The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-02

real wife to Henry Drake :. help
full and faithful. She would have
tried to salvage what was worthy
of salvaging in him. But these
few tense moments had showed
her how impossible that would
have been; and what a poor dazed
creature she had been to follow
him to Hillock's Crossing and
marry him.
She said: "Good-by, Henry"
and closed the door behind her.
She was halfway down the hall.
near the elevators, when the walls
themselves seemed to be torn
apart. A bell-hop who was coming
out Of q service room turned and
fled down the fire-escape.
A young woman inserting her
key in her lock covered her face
with her hands and screamed.
Between the first shot and the two
that followed Henry Drake laughed
wildly.
And, still laughing, he stood in
the beam of light from his own
door and aimed at Gloria and
fired. And as she slumped to the
floor, he set the revolver against
his temple and fired again.
CHAPTER XIV
That night and the first
week IN January would always
be q confusing memory to Gloria.
Her head felt as If 1t had been split
open by Henry's shots.
Thoughts were disconnected and
shattered in her brain. She re-
n1embered the hot, sick thudding
Of her wounded right arm; the
binding pain Of Peters probing
instruments; the blood and the
bandages. She remembered police
men tramping through the hotel
corridors, the knots Of morbidly
curious people. She remembered
newspapermen, cameras flashing
and Barney Trap yelling out:
by the gods, have we got a
scoop here!" And then, upon see
ing her, white-faced and stricken,
in q corner Of Henry's drawing
room, her head heavily against
Peters shoulder, Barney had tried
to say 1t wasn't really news.
what the hell!" Barney had
raped out. Drake was a drunk
ard all his life. And now he's a
suicide. What's news about that?"
CAPPED AT
IF 1t hadn't been for Peter,
Gloria felt she could not have got
through that hideous week that
week OF being gaped at, of being
photographed every time she
stepped out Of the bungalow, of
standing by Marcella's side at Oak
Hill Cemetery, clinging to her nand
while q minister spoke gentle
words that failed at being any
thing more than cold comfort.
On the way home from the
cemetery Gloria had struggled
against hysteria. She had held
her head tight in both hands as
Ii the hard pressure of her con-
vulsed fingers would drive away
the thought Of the tragedy.
But the thoughts kept beating
against her relentlessly, and her
voice rose in her throat to a
scream. "It was my fault" she
cried out. 1T was my fault! MY
fault! My fault"
Marcella'S arm went gently
around her shoulder. Henry was
always threatening to kill him.
SELF" she said evenly, though her
pale mouth trembled. HE would
have some day, Gloria. You've got
to believe that. If it had not been
over you ;. something else would
have made him. 1t was always in
the back Of his mind"
And Peter said, taking one of
her icy hands in his: "Marcella's
right, Gloria. You can't let this
thing get you'll"
In the days that followed it was
Peter who made her go out for
walks. It was Peter who said:
"Say-y, there's a perfectly swell
elegant picture over at the Regent.
One Of those epics. Very colossal"
It was Peter who made her climb
into the battered old roadster and
accompany him on his rounds.
You'll feel lot better when
you get back. You'll wonder what
you had to worry you when you
see how half the north section
lives. or tries to live" he said.
And it was Peter who took turns
relieving Mrs. Lee at the bunga-
low door, telling an endless process
sion Of people that Gloria could
not be seen.
SUDDEN WEALTH
Gloria couldn't understand where
all those people were coming from;
nor why they were trying to see
her. She told Peter gravely: II
don't understand it, Peter. Who
on earth are they? And what do
they want?"
Peter took her slim hand in his.
Look here, Gloria" he said. you
probably don't realize it yet, but
you're a very wealthy young
woman. BY law in this State you
get a third Of brakes fortune. and
that runs into many millions.
Those people out there are trying
to sell you things. Cars, inventions,
homes, lots, every kind of gadget
under the sun. They think that a
young girl with all your money :"
MY money!" Gloria's eyes were
wide and blue. "Oh, Peter. it's not