Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-05-18
SYNOPSIS

peu,e TOT cheap nirtatons and e.
pensive liquor. The decision TO lea
him came when his wife.
LUCINDA DRUCE, having tolerated
series of escapades and received h
promise Of reform, discovered hi
intoxicated and dancing with a W.
man of ill-repute In a Broadwa
cabaret
On the eve of her departure. Ia
cinda renews an old-acquaintance wit
FANNY LONTAINE. and learns th'
ing a motion picture company
California. With them, she visit
the New York studio OF Alma Dale
and takes a great interest In Oh
with Bellamy and a sudden departur
to Chicago where she is visited b
her lawyer
HARTFORD WILLIS. Lucinda refuse
to return TO her husband.
Il see you are beginning TO formu
late philosophy of life. You Wi
need it. my dear If you mean t
fight this out alone. Philosophy
good medicine only for lonely heart
The others II merely hardens."
Lucinda eyed Willis sharply. BE
has been to see you"
He looked me up" Willis ad
mitted in mild surprise, two days
after your disappearance. thinking
you might have communicated with
me. OF course, I could tell him moth
ing. But how did you know"
That suggestion. the underlying
thought that I might not be intend
ing to fight out my fight alone-that
originated with Bel, didn't III"
Well" Willis stammered, trying
10 smile disarmingly-"I confess"
ut wasn't enough. OF course, that
should have found Bel out for the
dozenth time. there had to be a
hover in my background TO account
FOR my leaving himi Did he mention
any manner"
willis made a negative sign. BEL
Inny didn't imply-he merely said he
vas afraid"
1T doesn't matter. What else did
he have to say7"
He seemed most remorseful-"
Il know how remorseful Bel can
saem."
He spoke Of employing detectives
to trace you"
TT wouldn't do Bel any good TO
see me; II would only irritate him 20
md I could hold out against a plea
he made in person"
willis sighed. and renounced-"if
you must, you must, / presume; and
I will do my best to serve your
wishes, my dear. Only tell me
how ."
why, naturally. want to get the
divorce over with as quickly and
rietiy as possible. with the mini
mum amount OF scandal
The laws OF the State OF Nevada
are most liberal. But 1t would be
necessary for you to establish legal
residence by living there six
months"
IT suppose that's Unavoidable"
81 will look up the most reputable
firm of lawyers there, and recon-
pnend you 10 them. II you are in
need Of other advice, You need only
write or telegraph, and II the emer-
gency requires il. viii come out TO
confer with you"
II hope I won't have TO impose on
your kindness TO that extent"
Willis blinked, removed the gold
pinee-nez of his fading day,
and polished the lenses with silk
handkerchief.
And now" he pursued-If you
don't mind satisfying an iDquisitive
I'D mani would very much like to
know what you propose TO do with
your freedom. when you get it."
Lucinda jumped up and turned
way with a quaver of desolation.
"Ah. 1 wish you hadn't asked mel
that's what I'm trying all the time
o forget"
Il thought So"
The emptiness to comet
What can a woman do 10 round out |
err life when she's lost her husband /
nd is fit for nothing but to be a
life ?"
she can find another husband.
Iany do"
MARRY againi" A violent move
tent of Lucinda's hands abolished
he thought. Never thati I'm
trough with love for good and ALL"
"No doubt" agreed the student OF
w and life. But are you sure that
we is through with your"
XIII.
Willis left for New York on a late
fternoon train; and when Lucinda [
ad said goodby to him at the sta
ion, she felt as il she had parted
With her one real friend in all the
world.
She applied for transportation and
drawing room through to Reno
but learned that the winter STAN
pede Of California tourists was in
full westward swing. The best the
agent could do was to book Lucinda
through to san Francisco with a
section to herself on the California
Limited leaving the next night, ar |
ranging for her to return from San
Francisco to Reno, a trip of some
eleven hours.
Returning to the hotel about FIVE,
she was approaching the elevators
when, midway in the foyer, she
stopped stock still. transfxed by the
sight of Bellamy standing at The
registry desk, in earnest consulta-
t4OH Win one u the tleIhr.
Apparently Bellamy had just
learned what he wanted to know;
Lucinda recognized the backward
jerk of the head that was an unfail-
ng sign of qualification in him, and
saw him turn away from the desk.
she hurled herself to-
ward one of the elevator shafts, the
ate to which was even then being
losed.
When she entered her room the !
slephone was calling. She locked |
he door; and for as long as it con-
nued to ring, which It did for up