The state herald., 1917-03-09
Novelized From the Motion Picture Play
of the Same Name by George Kleine
Copyright ls6 BY Adelaide NJ. Hughes

| most choked him. When another
man took Gloria away from Freneau
for the last half Of the dance, and
Freneau' reluctantly walked away,
Royce asked for a word with him.
moving toward the library, where they
could be alone. Freneau followed
with uneasy bravado. Once safe from
observation, Doctor Royce let his rage
break forth.
you contemplate fortune hunter!
Five years ago warned you to keep
away from Gloria. You lied to her
then and your life is still one long
lie."
Freneau's face blanched with fury.
and he raised his arm to strike Royce,
but before the calm contempt In his
eyes he changed his mind. He de-
cided to forego the blow for the pres
ent, and laughed as bravely as he
could. Royce pursued him with an
alarming threat.
What II / tell her of your af1air
with a certain married woman?"
Freneau gave surprised start, at
tempted to speak, changed his mind
again. He was guilty of too much
to risk q challenge. Struggling his
shoulders, he moved sullenly on and
out of the room.
Royce smiled to himself. TT was
q bluff, but It worked" He had
caught . glimpse of Lois jealousy and
a faint suspicion had risen in his
mind. Now he wondered II 1t were
confirmed.
Royce walked after Freneau and
had the satisfaction Of seeing him de-
part after bidding good.by to Gloria.
Royce thought he had won a sig.
nal victory. He would have taken lit
tlo pleasure in 1t had he known that
Freneau. left so obediently because
Gloria had already granted him 0
whole afternoon to be spent in her
company alone on the following day.
Freneau felt so certain Of his ability
to win o promise Of marriage from
her with this opportunity that he
could afford the seeming compliance
with tho order Of Doctor Royce.
As he descended the outer steps Of
the Stafford home . footman sig
nailed his car to put into the drive
way. A tramp who had been loitsr-
ing on the street watching the gor-
geous crowd Of guests. caught sight
Ut Freneau and seemed to 90 mad
with rage. He rushed forward, shout.
Ing accusations. Freneau struck out
viciously with his walking stick. The
tramp fell to the ground. while Fro.
neau. leaping Into his limousine. mo-
toned his chauffeur to mako haste.
He leaned out Of his car A. II turned
and smiled to SEQ the tramp pick him.
self up awkwardly and run after him,
rushing wildly through the trafhc Of
Riverside drive.
Al Freneau's car turned into . side
street tho tramp. still in pursuit. was
caught by an oncoming automobile
and knocked sideways. One of the
rear wheels passed over his legs. The
car was stopped instantly and the
occupants picked him up to hurry him
70 . hospital.
Frcneau sat back In Q daxe at the
quick tragedy. He could not tell how
badly the man was hurt nor how
much he could depend on his own re-
lease from danger In that quarter. II
ruined him considerably to encoun-
ter another relic Of his adventurous
past, Just - he was about to win Q
beautiful young wife for himself; .
relic who had . Just grievance and
might we'll ruin him by exposure. To
get out OF his ENHANCEMENT with Lois
was delicate matter enough for him
10 handle without this now ghost.
Truly, Freneau brooded, . brave,
pleasure-lovinE FREQ lance like himself
should have . wider hcld to move
about In. Tho smallncss Of this world
was cramping bis stylel
Arriving ct his own apartment he
threw his overcoat 10 his valet and
marched gloomily into tho living room.
slamming tho door behind him. II
only Trask should die! But no could
not count on such luck. Trask would
probably escape with . few bruises
and an added grudGc. and be out
again In . few days to pick up tho
trail.
A vision came to Frcncau's mind OF
Nell Trask, ~ he had last seen her.
when hc left her beside q stream near
. mining camp In tho South.
Poor fool! she had pleaded 30 un
reasonably that ho should marry her
and save her. Whom he refused she
had thrown herself down on tho bank
In wild abandonment to hor Eriof. Al
he mounted his horse no saw the
girls father pick her up and hold hcI
IN his arms while apparently sho sob
bed forth her confession. A look oi
such savage fcrocity came over Trask'i
faco that Frcncau dug spurs into hi
horse. On reaching tho town hc had
boarded train st onco. leaving hi
few belongings bohiQd him. For thai
look on Trasks f16c surely mean