The state herald., 1917-06-15

Gloria felt bewitched. She ran to
seek Doctor Royce. David ran after
her, asking: "Whats 1t all about
What's the little surprise you had for
me? 1t seems to have caught you first"
Don't bother me-" was all Gloria
would say.
David seemed so amused by ner dis.
may that she began to suspect him of
kidnapping his confederate. But she
dared not accuse him lest, II he were
innocent, she would reveal to him
more Of Lois guilt than she felt 1t her
right to divulge.
She stood of David and hurried on
to find Doctor Royce. She met Judge
Freeman on the lava, and told him
what had happened. He expressed
surprise, but when she had LEFT him
she began to feel dissatisfied with the
sincerity Of his amazement. But she
could not pause to investigate further.
When at last she found Royce, she
forgot that he was in her black book
still. 1t had been her habit for SO
many yenrs to run to him with her
problems that she ran to him now,
and, laying her hands on his arm,
cried:
''Oh. Stephen, Stephen, they've stoi-
en- Trask! I've lost him again and I
don't know what to do"
"Stolen Trnsk!" Royce exclaimed.
'It's impossible"
"Of course, It's impossible" said
Gloria, "but it's true. too"
Royce set out to pick up what trace
there might be Of him. Gloria tagged
along. Royce asked every servant he
met where he had been. Several OF
them had been on the lawn serving tea.
Judge Freeman had sent others on vari-
GUS errands. The cook and her crew
had been busy providing for Aunt Hor-
tensia's mob. Royce called for his
own chauffeur. He had been In the
kitchen, he confessed. as q guest ut a
tea party below stairs.
Judge Freeman was not to be found.
Az a matter Of fact he was the prin-
cipal offender. After he left Gloria
he had wandered about In a deep and
gloomy meditation. He was convinced
that Gloria, with her impulsive and
unmanngeable temper. was set upon
unraveling every knot In the tangle.
He was sure that her inexperience
with the world would keep her from
foreseeing the consequences and that
she would compel a complete rcvela-
tion. It's would end only In public
scandal. IN enormous and irretrievable
disaster.
David world be put on trial for his
life md Trask would turn states evil
dence against him to save his own
life. David would perhaps be SEN
fenced to death, or, II he escaped that.
he would escape 1t in some pretense
Of insanity. with all the aftermath
Of endless serial scandals. In any
casc. Lois would be dIsgraced before
the world, and II Dnvid's wealth could
bribe an acquittal. It would purchase
a divorce.
Another consequence would be that
the judge himself would be impeached
or forced to resignation under fire.
with his erinlne dishonored. 1t is only
fair to say that the judges fears for
his own suffering had less weight with
him than his fears for the wreck OF
his daughters iifc and Of David's. He
loved David ms II he were his own
son. He had n deep affection for
Picrpont, and he cherished great
fondncss for Gloria. Hc respected
even the motives that were no pcriious
to herself as well ms NIL the others.
uc wandered disconsolntely about
tho loneilcr portions OF the Stafford
dcmesne and found himself ut the
outer gate. There he chnnccd to SEQ
tho bargcmnn. Jed. come up the road.
Jed asked II he knew where the Stnf.
ford place wns. Judge Freeman told
him TINT II wns before him. jed asked
II badly hurt man hnd been taken In
there with his daughter. Tho judge
nodded and asked whnt he Knew Of
the pair.
Jed said hc didn't know much cx-
ccpt that tho old mans daughter was
his girl and going TO marry him some
dny md hc wns afraid she wns In
trouble. SO hc Ind left the barge to
hurry bnck md SEQ II he could bc Of
some use.
Tho judge questioned him cautiously
and finally proposed TINT the best thing
TO do would bc TO get the old man out
Of tho hands Of the Stafrords, who
meant him no good. jed seized on the
suggestion hunrriiy and tho judge Of
fcrcd his corporation. Hc led jed by
| n little frcducntcd path 10 tho renr of