Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-06-09

concerned Melcher judicially amend
ed
"Sure. She's sore on me, and the
whole family"
"Then this IL Just the time to marry
her off. New York Ia mighty lone
some place for girl like her. Suppose
take hand"
"All right a-t - '-
"Will you declare me in?"
Certainly"
Melcher eyed his associate coldly.
There's no certainly about 1t. You'd
throw your own mother if you got
chance. But you can't throw me, I'M
derstand? You try cross and-the
cod-meat wagon for yours. I'll have
you stabbed at the morgue."
Jimmy's reply left no doubt of the
genuineness Of his fears, if not OF his
intentions. Strange stories were told
In the Tenderloin--talcs Of treachery
punished and ingrattude revenged.
Jimmy knew several young men who
appeared out of the East side. at Mel
cher's signal. They were inconspicu-
Gus fellows, who bore fanciful dime
novel names-and no rurtlers strong
hold of the old-time western cattle
country ever bonsted more formidable
outlaws than they. Jim knew these
gunner well; he had no wish to know
/ them worse.
IL can't promise anything definite
/ when she's sore on me- he declared.
Hes about ready to ask her-sle's
the one to fix. She hates men, though,
and that Merkle story made her crazy"
Melcher pondcred for several mo-
ments. Il think | know Lorelei better
than you DO" he stated. deliberately,
land believe we can pull this off, pro-
vided Wharton really wants to marry
her. Anyhow, he's so rich it's worth
the odds. and she's just the sort to
fall for 1t. Meanwhile want it UNI
derstood with. your mother that |
share in what comes her way"
"I'll fix that promised jim.
He found it, in fact, no very difficult
task to regain at least 4 part Of his
sisters lost esteem, though the process
took time. He went about it with the
lazy, catlke patience of his kind be-
haved himself, kept his mouth shut,
and assumed just enough of an injured
air to be plausible. He enlisted the
aid of his mother and of Lilas Lynn.
and meanwhile made himself as agree
able as possible to Robert Wharton.
Melcher was as good as his word,
and there shortly appeared in the Dis
patch an unpleasant rehash Of the for
mer story. 1t was published in con-
nection with the Harmon divorce pro
ceedings, news Of which was exciting
comment, and it further smirched Lo-
relei's reputation. Jim was appropri-
ately indignant, but helpless. and Mrs
Knight unweariedly blamed everything
; upon her daughters desertio" of the
: family circle, predicting more evil ia
follow unless Lorelci cam home al
once. She also dwelt upon the fact
that Peter was steadily failing and
was in immediate need Of both medical
and surgical attention. The doctor had
pronounced sentence, prescribing a to
tai change of living and a Treatment
; by foreign specialists.
!, In some unaccountable way the story
Of Nobel Bergman's humiliation be
came public and afforded the sbasis fol
; newspaper article that brought hin
to Lorelei's dressing room in fln'
fury. Even after she had convinced
him Of her innocence his resentment
was so bitter that she expected her dis
!, missal at any time.
Other press stories followed; the cir
suddenly found herself. notorious
scarcely a day passed without SOM
, disagreeable mention of her. Adore
!, Demorest, as indignant as Loreei her
self, declared finally that her frlent
must be the object Of premeditate,
!, attack directed by some strong hand
and once this suspicion had entere,
Lorelei's mind it took root in spite o
: its seeming extravaganza. Her goo
a sense argued that she was Of too littl
consequence to warrant such an as
sault but her relatives seized the SUE
: gestion so avidly as to more than hal
convince her
Mrs. Knight attributed this injustic
!. first to Bergman then to Merkle, whoi
! she hated bitterly since her unfortt
! nate attempt at blackmail; Jim wa
!. inclined to agree with her. Mr.
y knight, as always, ended her symp;
thetic reassuranccs by saying IF yo
were only married, my DEAR thu
would end all our troubles"
The climax of these annoyance
: came one night after party at whlc
y Lorelei had been presented to an o.
! friendeof Miss Lynn's. Lllas had il
I troduccd the man as one Of her gir
/ hood chums, and Lorelei had tried. Z
q be nice to him. then in some way /
arranged to take her home. The men
Q DRY of that ride was horror. 81
knew now that she was hunted: Il
} man had told her SO. She felt like
. deer covering IN Il brake with Il
! !, hounds working close. This first .