Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-24

'hNAf HAsN AiNtiA AAit ltitE NlbAs VI ilhih-
mons party. Hell dislike you now"
The girl shrugged daintily. "He was
drunk and fresh. can't bear man
In such q condition."
you shouldn't antagonize a man
like him. my dear. He's single, at
least; and naturally he's impulsive, like
all those young milionaires."
Bob is an alcoholic. He's no good
so Mr.. Merkle said"
jim, who was immersed In the MORN
ing paper spoke from his chair near
the window
why don't you 60 after Merkle him
self, sis? Easy picking, these bank
ers.'
jim also had come home in the still
hours of the night before and was now
resting preparatory TO his daily battle
with the world. Just bow the struggle
went or where ii was waged the others
knew not at all.
His mother shook her head. "Those
old men are all alike. Mr.. Harmon
will never marry Lilas."
rs that 500" James abandoned his
reading. "rhe older they are, the
softer they get Take II from me. on
the word of a volunteer fireman. Lilas
will cash in on him quicker than you
think. / know"
How do you know?" inquired his
sister.
Maybe got the dogeared dope"
Knocked the brother. maybe Max Mel
cher told me. Anyhow, you could land
Merkle just as easy If you'd declare
Max in."
Nov. Jim." protested Mrs. Knight,
u won't let you put such ideas into
her head You and--that gang of
yours--are full Of tricks, but Lorelei's
decent, and she's going to stay decent.
You'd get everybody in Jail or in the
newspapers"
Has Maxey ever been in jail? Has
Tony the Barber? No, you bet they
haven't, and they never will be- This
jail talk is funny. Just wait and see
how easy Lilas gets hers. OF course,
If Lorelei could marry Wharton, that
would be different, but he's no sucker"
How is Lilas going to get hers?"
insisted Loreei.
Wait and see.' James returned to
his paper.
shell never marry him. She hates
him"
jim laughed, and his sister broke out
irritably;
why be so mysterious? Anybody
would think you'd robbed a bank"
Jim looked up again, and this time
with a scowl "Well, every time
come through with a suggestion ma
crabs It, What's the use of talking
to a pair Of haymakers like you, any
how? | could grab a lot of coin for us
if you'd let me. Why, Maxey has been
after me dozen times about you, but
l knew you wouldn't stand for IT,"
+ "Blackmail, eh?"
jim was highly disguised. whats
the difference how you pronounce It?
1t spells k-a-l-e, and it takes good
looking girl to pull off deal in this
town. All right--play for Bob Whar-
ton. I'd like to meet him, though; he
can do me lot of good"
"How|
well, he dropped eight-four hundred
in Hebling's Sixth avenue joint the
other night Maxey owns a place on
Forty sixth street where the sky is the
limt.'
His sister was staring at him curl
ously. She had voiced misgivings con
corning his activities Of late, but Jim
had never satisfied her inquiries Now
she asked, what is your share"
The young man laughed a little I'M
comfortably. "FUty per cent. That's
usual. If he's going TO gamble some
where | might as well be in on It."
Inc girls next words, however, left
no doubt as to her feelings.
You're fine specimen, aren't you?"
Her lip curled; mother and son started
Mt the bitterness Of the tone. ugh!
What a mess you've made of things.
Two years ago we were decent. and
now Lorclei's voice broke; her
eyes filmed over with tears. ard give
anything In the world II we were ali
back in Vale. 1t took only two years
Of the city to spoil u.s."
"Ha! Better try Vale again. You'd |
md in q straightiacket IL you did. You
think you could go back, but you
'ouldn't-nobody can after they've
1ad a taste Of the city,
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