The Washington times., 1919-04-05

INA "OIIgs
II am worrying! And you ought
to. You know what you done to
Max. Don't think ne ever forgets.
He'll do you il he cen, same as Min
na will"
Brandes' stolid face lost a little
of its sangUine color, where he
stood in the telephone box behind
the bar Of the Gayfield House.
Yes, he knew well enough what
ne had once done TO the disbarred
lawyer out In Athabasca when he
was handling the Unknown and
Nenem, the discabbed, was busy
looking out for tn AthabaSca
Blacksmith, furnishing the corrupt
brains for the firm OF Vencm and
, Grittlsfsld. and paying steady court
to the prettiest girl in Athabasca,
Ilse Dumont.
And BrandeE' Unknown had al
most killed Max Venem's black
smith; BTandes had taken all
Venem's money. and then his girl;
more than that. he had made" this
girl, In the theatrical sense Of the
word; and he had gambied on her
beauty and her voice and had won
out with both.
Had Tired Of Girl.
Then, while. still banking her
salary to reimburse himself for his
trouble with her, he had tired OF her
sufficiently to prove unfaithfuI to
his marriage vows at every oppor-
tunity. And opportunities were
many. Venem had never forgiven
him; Ilse Dumout could not under
stand treachery; and Venem's de-
tectives furnished her with food for
thought that presently infuriated
her.
And now she wa employing Max
Senem, once senior partner in the
hrm OF Nenem and GFittlefeId, TO
guide her with his legal advice.
She wanted Brandes' ruin, II that
could be accomplished: she wanted
her freedom, anyway.
Untn he had met Rue Carew he
had taken measures TO fight the
statutory charges, hoping to in
volVe Venem and escape aIimonv.
Then he met Ruhannah, and became
willing TO pay for his freedom. And
he was still swamped in the vile
bog Of charges and countercharges,
not vet free from u, not yet on solid
ground, when the eternal gambler
IL him suggested to him that he
take the. chance. OF marrying this
SoGnG Eirl before he was legally
free TO DO 80.
Why on earth did he wantto take
such = chance? He had only a few
months to wait. He had never be-
fore really cared for any woman.
He loved her-as he understood
love-es much as ne was capable OF
lovin. II in all the world there was
anything sacred to him. IL was his
sentiment regarding Rue CareW.
Yet, he was tempted to take the
chance. Even she could not escape
his ruling passion; at the last
analysis, even she represented to
him a gamblers chance. But in
Brandes there was another streak.
He wanted to take the chance that
he could marry her before he had q
right to, and get away with it, But
his nerve failed. And, at the last
moment, he had hedged, engaging
Parson Smawley to play the lead in
stead OF an ordained clergyman.
All these things he now thought
OF as he stood undecided, worried,
in the telephone booth behind the
bar at the Gayheld House. Twice
Stull had spoken. and had been bid
den TO wait and TO hold the wire.
Finally, shaking on the premoni-
tion Of coming trouble. Brandes
called again:
'FBenT"
Yes, I'm listening"
bIe."
"And throw Stein down.
~What else is there to dog-
We'll, you can watt. can't youe
You don't seem 20 be able TO do
that any more, but you better learn"
"AIl right. What neNt?"
MAKE a quick getaway. Now"
"Yes, I'm going al once. Keep me
posted. Ben. Be good"
He hung up and went out to the
wide. tFee-shsded street where
Ruhannah sat in the runabout
awaiting him and the new chauf-
feur stood by the car
He took off his straw hat, pulled
. cap and goggles from his pocket.
His man placed the straw hat in
the boot.
'NGIet what you want. RueT
yes, thank you"
"Been waiting Iong7"
"1-don't think So"
IAN right" he said cheerily,
climbing In beside her. I'm sorry
] kept you waiting. Had a business
AudtIST 10 settle. f1uugTyE
Rue, very still and oolorless, said
no, with q mechanical smile. The
chauffeur climbed 20 the rumble.
"Tll jam her through" nodded
Brandes as the car moved swiftly
westward. "We1l lunch in Albany
on time"
Half a mile, and they passed Nee
lands Mills, where old Dick Nee
land stood in his boat out on the
pond and cast q glitterlng lure for
pickereI.
Recalls jim NeeIand.
She caught q glimpse of him-his
sturdy frame, white hair, and ruddy
visage-and a swift, almost wist-
full memory OF young Jim Neeland
passed through her mind.
But IL was a very confused mind
only the bewiIdered mind OF q
very young girl-and the memory OF
the boy flashed into its confusion
and out again a. rapidly as the
landscape sped away behind the
flying car.
Duly she was aware thGt she was
leaving familiar and beloved things,
but could not seem to realize it
childhood, girlhood, father and
mother, Brookhollow. the mill. Gay
field. her friends. all were vanish
ing in the flying dust behind her,
dwindling, dissolving into an infi-
nitely growing distance.
CTO BIZ CONTINUED MOEDAY.D