Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-29

soTms"uItii sse.,ms "puaItierts, and q has sWorn ven
r,ance against him.
~ BALES. Jr. rho has helped Q out
VI ay embarrassment. no loves
| .opuJr. n ,paitrcss. to Thom has been
KID. uhich fact has caused gossip.
Denton Locked the Door
AT HIS entrance, Sophic's father
"A looked up from frightened con-
,.mplatIon OF the girl, and DR.. Sales
.o,o from a chair near the bed. Denton
,,oted the door and placed himself
against it.
,.nt his eyes upon Sophie. He was
white and scared.
"Wbot happened?" he asked in a
nervous whisper.
DR.. Sales was spokesman.
"You would probably have got away
rith II. my man." he said, "if there
hadn't been n fire in the hotel. The
curtains of Miss Bcnton's room just
b.lov this one caught fire. There was
an alarm and-your victim, naturally
Earring that she would be burned to
death, was frightened out of her wits.
shs had managed to get rid Of your
ingenious gag and she screamed for
holm. After n while her people here
heated her cries and, with the help OF
, fireman, broke down Your door anu
foupd her in this terrible condition.
Her wrists--as you see'-he lifted one
~ Sophie's hands-''are cut almost
10 the bone; her neck is raw where
IN. rope burnt her. But Of course the
worst result of your brutal handling Is
n her nervous system, perhaps to her
mind. We haven't been able to get n
ape word out Of her. We insist now.
IN upon full accounting from yon. "
D faltered to Sophie side and bent
aver her. lie was shaking from head
b foot all his splendid cOmposurc and
splomb had left him.
"You-Sophie GEL" he urged and
Put his hand besecchinsly upon her.
She stared up at him from wilo eyes
and shrieked out, Don't let him hurt
mel" He shrank back and was fur her
propelled by the head waiter, who,
darting around the bed. struck at him
with two frenzied fists. q threw up his
head. He had dazed look. But be.
hind the brilliant pain and fright Ci
his eyes. his brain was working coolly
now and carefully. He mustn't, OF
course betray Sophie's attempted in
discretion; he mustn't tell about the
drummer. There was really 10 ex-
plsnation he could give. She was in
no condition TO read Laurie's letter
nor could he trust any one Of thest
three guardians of hers to read or t.
deliver it, AS usual, he had only tn,
old familiar weapon--silence. Holding
back gently with one hand Sophie's in.
turiated father, and looking quickly
from one to the other of the two men
hs drawled out reasonably.
Il amt blamin' you at all. gentle.
men. It's jest the way I'd feel my
Nn. ] hev sure made a fool of my.
sef, maybe worse. can only tell yol
that 1t amt any Of it her doin's.
1T was fool experiment Of mine
With nothin' bad back of it-jcst plumb
shlldlshness, but you don't want to be
usve that, naturally. So I amt ex.
psctin' you to. You keep your hands
sf'n me, because don't want row
and tell me what you want me to do
KEEP rememberin' that. for the gel,
nks, you'd better make as little ex.
at:ment as possible. ! couldn't fee
ladder n do right now. II that help,
your feelin' any, and I'll do anything
you say"
First spluttered Benton, "you ge
out OF my hotel and don't show youl
dirty face here again"
u thought you'd sold your hotel
Mr.. Benton"
q d you' Don't talk bacl
b me. Until the new owner takes pos
session m In charge here and--yol
walk OUT.
Yes, sir, and quite right. Next.
And he turned to Sophie's father.
Tho pimpled waiter was breathin,
mort and hard Damages, he snuff
ned, that's all l gotter say. Dam
SECS He pointed to the girl, lyin,
quiet now under the effects Of mar
1uc. You may of ruined my gel TO
ue: You gOtter pay"
Yes, sir. That's fair, too. II
pay. And now--doc -
Here his calmness frozc 20 something
I1at was both ice and ir>>S, He drew
uoser to Sales. The bi loose fgur
neid It's ground and answered softly:
~ see you outside, Kinwydden.
eheVe 1t would be altogether unwis
Ser you to leave Sluypcnkill at once
some version of this story is bound L
N ABOUT the place. You see, the fire
man heIped to break down the door"
ror The first time fear of the con
.Nuehces of this escapadc to himsel
saa 70 his own plans 'smote = an
uusled his whltencss.
sure Aou d see to its gettin' abou
|, Hs oest clothes, wouldn't you, doc?'
ne glanced once at Sophie and wen
:, nv nv INTO the hall, followed by DR.. Sales
:, Auey raced each other in the hallway.
snail certainly see that the stor
m,Nh saGhcs IN" minds Of any one here VIII
!! snt otherWiSe be inclined to adm
Y wi, wu " the!r acquaintance, Mr.. Kin
: s ".uaeh, lie paused, his hands slidin
|, Ill., WI,oss MS waistcoat; his small, spark
y nAe eyes snapped. ''As ! once warnc
, oV sVa' ! nave run two young men alread
I 'ut OF Sluypenkill." ."
. .rH seemed not to have heard NJ hin
uhemthe Sophie gel-will get a
. ,It1I Snt!' he faltered, and DR.. Sale
misag iaintly, turned the screw.
~, n.nhe she doesn't die in convusion
~ WIN recover physically, but doui
dersde sGe ever, eyer gets back her poor disol
uefed Wits.
oros S leaned against the wall, his han
covs vs hiS eyes; his forehead slowly WI
"n,ered 30 with fine small beads Of swea
uod, that ain't the truth, doe.
WV WV you hate me like rattler, but
Il n you please to let me OFF on tina
|. "aaih't the truth"
4 Yornn as lar as | know, 1t is the trutl
! ksra methods are bit too rough for ,
s,e IN Suypenkill. "