Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-12-01
II "a
Destroying
Angel
R Louis Joseph Vance
Author n
sThs Pool Of Flame"
III Bronze Bell" .7hs BlsoR
Be-" "7he Bros Bo.ol."
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oopyright by Louis Joseph Vance

ed smile.
II mean I'm tired Of ali this poppy
cock. Unless I'm an infatuated ass,
Mary loves me with all her heart she
has made up her mind to rcnounce IN"
partly BECAUSE Max has worked upon
her feelings by painting some lhrld
picture OF his imminent artistic ana
financial dAmnation II She leaves nm.
partly because She believes, or has
been led to believe, In this destroy
ing angel mOOn~hine. Now she's got
to listen 10 reason. So likewise, Max"
you're becoming more human word
by word" commented Enber with
open approval "continuc, rIucdate
/ can understand how II fairly reSolute
lover with the gift of sah can talk n
weak minded, fond female into deny
ing her pet superstition but how
you're going 10 get around Max passes
my comprehension. The man unques-
tionably has her under contract
but you forgot his god Is Mann
tnon," 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 Max"
"Body-artistic soul-and brooches"
Whitaker affirmed confidently
"Impossible ~
You forget how we'll fixed | am.
What's the use of my owning half the
gold In New Guinea II it won't buy
me what already own by every moral
snd legal right?"
"He won't listen to you; you don't
know Max"
I'm willing to lay you 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 Il hospital ward"
Enber smiled erimly. 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 win be arranged
at the theater between this hour and
midnight"
Il doubt if You succeed In getting
the ear of the great man before mid
night; however, I'm not disposed to
bubble about n few hours
But why shouldn't II"
Because Max is going to be the
busiest young person in town tonight.
And that is why I've been looking for
YOU. Conforming 10 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 coniornancc with his Gus
tom, he has honored me with bid.
I've been chasing YOU all day to find
out if YOU cared to 60"
Eight O'Clock and bit after,
Whitaker interrupted briSkly, consul
ting his watch Here, boy" he hailed
Il passage page; "Call a taNcah for
NE" And then, rising alertly: "Cone
along; I've got to hustle home; and
make myself look respectable enough
luck, fancy we'll be there before the
first curtain
This mood of faith of sclf-reianre
and assured optimism held unrulI|cd
throughout the dash homcWard, his
hurried change of clothing and the
ride to the theuter. Nothing that En-
ber purpo>ely pessniStic could say
or do awaited to diminish the high
buoyancy of his humor. He main
tanned n serene faith in his STAR a
spirited temper that refused to recog-
nize obstacles in the way of his de-
sire.
In the tayicab, on route to the Thea
ter Max, he Contrived even to diStil n
good omen from the driving autumnal
dOwnpour itself,
ION such day ms this" he told his
doubling friend, II won her first; on
such day shall win her anew, final
!ly aud for all time"
From Broadway to Sixth avenue,
Forty-sixth street was bright with the
yellow glare of the huge sign in front
of the Thenter Max. But this night.
unlike that other night when he had
approached the stage Of his wife's tri.
'uniphs, there was no crawling rank of
cabs, no eager and curious press of
people in the street. but few vehicles
disputed their way otherwise the rain
and the hurrying, rnin.contcd wayfar-
iers had the thoroughfare to them
themselves. And even this he
chose to consider favorable omen :
there was not now public to come
between him and his lovc--only Max
and her frightened fancies.
The man at the door recognized En-
Der with a cheerful nod Whitaker he
did not know.
"Just in time, Mr. Embcr: curtains
been up about ten minutes 4.