Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-23

| Il suspected you would De. Inat's
| why I went walking--to be lonesome
and thoughtful for once In way"
Ember stroked his chin with thought
full fingers.
you've heard the news. then?"
"In three ways" Whitaker re
turned, with calm.
Flows that--three ways?"
Through the newspapers the bill.
boards, and from the lips Of my
wife,"
Ember opened his eyes wide.
you've been to see herr
"She called this morning"
But Ember interrupted thrusting q
ready and generous hand across the
table:
my dear man, am glad!"
Whitaker took the proffered hand
readily and firmly. "Thank you.
| was saying: she called this morning
to inform me that. though welded
once, we must be strangers now--und
evermore"
But you-of course-you argued
that nonsense out of her head"
ITO the contrary-again."
"But-my dear man !--you said you
were celebrating; you permitted me
to congratulate you Just now"
1.-THE point Is" said Whitaker, with
a bland and confident grin; 1--WE sue
ceeded in arguing that nonsense out
of my head-not hers-mine."
Ember gave helpless gesture. I'm
afraid this is one of my stupid
nights
81 mean that, though Mary ran away
from me, wouldn't listen to reason
hard tramping, come to the conclu-
sion that there is nothing under the
sun which binds me to sit back and
accept whatever treatment she pur-
poses according me by courtesy Of
Jules Max"
Whitaker bent forward, his coun-
tennnce discovering a phase Of seri-
BUSINESS hitherto masked by his twist
ed smile
II mean I'm tired Of all this poppy
cock. Unless I'm an infatuated ass,
Mary loves me with all her heart. She
has made up her mind to renounce me
partly because Max has worked upor
her feelings by painting some lurid
picture of his imminent artistic and
financial damnation If she leaves him.
partly because she believes, OF has
been led to believe. in this destroy
ing angel moonshine. Now she's got
to listen to reason. So, likewise, Max.
You're becoming more human word
by word" commented Ember with
open approval. Continue; elucidare;
| can understand how a fairly rcsoute
lover with the gift of CAB can talk
weak-minded, fond fe ole into deny
ing her pet superstition; but how
you're going to get around Max passes
my comprehension. The man unques-
tionably has her under contract"
But you forgot his god is Nam
mon," Whitaker put in. Max will do
anything In the world for money.
Therein resides the kernel of my plan.
It's simplicity itself: I'm going to buy
him."
BUY Maxi"
"Body--artistic soul-and breeches,"
Whitaker affirmed confidently.
'Impossible!'
you forget how well fixed am.
What's the use Of my owning half the
gold in New Guinea If 1t won't buy
me what already own by every moral
and legal right?"
''He won't listen to you; you don't
know Max"
'Tm willing to lay you a small bet
that there will be no first performance
at the Theater Max tomorrow night"
you'll never persuade him"
I'll buy the show outright and my
wife's freedom to boot-or else Max
will begin to accumulate the local
color of hospital ward"
Ember smiled grimly. you're be-
ginning to convince even me. When,
may ask, do you propose to pull off
this sporting proposition?"
"Do you know where Max can be
found tonight?"
AT the theater-"
"Then the matter will be arranged
at the theater between this hour and
midnight"
II doubt II you succeed In getting
the ear Of the great man before mid
night; however, I'm not disposed to
bubble about few hours"
But why shouldn't IT.
because Max Is going to be the
busiest young person in town tonight.
And that Is why I've been looking for
you. Conforming to his GUS
tom, he's been giving an advance
glimpse Of the production to the crit
les and few friends In the form Of
a final grand dress rehearsal tonight.
Again. in conformance with his Gus
tom, he has honored me with q bid.
I've been chasing you all day to ind
out If you cared to go"
Eight o'clock and bit after"
Whitaker interrupted briskly. consul
ting his watch. Here, boy" he hailed
a massage DaQe. ~call fsYicah for