Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-23
The Red Mouse
A Story Of Love, Jealousy and Politics
By WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE

stay where you are!" Chslloner COM
as the girl made a movement TO 20
IT it's somebody else" he added quickly |
still looking at her.. but with q changed
eye, I'VE don't care about them; they can |
go away"
Again the buzzer sounded
Has she key?" he whispered
Yes she answered matching his tore. |
HAS her persisted Challoner
The girl held UP her hand for reply: the
oingling OF keys in the outer hall, followed
by the clnk OF metal in the lock. had
reached their ears then came the closing |
or the door. the click of high heels. the
swish of skirts the odor of violets. and then |
Lefty Love. In all her pink and white love-
Illness, tall. supreme, her face flushed, her
lips parted. her eyes sparkling. stood framed
In the doorway. At the sight of the man
ana the girl sitting there like two culprits;
she burst into laughter long peal Of
laughter that was her stock in trade, and |
which ran the gamut of her deep contralto
voice. And still neither the man nor the |
girl spoke, but continued to look Ill at ease.
10 Miss Love the situation was amusing
too amusing for words
lnconstant Naughty Lawrence e" she |
exclaimed, leaving his name stranded in the |
ara coquettish way she had in speaking |
rand pointing her tiny gloved finger at him. |
Perhaps interrupt" And now turning to
the girl, Patricia, didn't know you could
be so interesting. ."
The maid gasped with relief as she left
the room In obedience to a dmissing wave
OF her mistresss hand.
Well. why don't the rest Of you come
mr. Challoner growled, fastening his eyes
on the woman
Lefty Love opened her blue eyes wide
eyes that could look the innocence Of a child
or the wisdom of the ages-and feigned not
to understand. And then as IL his meaning
had dawned upon her, she said with a good
| natured smile
| "Oh-why I'm alone! e"
IT'S good thing you are" he told her
| pointedly
and she asked coldly:
For whom?' And for moment she de-
| layed pulling of her wraps.
For the other man"
| silly boy How ridiculous you are! J"
she returned lightly. as she tossed her
| wraps over n chair and began to pull of her
gloves.
Challoner went over to the photograph.
picked 1t up and wheeling round said
| threateningly:
Did you put him in that frame?"
II diu," she answered sweetly I'm very
domestic, you know" and she smiled one of
her most bewildering smiles; II always ar
| range these little things myself"
And what did you do with mine?'
Lefty looked dubious She touched a
| button, ana 10 tne mald VINO entered asked
with mock anxiety:
Patricia, what did you do with the
half-tone of this gentleman that gave
you?"
The maid regarded first one and then the
other somewhat curiously.
ITS in my room, madam"
| with the other notables?" And Lefty
Love lifted her eyebrows. Patricia's room
Is quite a picture gallery, she went on
gayly you may investigate IT, II you
like--no?" And dismissing the maid. went
over TO the plano and began to strum the
refrain of a popular song.
Challoner's lips emitted:
"You--" They closed on a gasp of
rage disappointment. despair and impotent
admiration. Had he dared. he would have
gone on his knees 20 her then and there.
taken her in his arms and kissed her; but
the woman's indifference appalled, him, and
instead he gritted his teeth, dug his nails
| into the palms of his hand
Then. for the first time, It dawned on
him that she had worn for Hargraves the
gown that he, Challoner, had selected for
| her--a gown white, Immaculate, simple.
which followed religiously the lines OF the
superb figure, that left nothing to be de-
sired of Lefty Love, full-throated, full
bosomed with her jet-black hair that gave
no sign of fastening, with her blue eyes
| and dark eyebrows. with her milk-white
flesh, which. artificial though IT were. con-
cealed nothing, revealed nothing but the
: lovelness of the woman.
The mans eyes shone with pride as he
observed her finished appearance. for was
It not he who had taught her to gown
herself like that showed her how to live,
lifted her into the high places?
and this is how she repays me !" he
| muttered to himself, and then aloud !:
| whats the matter with you, Letty-is IL
because my money has given out
This startled the woman into earnestness.
, and rising to her feet, she drew herself
! 10 her full height and pointing to the door
declared with an injured air:
"No man can talk to me of money In
this house" a..
not move.
,Esnecially when it's all gone !" he
sneered searching her countenance. Never
: until now had he realized the monumental
E stupendous power OF money Now tnat ne
had none and the car OF juggernaut was
4 slowly crushing him, he could understand
= mat he belonged in the ditch with the
roain,ed the lame, the dying. There was
\ ~ necessity for a reply from Lefty. The
!. uloran's face revealed the contempt with
e which she regarded him. what mattereo
q m her that the man had surrendered
$ everything that was worth wniie IN IRE
: 49, No had sacrificed himself at her shrine
|, | cha was one who demanded the hrstlingf
| 30 the fock; he was nothing save carrior
Cor DAVIS to peck at. The fruit was de-
u youred: of what value was the rind!
. "you had better 60" she said super
9 ou,ously: "there is no need Of coming any
I more"
Hing toward the door when the telephon
;. hell rang. Instantly it reused all the devil
try and cunning that had oozed from MIN
= the moment before. Seizng the receiver
i he thrust it silently against his ear
= "Hello 7" began the voice at the other END
c,halloner did not answer.
HIs that you, Letty?" the voice went on.
e still Challoner did not answer. Then, a.
e the woman stepped forward, he handed IN
.ao.iver 10 her, at the same time placinI
y his left hand over the inouthpieee' ant
said; r.,,
you?"
10 Again the voice at the other end OF IN
10 ,,,rs sounded, but she could not answer, 10
r. ,hs thickness OF Challoner's hand lay be
tween her and communication. the sus
,snsa was unbearable--setting on ne
70 pn,,ss There was nothing to DO but