so gratifying that he
had repeated the performance. but he
was In far different mood now as
: he left the Elegancia. The shock OF
. Loreeis announcement. the sight OF
his stricken friend, had sobcrel him
considerably, yet he was not himself
by any means. At one moment he saw
and reasoned clearly, at the next his
: lntoNicaton benumbcd his senses and
l distorted his mental vision. For once
In his life he wished himself sober.
Broadway, that pulsating artery OF
New York llfc, was still flowing n thin
= stream OF traffic despite the latencss
|
come clearer by the time he reached II.
! Several taSicabs whlred past. both
4 north and south bound. but he knew
y better than TO hire them. so he waited
Q ms patiently as he could while those
a pillows OF lntoxication continued TO ebb
and how through his brain. robbinc
:. him OF that careful Judgment which
I he fought 10 retain.
n At last the clop.clop.clop OF n horses
I hoofs sounded close by, and an un.
y shaven man in Hn ancient high hat
- stecrcd four.wheclcr TO the curb.
{ barking. "kcb. kcb."
Il Bob lurchcd forward and laid hand
;, upon the drivers knee. "ycry man
u I'm lookln' for" The hIccup that fol.
J. lowed was by no means intentional.
Q Yes, sir. Where 10. slrf"
r. But Bob shook y head vigorously
g ana waved comprehensive gesture
& toward the west Got n party OF nv
own back yonder-cvcrybody sou.cd
fnA