The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-02-27
Novelized From the Motion Picture PIav
of the Same Name by George Kleine
Copyright by Adelaide M Hughes
= Adelaide N. Hughes

most choked him. When ano.,
man took Gloria away from Frensss
for the last half of the dance sas 81
Freneau reluctantly walked awsN wy
Royce asked for a word with Ivy
moving toward the library, where thss
could be alone. Freneau follow,
with uneasy bravado. Once safe f roS
observation, Doctor Royce let his rss.
break forth.
'You contemplate fortune hrnto,, 81
Five years ago l warned you to kao,
away from Gloria. You lied tn ~
then and your life is still one ,on, d
lie."
Freneau's face blanched with furv
and he raised his arm to strike Rovcs
but before the calm contemDt in hi
eyes he changed his mind. He d.
cided to forego the blow for the rrac.
ent, and laughed as braFely a8 10
could. Royce pursued him wish an
alarming threat.
what if I tell her OF your affair
wit, q certain married wona~e"
Freleau gave q surn1ised start. Il. 1
tempted to speak, changed las mind /
again. lie was guilty Of y-o much
% risk 9 challenge. Shrua AB
shoulders, lie moved suliar-v o.l and
cut Of the room.
Royce smiled TO himself III va
q bluff, but it worked He had
caught 2 glimpse Of Lois jealousy and
q faint suspicion had risen ia hB
mind. Now ne wondered if j. were
confirmed.
Royce walked after Freneau. and
had the satisfaction Of seeing lin de-
part after bidding good-by to Gloria.
Royce thought he had won a sig.
nal victory. He would have taken lit.
tie pleasure in it had he known that
Freneau left so obediently because
Gloria had already granted him a
whole afternoon to be spent in her
company alone on the following day.
Freneau felt SO certain Of his ability
to win a promise Of marriage from
her with this opportunity that he
could afford the seeming compliance
with the order Of Doctor Royce.
AS he descended the outer steps Of
the Stafford home q footman sig
nailed his car to put into the drive
way. A tramp who had been loiter
ing on the street watching the COR
geOuS crowd Of guests, caught sight
of Fsreneau and seemed to go mad
with rage. He rushed forward shout.
ing accusations. Freneau struck out
viciousiy with his walking stick The
neau, leaping into his limousine, mo-
toned his chauffeur to make haste
He leaned out of his car as it turned
and smiled to see the tramp pick him
self up awkwardly and run after him,
rushing wildly through the traffic Of
Riverside drive.
AS Freneau's car turned into a side
street the 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
to a hospital.
Froneau sat back in a daze 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
ruf1ed him considerably to encoun
ter another relic of his adventurous
past, just as he was about to win
beautiful young wife for himself;
relic who had just grievance ant
might we'll ruin him by exposure. I(
get out of his ENHANCEMENT with Lol'
was delicate matter enough for NH
to handle without this new ghost
Truly, Freneau brooded, brave
pleasure-loving free lance like himsel
should have wider field to move
about in. The smallness of this Worle
was cramping his style!
Arriving at his own apartment Of
threw his overcoat to his valet anu
marched gloomily into the living room
slamming the door behind him.
only Trask should die! But he coui
not count on such luck. Trask Woui'
probably escape with a few bruise
and an added grudge, and be on
again in few days to pick up 10
trail.
A vision came to Freneau's nina
Nell Trask, as he had last seen ne
when he left her beside stream nes
q mining camp in the South.
Poor fool! She had pleaded so u
reasonably that he should marry a.
and save her. When he refused 81
had thrown herself down on the Dal
in wild abandonment to her GRIEF.
he mounted his horse he saw I
girls father pick her up and hold q
in his arms while apparently she 50
bed forth her confession. A look
such savage ferocity came over Irash
face that Freneau dug spurs into .
horse. On reaching the town ne n'