Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-08-29
CHAPTER xI.

Croft
vi hope i haven't broken any rules
~ dropping ID during your ONCE
haarz nc began
theatrical rules are made TO be
broken. but do think that you are IN
discreet Don't your
The banker had been using his eyes
with aa interest that betrayed his I'M
familiarity with these surroundings.
Il was ON my way uptown and pre-
farred not to telephone" He looked
u4aninElv BIZ Croft; and T.orelei inter
n-ating his glance. sent the dresser
f~eu the room on some Grand We'll,
rba game worked" said Merkle. Mrs.
Harmon has left home and com
-erced suit FOR divorce If our friend
Hiss Lynn bad set out 10 ruin Jarvis
s8clalIy-aud perhaps fnanclaIly-sh
couldn't have played her cards better"
#Is that what you came to tell meT'
sfarkla besftated- No he admit
fed. -It isn't: but I'm a bit embar-
raasaa now that I'm here I suppose
ron- mother told bout seeing mef'
"3Tv motberf" L0relei's amazement
was convincing, aud MS keen eyes
zaftened. when did you see mother7
Wbaref"
Yesterday. at my Office. Didn't you
know that she and your brother had
caHedE"
LoreIei shook her head: she felt sick
with dread Of his next words
tTt was very unpleasant. T fear, for
au of us"
what did tbey-want1' The girl
ozaz still smiling but her lips beneath
the paint were dry.
They felt that / -er-inv0lved
Eou in q great deal Of notoriety. From
what they said I judged that you
shared their feelings" He paused awk-
worldly once more. and she motioned
him to continue we didn't get on
very well. especially your brother and
for he presumed to-criticize my re-
1aHors with you snd-er-my motive
IN taking you to ride the other night
I believe was quite rude TO him; in
fact. I had the watchman eject him,
not daring to trust myself
They asked for-moneyE' Lorelei
avartad her face for she could not
bear 70 meet his frank eyes.
..Tes-whar J considered q great deal
Ell money. I understood they repre-
santed you They didn't insist. how
ever. they offered me a choice"
Choice. OF wbat?"
Welt inferred that marriage
would undo the wrong I had"
rob-hr~ Torelei rose with gasp
Brave.y she stilIed the tremor Of her
Fps Tell me-the rest
"Ehere isn't much more. Your moth
a- was quite hysterica1 andLnoisy To
dav 4 lawyer came 10 see me. He
offers do settle the whole matter. but
4 prefer dealing directly with you
Ua You think knew anything
about tr7" she cried Indignantly.
80. I do not think SO now. Yester-
dsv = was too much surprised and too
angry TO know Just what I did think
Its perfectly true. however that / was
to blame for the unfortunate outcome
Of The ride. and want to make
amends for any injury"
Weren't you injured too, By the
pahhclty2"
NarkGa showed his teeth in a mirth-
less smile
That's neither here nor there"
"PIease-leave me. and-Iet me
think this over / must do something
quickly. or-IIl smother"
.Im glad I came, said he, rising.
-Im glad / made sure,
$50 am T. What you have told me
has made q great difference in--every-
thing Don't allow them to-" she
hszitated ana her voice broke. II
can't say It, You must think I'm
unspeaka Bile"
He shook his head gravely NO, /
merely think you are very unfortu-
nate / think you need help more than
any girl ever knew.
z do I do"
"Bur I am not the one to give it
ar least not the kind Of help you need
"TH need help more than ever-after
tonight"
Tes7 Why2'
Because I'm going TO leave home"
LoreleTs head was up and she spoke
with a note Of defiance
Then perhaps can do something
He seated himself again. You will
need money"
oh, no. have my salary and the
other revenues you know about ]
have Kept my family for two years.
Work won't hurt you. but why
force yourself TO 60 On with those
other things? They're not to your
liking, I'm sure
MY mother and father must i've,
There isn't enough don't you seer
There Just Isn't enough for all OF us
unless l. graft ike The other girls
Merkle broke out impatiently Make
en- end OF it, I'll finance you she
iaughed a little harshly Don't think
for an instant that I'd venture to ex-
pect anything in return. won't
trouble you. I won't even see you
Nobody viii ever know. wonidn I
miss the money. and I'd really love TO
DO il You tried TO do me favor
There's no use arguing
Well. don't be stubborn or hasty-
You could use-say. ten thousand dol
lars. It would keep ron going very