Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-30
The Red Mouse
A Story Of Love, Jealousy and Politics
BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OSBORNE

through it all" sho broke down COM
pletely.
''on the evidence they have" Shirley re-
turned, trying to comfort her, ''they'll---"
What's that" inquired Mrs. Challoner,
starting up nervousy in alarm. ITS that
horrible bell ringing again" she went
breathlessly. Don't you hear voices be-
low? Listen-I thought l heard ."
Shirley stole to the door and listened.
Presently she called back:
Don't worry--whoever IL Is. Stevens is
sending them away"
II hope So" sighed Miriam, for I can't
see any onc-I won't see any one, unless
Oh, Laurie. Laurie" she cried out, why
don't you come home!'
Suddenly Shirley fell back from the
door, IT was being stealthily pushed open.
"oh." she gasped. ITS only Stevens
How you frightened me-"
Stevens stood In the door at attention,
looking neither to the right nor TO the
left, but straight over the heads of the
women. He drew long intake Of breath.
then he spoke the name
"Mr. Challoner."
And hardly were the words out of his
mouth than he was thrust aside, and there
stood in his place a spare, gaunt tottering
fgure-a man disheveled. soiled, eN-
hausted-James Lawrence Challoner had
come home
At the sound of tie name the young wife's
face turned pale. and for moment words
failed her. Then all Of sudden she sprang
to her feet and rushed to him, crying in
an ecstasy Of joy:
me at last" And throwing her arms
around his neck she kissed him many
times. laughing Historically and crying the
while: you've come back to me!' And
! once more the freshness of youth, Joy and
hope was In her voice.
But Challoner. still standing just within
the entrance of the room, did not heed her !:
he cast her off with a frantic sweep of the
arm.
Keep away-keep away from met" he
cried I'm tired, dog-tired-I've got to
sleep. sleep"
keenly alive to what his presence there
might mean.
Stevens" she called. pointing to a win
dow, pull that curtain down. I pulled 1t
up after they went pull it down"
Challoner now turned upon her.
Leave the curtain alone, l tell you" he
said. 81 don't care II 1t is up. I don't
care about you either--nor you," looking at
his wife. 81 don't know you. must have
slsep---sleep-sleep."
Deep down in her soul Shirley knew that
she should not hear all this, and she would
have fled If she had not promised Miriam
not to leave her. Suddenly she wheeled
upon Stevens as IL she and not Miriam were
the mistress of the house, exclaiming per-
emptorily:
Stevens, leave the !"
Stevens obeyed her as he would his mis-
tress, and left the room poste haste
Miriam now went over to the girl.
You're not going to leave me - she ex-
claimed. clinging to her. "You and Laurie
are the only friends have--you must stay
here with Laurie and me-"
Shirley saw the agony In her face and
patted her affectionately as she promised:
There there, Miriam. dear; OF course I
shall stay" And Miriam. at once reassured.
darted back to her husband and cried:
Laurie. dear" kissing him and pushing
the hair back from his forehead, 80 tired
so tired"
But Challoner. wolf and not man,
jerked away from her and answered:
II came home, didn't II" Well then,
must have sleep sleep. / tell you. sleep"
And tottering over to a dainty silken-cov-
cred sofa he threw himself upon 1t with a
deep sigh, saying as though to himself,
"Sleep-I must have sleep"
Spellbound, Miriam watched him for a
moment, then following him to the sofa she
went down on her knees and drew him 10
her in a close embrace.
"Eyerything's all right now that you've
come back" she told him in soothing tones
"And, dear, you'll forgive me for quarreling
with you-Im so sorry; yes. / am, Laurie
kissing him on the lips. the face. the fore
neaQ. say youi AoibiNo INV aH'iSp
dear?"
His answer was o snore. Challoner lay
supinely where he had thrown himself
sleeping as does the beast that has crept
back to his lair after days of hunting by
the man pack
miriam" the whispered name came from
Shirley, "you and I, dear. must now think
of things. We must not forget that Murga-
troyd and his men have only just left We
must not let him lie here; 1t was lucky they
searched the house when they did ."
Miriam waved the other back.
mo" she objected strenuously he must
sleep we must let him alone"
NO, no, Miriam" persisted Shirley, put
ting great emphasis on the words, I'VE
ought to tell him what kind of evidence is
against him. He ought to know that. II
we didn't warn him in time. he'd never for
give us-hed never forgive you. He's
"Perhaps you're right, Sh.rley--you seem
to be always right. Yes, suppose he ought
10 know" Gently Miriam shook him,
rocked him to and fro upon the sofa, as
some fond mother might wake a drowsy,
growing boy on a lazy summer morn
Lawrence" she cried softly In his ear,
wake up! Wake up. dear. wake up!"
For an instant Challoner stirred. Pres
emily there came in cultural tones;
yes yes, that's all right ." But
he slept, and kept on sleeping
81 can hardly realize that Laurie is
back" murmured Miriam happily. Uncon-
scious of the others words, she remained
kneeling at the side of the dainty sofa with
its far from dainty burden. her arm still
about the neck Of the man who slept upon
II.
Yes, yes" returned the girl. but don't
you think we had better warn him? He
must not be found"
The other laughed joyously, trying low
ingiy to smooth out his tangled hair After
. moment she answered abssntly;