The midland journal., 1917-07-20

derstand? You try cross and--the
coId-meat wagon for yours. I'll have
you stabbed at the morgue.'
Jimmy's reply left no doubt Of the
genuineness of his fears, If not of his
intentions. Strange stories were told
in the Tenderloin-tales of treachery
punished and ingratitude revenged.
Jimmy knew several young men who
appeared out of the East side at Mel
cher's signal. They were inconspicu-
GUS fellows, who bore fanciful dime
novel names-and no rustler's strong
hold of the old-time western cattle
country ever boasted more formidable
outlaws than they. Jim knew these
pIInmen we'll; he had no wish to know
them worse.
81 can't promise anything definite
when she's sore on me-" he declared.
"He's about ready to ask her-she's
the one to fix. She hates men, though,
and that Merkle story made her crazy"
Melcher pondered for several mo-
ments. 81 think 1 know Lorelei better
than you do," he stated, deliberately,
land believe we can pull this off, pro-
vided Wharton really wants to marry
her. Anyhow, he's so rich it's worth
the odds, and she's just the sort to
fall for it. Meanwhile l want it un-
derstood with your mother that I
share in what comes her way"
''I'll fix that" promised Jim.
He found it, in fact, no very difficult
task to regain at least a part of his
sisters lost esteem, though the process
took time. He went about it with the
lazy, catlike patience of his kind, be-
haved himself, kept his mouth shut,
and assumed just enough Of an injured
air to be plausible. He enlisted the
aid of his mother and Of Lilas Lynn,
and meanwhile made himself as agree
able as possible to Robert Wharton.
Melcher was as good as his word,
and there shortly appeared in the Dis
patch an unpleasant rehash of the for
mer story. 1t was published in con-
nection with the Harmon divorce pro-
ceedings, news of which was exciting
comment, and it further smirched LO-
relei's reputation. Jim was appropri-
ately indignant, but helpless, and Mrs
Knight unweariedly blamed everything
upon her daughters desertion of the
family circle, predicting more evil to
follow unless Lorelei came home at
once She also dwelt upon the fact
that Peter was steadily failing and
was in immediate need of both medical
and surgical attention. The doctor had
pronounced sentence, prescribing a to-
tai change Of living and treatment
by foreign specialists.
In some unaccountable way the story
Of Nobel Bergman's humiliation be-
came public and afforded the basis for
newspaper article that brought him
to Lorelei's dressing room in a fine
fury. Even after she had convinced
him of her innocence his resentment
was so bitter that she expected her dis
missal at any time.
Other press stories followed; the girl
suddenly found herself notorious;
scarcely a day passed without some
disagreeable mention of her. Adoree
Demorest, as indignant as Lorelei her
self, declared finally that her friend
must be the object of a premeditated
attack directed by some strong hand,
and once this suspicion had entered
Lorelei's mind it took root in spite Of
its seeming extravaganza. Her good
sense argued that she was Of too little
consequence to warrant such an as
sault, but her relatives seized the sug-
gestion so avidly as to more than half
convince her.
Mrs. Knight attributed this injustice
first to Bergman, then to Merkle, whom
she hated bitterly since her unfortu-
nate attempt at blackmail; Jim was
inclined to agree with her. Mrs.
Knight, as always, ended her sympa-
thetic reassurances by saying, ''If you
were only married, my dear, that
would end all our troubles"
The climax of these annoyances
came one night after party at which
Lorelei had been presented to an old
friend of Miss Lynn's. Lilas had in
troduced the man as one Of her girl
hood chums, and Lorelei had tried to
be nice to him; then in some way he
arranged to take her home. The men,
ory of that ride was a horror. She
knew now that she was hunted; the
man had told her so. She felt like a
deer covering in a brake with the
hounds working close. This first at
tack left her trembling and wary. Her
cover seemed pitifully insecure.
Thus far Max Melcher's campaign
had worked even better than he had
expected; and meanwhile he had en-
ployed Jim in assiduously cultivating
Bob Wharton and arranging as many
meetings as possible between Bob and
Lorelei. A short experience had taught
Jim to avoid his victim in daylight, for
in Bob's sober hours the two did not
agree; but once mellowed by intoxica-
ton, Wharton became imbued with a
carnival spirit and welcomed Jim as
freely as he welcomed everyone. In