The midland journal., 1917-07-27
Cse1iHh. RI HSr1sr y Brssksrs

changing grimness.
SIS your car outside, John?" he
asked.
| Merkle shook his head. He was
thinking swiftly. "I wouldn't dare risk
that, anyhow. The driver is a new
man."
"Get a cab" Jim offered, in a panic.
"The cab driver would be sure to-"
'I'll drive" Bob volunteered. "I'm
drunk, but I've done it before when
was drunken. It's an old trick of
| mine-sort Of joke, see? Give me
some money-a cabby'll do anything
for money at this time o. night"
Merkle eyed the speaker in momen-
tary doubt, then handed him roll of
| bank-notes. "It's a 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.
Lilas was busted at her dressing. At
his entrance she uttered a frightened
cry and silver spoon slipped from her
nerveless fingers. Merkle saw little
open box, a glass Of water, the cap of
a pearl-and-gold 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
pallid, cringing wreck Of a woman.
She shrank back at sight of him, bab-
bling unintelligible words and cover
ing as If expecting blow.
did you shoot him?" he asked,
grimly.
Shivering, choking, speechless, Lilas
stared at him. A repetition of his ques
tion brought no reply.
Selling her roughly, he shook her,
muttering savagely:
eff were sure, by God, I'd strangle
your
She remained limp; her expression
less stare did not change.
Merkle heard stir behind him and
| 1OuAu UldACuCu ldCc
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
jerk Of his head. This girl must get
away from here. She'll ruin everything
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 If 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 il to her brothers assistance,
then scanned his friends face anx-
iously. But Harmon 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.
ton of hiring four wheeler and driv-
ing convivial party of friends from
place to place. The success Of his ex-
ploit had been SO gratifying that he
had repeated the performance, but he
was in a far different mood now as
he left the Elegancia. The shock of
Lorelei's announcement, the sight of
his stricken friend, had sobered him
considerably, yet he was not himself
by any means. At one moment he saw
and reasoned clearly, at the next his
intoxication benumbed his senses and
distorted his mental vision. For once
in his life he wished himself sober.
Broadway, that pulsating artery of
New York life, was still flowing thin
stream of traffic despite the lateness
come clearer by the time he reached 1t.
Several taxicabs whirled past, both
north and south bound, but he knew
better than to hire them, so he waited
as patiently as he could while those
pillows of intoxication continued to ebb
and flow through his brain, robbing
him of that careful judgment which
he fought to retain.
At last the lop-clop-clop of horses
hoofs sounded close by, and an un-
shaven man in an ancient high hat
steered a four-wheeler to the curb,
barking, "Keb, keb!'
Bob lurched forward and laid hand
upon the drivers knee. Every man
I'm lookin' for" The hiccup that fol-
lowed was by no means intentional.
eyes, sir. Where to, sir?'
But Bob shook his head vigorously