The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-07-21

himself Unexpectedly at nome, tNr door !
10 his sitting room shutting out the ,
Weakening world
He shiverrd again, hethou-ht him Of
a certain decauter whose contents
ought 10 provide temporary relief for
tangled nerves, and in search for il
came abruptly upon a framed photo
graph which decorated his study table.
The face that was pictured therein
was the face Of Patria, smiling. ex-
qusite. provOkingly coquettiSh.
\ phase Of mock sobriety possessed
the mind Of Rodney Wreun as h.
picked up the photograph and stood
staring hungrily at it.
He recalled q day 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 if tacit.
They had been lght-hearted lovers
on that day, and on many day that !
| had gone before.
Then. in a twinkling, Donald Parr
! had stepped between them.
! In the opinion OF Rodney his suisse
quent sufferings had aged him swiftly
10 full manhood. But he was herein
| self-deluded: he remained a boy. OF
mans stature but Of youthful mental
ity. As he was presently 10 prove.
His look grew still more moroSe as
H. -,,.;,,,-oJ Tho avantS which had fol-
lowed the coming of Captain Parr.
There had been u 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 exCuSably bruited their
. engagement. And that was something
which Rodney. for all his resentment.
had been able TO understand. The boy
iSh hpro-worship which he had always
accorded Donald Parr still maintained
: it's sway upon his thoughts. 1t was
quite conceivable that the girl should
= becOme-perhaps only temporarily-ln-
fatuated with such man.
But all the time she was changing.
her very nature was changing incom-
prphenSibly. Hardly had society set
tied itself to accept Captain Parr rs
the fortunate sutton when, following
one of Patria'S business trips To New
= York. all that was off. Donald was in
a deep disfavor and Baron Huroki. that
sly, suave japanese, and his constant
associate. Senior Juan de Lima, the
lanky. crude Mexican millionaire, Were
constantly ar PatriaS elbows, with
q Fanny Adair forming a triumvirate OF
. her intimateS.
:, Cnincident had been the baniShment
d. of Rodney and his mother. who since
- Patria's childhood had stood in locc
"a PARENTS to the girl, managing her sew
a eral households in town and county
"a supervising her education. chaperOnin.
n her social life.
- And now. but a few weeks later
o. weeks unmarked by any token of con
triton from Patria or even of remem
10 brance Of their exiStence-the paper
IA were publishing formal announcement
Il. of her betrOthal To Juan de Lima.
II was all Incredible TO Rodney
I Such heartlessneSs. such INCONSISTENCY
| passed comprehension.
Rage clOuded his wits and senses.
Jade" he muttered sullenly.
| Needless of risk TO his hands, h
| shattered the glass in the frame wit
| blow of his fist. ripped out the phOtc
ii graph. and tore il across and again.
Sl Then. as the fragments fell to ii
q floor. he sank into chair, dropped h
81 head on a forearm on the table, an
sobbed gustily.
II Almost Immediately he fell aSlee
al At precisely the same time DOnaI
hi was carrying the semi-COnsciOus q
III into the sitting room of his own lOd
ings. his assistant Ryley lowering
attendance. ready TO lend assistance
needed-or permitted.
The door was opened by half-fra
tic woman Of middle age-Patria
y mafd-who took the girl 10 her mate
Al nal bosom as soon as Parr relinquish'
4l her.
Ri "Oh. my dearie," she cried. "Whe
III have you came from in such a state
"Out of the jaws of Death. out
Il the mouth of hell" Parr answered I
III Patria. IF you had Obeyed order
Il Anne. and stayed awake till she W
III asleep. this would never have IN
xl pened. She followed me ~ {
Il Bayonne docks last night: there W
= a fire-cauSed by those accurSed ia
and we were caught in il. How '
escaped-aSk Ryley. I don't kno
But don't stand there. st;
So. ing. Get Miss Claiming TO bed INN
rly diately-get her out Of those
Tor clothes and wrap her up warm
Don't talk, Do as hid you
lie. The girl had revived sufficiently
nd walk. As. supported by the maid.
ci- disappeared in the direction of the b'
chamber. Parr turned tn RyIey-
ere ITS six" he announced. taking
re- his watch. Don't sleep till you
ou- hold of a magistrate and swear
tie. warrants for the arrest Of Huroki u
,ri- De Lima on charges of criminal q
nat spiracy. and causing the Bayonne
arr blossoms. Bring the warrants here
me at one o'clock. I'll execute tn