Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-01-10
RUPERT HUGHES

rhSbeblS II way uNA " ~ iohf IiDPc-
sition does not appeal TO my business
sense. but | can do this. I'll pay YOU
double the reward with compound in
terest for Eve years. That will square
US up"
Freneau smiled with a renewal OF
hope, and Stafford wrote him an I'M
portant check.
Freneau thanked him. promised 10
return the money, and left the bou-
quet for Gloria. AS he made his way
out he met Royce Just coming down
from Gloria's room. Freneau hated
the sight OF Royce for many reasons.
We usually hate people w have
wrongea. lie managed 20 ask how
Gloria was. Royce said she was bet
ter. but not yet out OF danger. 4 Gu
rious look came over his face as he
added:
Look here. Freneau. 7 don't like
you q bit. but Gloria loves you 4 lot.
! don't see why. bur she does. Wom-
en- are peculiar. Now. I'D rather
break my own heart than hers. She
wants you for a husband. and il you'll
play fair and walk straight from now
on, TN DO nothing 10 interfere with
ycur plans. But II you play false with
her. II-weIl-there's nothing !
won't do TO save her from you
Freneau promised gllbly that he
would be an ideal lover and a model
~ Loyalty. Royce said: IL hope so.'
without much hope. and You'd bet
teri with rather too much emrha-
sis. Still. Treueau had the check in
tits pocket. and he went back a. his
office with the bacon Muiry made
him Fo welcome that he forgot his
new troubles in the radiance Of the
new business plans.
But his promise to Royce was put
~ the test ~ once. for that very aft
ernoon. when he reached his apart
ment. Lois appeared there. She vas
heavily vcilod. but Froneau's valet
seemed u know her. He backed out
discrectly. When Lois threw off the
shroui her face was terrible in It's
resolution.
You shan't marry Gloria, Dick" she
said. You shan't throw me over
not for her? You shant marry her
w aIl the people in the world
Freneau was tired Of Lois and tired
0f Interference. Tie forgot to be gen-
lie. re laughed.
"NO? And how arc you going TO
stop me?"
Lois cold. hard answer bowled him
over: Even Gloria can't be so crazy
about you that she would marry you
a ! we're found dead here"
Frencau stared a: her aghast. He
could not quite be sure Of her meaning
till he saw a little phial IN her hand.
FL leaped for II. But she lodged
round his desk and put it to her lips.
Don't you come near me or you'll
wish you hadn't" she cried. If YOU
take another step Ill swallow this
Freneau had TO temporize with the
mad woman. He surrendered weakly
and dropped into a chair.
Listen to me. Lois, he pleaded. Il
vent 10 her father 20 borrow money.
I've got to have his support or 20
bankrupt. IL | do that Ill blow my
brains out. or course, | don't love
Gloria. Ny heart Is yours. But ! can't
marry you. II | marry her she won't
interfere with your love and mine.
We shall be All the safer. If YOU
love me. you won't ruin me. II YOU
don't love me, give me the phial and
Ill get out Of your way
She was in so insane a mood Of
jealousy and longing. that she be-
lieved him. She made him swear that
he spoke the truth. as III az oath or
two meant anything TO him. Then she
suffered herself TO remain his dupe.
and he took her down to a taxicab.
feeling sure that he was well rid OF
her.
When she had gone he brcathed
more easily. lie even laughed. He
had everybody working for him. His
rival. Royce. was toiling to ave
GloTia's life. His ex.tlame, Lois. was
III league with him to keep up the de-
ception. Gioria's father was lending
him money. lie was plainly a child
OF destiny.
He was 50 treasured by mis- luck
that he made a holiday with Mulry,
who planned to start Oft 1t once
on a round OF the different cities
where they had branch Offices for the
convenience Of victims who lived far
from New York.
Ignorance may be bliss. but It Is not
preparedness. rreneaI was blissful
in the belief that Lois was quieted. lie
did not dream. nOr did she. that David
Stafford was awakening. When Ere
neau took Lois to the taxicab. she
lowered her veil. but a veil Is only
o partial disguise at best, and Ii may
attract attention. Neither Freneau nor
Lois noted that a certain Mrs. Coleridge
was passing. or that she stared hard.
Mrs. COleridEe was one OF the nrctti-
est faces in F%reReau's pack OF dis
cards. She was q sort OF female FIRE.
neau, but in Freneau she had met
her match, because she allowed her
self TO be more thrilled than thrilling