The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-11-13
The Broken Triangle

difficulty you'll not leave this
room until you've promised to do
as l say and keep a quiet tongue in
your head about an this"
But Dorothy was no longer his
to command. Through the red
mist that now swan before his
eyes he saw her start firmly, lels-
urely. defiantly toward the door.
Something snapped behind mis-
throbbing temples and then all at
once he realized that he had taksn
the revolver-Velma's revolver
from his pocket and was leveliing
It at Dorothy's head.
"Sit down." he commanded.
Dorothy's face went pale-she
hesitated for just the fraction Of a
second. poised on one foot like q
frightened bird.
Then, head up and eyes flashing.
she turned to meet the deadly
flash from the revolver's muxzle.
Her lips parted in q piteous little
sobbing cry and she toppled pack
ward-dead.
Over and over again these scenes
of tragedy flashed through
Frayne's mind with all the swift
vividness Of motion picture film.
But each reviewing brought him
nothing Of self-condemnation or re-
greet or fear for the consequence Of
his deed. He felt only an increas.
Ing wonder at the surprising atti
tude Dorothy had taken and the
audiences with which her stub.
born defiance of his will had I'm.
PEELED him to act.
He would be quite his normal
self, he thought, II he could but he
rid of the dead woman's staring
eyes. He had closed the door 10
the dining room but still those eyes
pierced the oak panels and wher-
ever he looked he seemed to meet
their accusing gaze.
At last the lonely silence of The
dimly lighted library, haunted as
1t was by those pursuing eyes Of
blue, became unbearable. He
longed as in all his self sufficient
life he never had before for the
sound Of friendly voice, or syn
pathetic ear into which he could
pour the story of the ruin of his am
bilious plans for winning happi.
ness for himself with minimum
of unhappiness for Dorothy.
And who could meet this need CT
his better than Velma-the glor-
ious woman who had never failed
by look, word or soft caress to
match his every mood and supply.
Just the consolation or the inspir-
alton he required!
He quickly called the apartment
in which he had installed Vera
and when he heard her rich, ful-
throated voice coming over the
wire he felt as 1t always made him
feel, both soothed and thrilled.
She had been 80 worried since an
hour before when she had tele-
phoned the office and been told
that although he was back in the
city he was not coming to business.
What had happened? Was he i'll?
II must see you AT once" she
went on nervously without waiting
for an answer to her inquiries. 81
have something Of the greatest i'm
portance TO tell you, Martin"
And have something impor.
tant to tell you, DEAR" said Fraype,
smiling grimly to think how any
thing velma might have to say
would shrink to insignificance he
sid what lay out there in the din.
ing room. I'm at the house. Meet
me here Just as soon as you can"
why, Martin, what are you
thinking Of? ! can't do that-can't
come to your house in broad day
light It would be too risky"
But you must come" urged
Frayne. II cannot leave the house
for some time and I must see you
at once. II Is imperative. Dor
oxh- g.. Dono owov The