The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1917-03-15

she Inc ChcWlnS-Gum GIFT ana The
Petticoat Girl and The Bathtub
Girl"
'"rhere's nothing dishonest in that"
Just n minute. | won't have my
daughters face grlnnine at me every
time | get into street car. I'd be
the laughing stock OF the country. It's
legitimate, perhaps, but It's altogether
too damned colOrful for me-"
as that all you have against herr"
"Not by any means. She's notori-
GUS"
Newspaper talk"
rs IT. She's made her living BY
bleeding men, by taking gifts and
renting herself out the way she did at
Hammon's supper. Men don't support
show girls from chivalrous motives. |
had her family looked up, and 1t didn't
take two hours. Listen to this report"
"No" Lorelei gulped.
"'No police record as yct'-'Broker
living at the Charlevolx apnrtmcnts'-
Injured by n taxicab while ntoxi-
Gated" quoted Wharton. Scandal,
blackmaIl, graft. It's all here, Bob.
The report was made by one OF our
own men, and It's incomplete, but I
can have 1t elaborated. What do you
say, Mrs. Wharton? Is 1t true?'
Lorc!ei dropped her head. Most OF
It. | dare say"
"Did you try to blackmail Merkle"
mo"
"Your mother and your brother did"
She was silent.
"Thcy tried to scare him into marry
Ing you, did they not?"
Harmon said something about
that" calculated Bob. but don't be-
llcve-"
Lorelci checked him. "It's quite
true"
"Merkle said you had nothing to do
with 1t personally" conscientiously ex-
planned Mr., Wharton. land I'm willing
to take his word. But that's neither
here nor there" There was n moment
OF silence during which he folded and
replaced the report then he shook his
head, cxclaiming, Second hand goods,
my boy"
I'. l.oltltl VOICE WIS
like whip.
Mr.. Wharton eyed her grimly.
That's something for Bob to deter
minc-l have only the indications to
go on. don't blame him for losing his
wits-you're very good lookng-but
the afYalr must end. You're not girl
I'd care to have in my famiiy-pardon
my bluntncss."
She met his eyes fairly. At no time
had she illnchcd before him, although
inwardly she had cringcd and her flesh
had qulycrcd at his mcrcicss attack
You have told Bob the truth" she
began, slowly, ''in the worst possible
way; you have put me In the most I'M
favorable light. dare say | never
would have had the courage TO tell
him myself, although he deserves to
know. I've been prctty-commcrcia
because had to be. but | never sold
myself. and | sha'n't begin now. Bob
Isn't child; he's nearly thirty years
old-old enough TO make up his own
mind-nnd he must make this decision.
not l."
Bob opened his lips, but his father
forcstallcd him.
What do you mean by that?"
II have no price. If he's sick OF the
match well end II, and It won't cost
you cent"
Bob looked inscrutahlc; his father
smiled for the first time during the in
tcrvicw.
That's very decent OF you" he said.
but Of course sha'n't put the good
faith of your oflcr 10 the test. don't
want something FOR nothing. III take
care of You nicely"
Thus FAR Bob had yielded precedence
10 his father. but he could no longer
restrain himself Now let me take
the chair" he commanded. easily. My
mind Is made mp. You see, | didn't
marry Peter knight, residence Vale
nor James Knight. reputation bad
nor even Matilda Knight, wife OF
Peter married this Kid and the
books are closed. You say the knights
are bad lot. and Lorclcis reputation
IL trItlc discnlorcd. maybe you're
right, but mine has some lnky bluts on
1t, too, aud | guess the clcnncst part
OF It would Just about match the dark.
est that hers can show. seem TO have
all the best OF the deal"
Don't be an ass" growlcd his IA.
Their.
i've always been onc-I may ms
well be consistent" Rob felt the slcn.
der form at his side begin to ,rcmblc.
and smiled down into the troubled blue
eyes upturncd TO his. Maybe wen
both have TO do some forgivIng and
forgetting. believe that's usual nova.
days"
"oh. I'm not whitcwashIag YOU"
Hannibal snapped, she probably
knows what you are"
81 do agreed Lorclcl. Hes a
drunkard, and everything tina, means.
Hut you laugh, him 10 drink before he
could choose FOR himself"
Mr.. Wharton smiled snccringly. IA.
mirnblc! begin TO see that you're
more than pretty woman. Get his