Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-10

cried plteously;
You're not going to leave u.s."
Il must. It's nearly theater-time, 4"
she told him. Its one of the penal
ties of this business that nothing must
hold the curtain but I'll be back the
minute the show is over
'LoreIei needs you.'
Adoree nodded; her eyes met Bob's
sqlarely, and he saw that they were
wet. Her face was tender and she
appeared very simple and womanly at
this moment Her absurd theatrical
isn was gone; she was a natural unaf-
fected young woman.
81 wish could do something to
help" YEARLY continued Bob, but
Adoree shook her head so violently that
the barbaric hcaGed festoon beneath
her chin clicked and ratified.
"She knows you're close by; that's
enough. tbs is poor time to preach.
butt seems to me if you've got bit
of real manhood in you, Bob, you'll
never drink again. The shock Of see
ing you like thls--when she needed
you-didn't help her any"
II know. know" The words were
.willng from him like n groan. But
the thing is gger and stronger than
! am. 1t takes both of us together to
iight il. II she should--leave me. I'll
never pull through and-l wouldn't
want to-
Never until she left Loreei's house
and turned toward the white lights Of
Broadway did Adorec Demorcst fully
realize WHITTIER her theatrical career
had carried her. Adoree knew herself
to be pure But the world considered
her evil and evil in its eyes she would
remain At this moment she would
gladly have changed places with that
other girl whose life hung in the scales.
John NIerkle had never lost interest
IN Lorclei nor forgotten her refusal
g. his well-maant offer of assistance
1t pleased him to read into her char
acter beauties and nobilities OF which
she was utterly unconscious if not ac-
tually devoid. soon after his talk With
Bob he telephoned Hannibal Wharton.
making known the situation in the
most disagreeable and biting manner
Of which he was capable. Strange to
say, Wharton heard him through, then
thanked him before ringing off.
When Hannibal had repeated the
nos to his wife. she moved slowly to
-, Niadow and stood there staring down
into the glttering chasm of Fifth ave
nue.. Bob's mother was a frail erect,
impressive woman. Wearicd ana sad
denod with the weight of her husbands
millions. There had been time when
society knew her. but Of late years
she saw few people. and her name was
seldom mentioned except in connection
with her benefactions Hannibal Whar-
ton was serenely conscious of her com
plete accord with his every action. and
in reporting Merkle's conversation he
spoke musingly, as a man speaks to
himself.
John loves to be caustic, he likes
to vocalize his dyspepsia" the old man
muttercd. Mrs. Wharton did not stir,
there was something uncompromising
In the rigid lines of her back and in
her stltlly poised head people of her
kind always have Children" he con
tinued, land that's what | told Bob |
told him he was laying up trouble for
himself"
Bob had more to him than we
thought" irrelevantly murmured the
mother.
More than we thought?" Hanni-
bal shook his head. Not more than
thought knew he had 1t in him:
YOU were the one"
"No. no, We both doubted. Perhaps
this girl read him.
"Surc she read him." snorted the
father "She read his bank book. But
I fooled her."
40 you remember when Bob was
born? The doctors thought"
"Of course remember" her hus.
band broke I'M CHOSE doctors said
you'd never come through it,
Eyes; wasn't strong"
"But you did. | was with you.
fought for you. wouldn't let you die.
Remember it," The speaker molstened
his lips. "Why, never forgot"
Bob IS experiencing something like
that tonight"
Hannibal started. then. be fnmhIed