The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-07-21
CHAPTER TX
Mrs Sin

The past life OF Mrs. Monte Irwin
was OF a character 90 have horrl
fled the prudish. but 20 have ex
ci,eP the compassion OF the wise.
Daughter OF a struggling subur
ban solicitor. Rita Esdcn. at the
age OF IT. began to develop into a
singulariy pretty girl Her mother
famed the girls natural vanity and
ambition and Rita proving 20 be
endowed with moderately good
voice. a stage career was deter
mined upon. Rita. by the pr~fixins
Of two letters 20 her name. set out
70 conquer tho piaygoing world a,
RITA Dresden.
Two years Of hard work and dis
appointment served 10 dlnpei the
girls illusions. She learned 20 ap
preoiate a, Its true value that mas
cullne admiration which. In an un
usual degree. che had tho power
60 excite. Those of her admirers
who were In n position to assist
her professionally were only pre-
pared 70 USE their influence upon
terms which sho was unprcpared
20 accept
Matters stood thus when n new
sutton appeared in the person Of
Sir Lucien Pyne. lie was di
rector OF the syndicate In whoEs
production nhc was playinE--a mar
referred TO with awe by every girl
in tho company as having II In his
power 10 make or mar professional
reputation.
Nevertheless, Rita was determined
not 10 succurnb without strug
gle she sc, 20 work 10 win esteem
az well as admiration
Sir Luclen vas sir~s surprised
then pigued. and finally interested
by such unusual sactics- Twelve
months later Rita Dresden was
playing the title role In Tho Maid
Of tho Mas1ue- Str Lucien had
discovered himself 10 be really In
love with her. and he might QUITE
possibly have offered her marriage
even ~ dangerous rival had mol
appeared
Monte Irwin. aitho considernbls
Rita. senior. had much TO commend
him in the eyes Of the girl-and IN
tho Eyes Of her mother. who suil
retained n curious influence over
her daughter. He WINS much more
wealthy than Pyns. and altho the
latter wns baronst, Irwin was
certain TO be knightcd ere long. 80
tina, RITA would secure the append
age OF Lady" In either case. Also
his reputation promised n more re
liable husband than Sir Luoien
could be expected TO make.
on the first night that Rita had
been entrusted with n part OF any
conscauencc. she had discovered
herself TO be- In state OF hope
les. panic. 7, was an eventually
which Sir Lucicn had foresecn, and
he seized the opportunity at once
Of acquiring a new hold upon the
girl
some hours before tho perform
ance he detected her condition Of
abiect fright and from his
wniatcoat pocket he took a btt"
gold snuffbox.
At first the girl declined 10 follow
advice which instincuveiy she dis
trusted, and Sir Luclen was too
clever TO urge Il upon her.
To anaiyzc the process which
thereupon took place In Rita's mind
would be barren task. since its
result was n foregone conclusion.
She struggled. poor victim. and only
Increased her terrora. Not until
the clock showed her that In 20
minutes she must make her first
entrance dii she succumb. Sir
Lucien's gold snuff box lay upon
her dressing table--and sho was
trembling. She raised tho jowelled
I'D.
But n she had walked biindly
into the clutches Of cocaine and
veronal. her subsequent expert.
ments with chandu were prompted
by indefensible curiosity and n false
vanity which urged her TO do
everything that was done" by the