The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-02-08
CHAPTER vIl--Conticued.

s.
And you found her and told Drum
mond-"
Whitaker feaned over the table,
studying the mans face with intense
interest.
"No--and yes. | found Mrs. whit
aker. | didn't report to Drummond'
But why-in heavens name?'
Ember smiled somberly at the droop
ing ash of his cigar. "There were sew
eral reasons. In the first place l dldnt
have to-: had asked no retainer from
Drummond, and l rendered no Dill
what | had found out was mine, 10
keep or to sell, as chose. l chose not
TO sell because-well, because MIS-
Whitaker begged me not to-"
"Ah! Whitaker breathed' sltt'ng
back. "Why?'
.sThis was all of year. THINK
after your marriage. Mrs. whitaker
had tasted the sweets of independence
and-got the habit. She had adopteu
profession looked upon with amor
renee by her family. She was ALREADY
successful In a small way. had httle
need of the money she would get as
claimant of your estate. She enIisteu
my sympathy, and-I held my tongue
"That was decent of you.
The man bowed quiet acknoWieog-
mont ~ thought you'd think so.
There was third reason
He paused, until Whitaker encour-
aged him with "Yes-"
"Mr. Whitas er"-the query came
mountaineering you love your wife :
Whitaker caught his breath "What
y,pb+-w he began, and checked ao-
ruptly. The blood darkened MS lean
checks.
Mrs, Whitaker gave me to unuer-
stand that you didn't. 1t wasn't naru
TO perceive, everything considered tna'
your motive was pure chivaIry-qulA-
otism. I should like to go to my grave
with anything half as honorap'e anu
unselfish to my credit.
II beg your pardon" Whitaker NUT
tered thickly.
You don't, then?
Love her? No"
There was slight pause. Ihen'
TO-" said this extraordinary man. meet
in+ Whitaker's gaze openly. Il do'
he repeated, flushing in his turn ou'
hOpelessly however
that was the third reason" he pursued
in n more :avel voice. thought yol
ought TO knog about it-that induced
me to keep Sara Laws secret.
loved her from the day l found her
Sba has never LOOKED twice at me
Rut that's why never lost in
terest."
"You mean," Whitaker tool him W
dif1dentlv-"you continued to-1h-T
"rourt her-as we say? No" Es1
hers shoulders, lifting, emphasized The
disclaimer. "I'm no fool. | have haC
the sense not to invite the thunderbolt
She doesn't know it, unless Max tolC
her against my wish; but 1t was who
induced him to bring her before the
public, four years ago, as Joan Ihurs
dav. Since then her destiny has beer
rather too big thing for me to tam
per with; but I've watched and won
dered, sensing forces at work about
her of which even she was ,unsus
plclous."
what in blazes do you meanF
Whitaker demanded, mystified.
"Did it strike you to wonder at the
extraordinary mob her farewell per
t,rmance attracted tonight?"
"Why-yes. 1t struck me as rather
unusual. But then. Max had done
nothing but tell me of her tremendous
popularity"
aThat alone, great as IL is, wouldn't
have brought so many people together
m stare at the outside of a theater
The magnet was something stronger
the morbid curiosity of New York
THOSE people were waiting, thrilled
with expectancy, on tiptoe for the sen
sation that presently came to them
the report of Drummond's death"
"What the devil"
aPatiencel This Is the third time II
HIS hap2cned-the same thing, prac-
acsIly, Sara Law on the verge of