Evening Star Newspaper, November 21, 1923, Page 22

=—— “PAWNED” Romance of People Whose Very Being Is Unuspal Ax Unm o ddged to Do the Bidding of Others. By FRANK L. PACKARD Author of “The Miracle Man,” “From Now On,” etc. Copuright, 1932, by Pudlic Ledger Company. CHAPTER XIIL Trappings of Tinsel. NDER the shaded light on his (Continutd from Yesterday's Star.) table, in his private sitting room In the Bayne-Miloy U Hotel, John Bruce had been writing steadlly for half an hour, but | the sheets of paper over Which his| pen traveled freely and swiftly were wirgin white. He paused now, re- mained a moment in thought, and| then added a line to the last sheet No mark was left, but froni the move- ment of the pen this appeared to be a signature. He gatered tho sheets tosether, folded them neatly and slipped them into an c¢nvelope. He replaced the cap on the fountain pen he had been using, placed the pen’ In his vest pocket, and from another pocket took out another pen that was an_:mrcnl-)’ identical with tre first. With this socond pen, In black ink, he addressed the envelope to one Gilhert Larmon in San Francisco. He sealed the en- velope, stamped it, put it in his| pocket. returned the second fountain pen to his vest pocket, lighted a cigarette, leaned bhac n_ his chair, and frowned at the ascending spirals, of smoke from the cigarette’s tip. | Tie report which he had just writ- ten to Larmon, explaining his inac- tion during the past weeks, had been an effort—not physical, but mental. He had somehow. curiously, felt no, personal regret for the enforced ab- sence from his work.” and he now felt no enthu: at the prospect of resuming it. He had ! ad no right to tinge or color his letter to Larmon with these vie nor had he in-; tended to do so. Perhaps he had not; perhaps he had. He did not known. Tte ink originated by the old Samoan 1siander had its disadvantages as well as its advantages. He could not now read the letter over once it was written! ' He flicked the ash irritably trom his clgarette. He had the hotel now for two days, and the | feelinz had been constan rowing upon him. Wry? He did not know except that the cause scemed to in- sist on associating 1f with his cent illness his 1if pawnshop of Paul - ically, that did not hold water ' Why, should it? He tad met a pawnbroker who roamed the strects at night in a fantastic motor car, by drunkard, and he had fallen in love with a girl who was glad she was| golng to marry a dope-eating crimi-{ nal. Why, it was a spectable to make— John Bruce's fist been back here in driven a shed suddenly. was concerned did not place him be- fore himself in any better light. If he cared for her, if there was any depth of feeling in this love he claimed to “have, then at least her happiness, Ler weifare and her fu- ture could not be extraneous and in- different considerations to him. And on the spur of the moment, plqued, in spite of Paul Veniza's protesta- tions, he had left that night without seeing Claire again. He had been ashamed of himself. Yesterday ke had telephoned Claire. He had begged her forgiveness. He had not mant to say more, but he had. Something in her voice had—no, not invited; he could not say that—but had brought tie passion, pleading al- most, back into his own. It had scemed to him that she was In tears at the other end of the wire. At least bravely as she had evidently tried to do so, sle had been unable to keep her voice under control. But she had evaded an answer. There had been nothing to forgive, she had sald. He had told her that he must see her. that he would see her again. And then, almost hysterically, over and over' again, she had begged him to attempt notking of the sort, but In- stead to leave New York because she insisted that it was not safe for him to stay even In the city. John Bruce hurled the butt of his cigarette in the direction of the cus- pidor and clenched his fist. Crang' Safe from Crang! He laugled aloud harshly. He asked nothing better than to meet Crang again. He would not be so weak the t time. And the sooner the better, He gnawed at his under lip as he continued to pace the room. Today ad teleptoned Claire again, but d not spoken to her this time. He had not been surprised at the news he had received, for he remem- bered that Hawkins bad once told him that the old pawnbroker was in reality far from well. Some one, he did not know who, some necighbor probably, had answercd the phone. Paul Veniza had been taken il Claire had been up with him all the previous night, and was then resting. John Bruce paused abruptly before |. the desk at which he had been writ- ing and looked at his watch. It was a little after 10 o'clock. He was go- g back to “work” again tonight He smiled suddenly. and a little quiz- zically, as he caught sight of him- in a mirror. What would they ay—the white-haired negro butler and the exquisite Monsleur Henri de Lavergne, for instance—when the mil- lionaire plunger, usually so immacu- late in evening clothes, presented him- self at_thelr door in a sult of business tweeds? He sl rugged his shoulders. Dowr at Ratti’s that night his apparel—it was a matter of viewpoint—had been a source of eminent displeasure, and = then! Nonsense! It was absurd! He took vocket and unlocked one of the drawers of the desk. From the drawer he_took out a large roll of | ing bills. The hotel management had sent to the ‘bank and cashed a check for him that afternoon. He had not forgotten that he would need .money. and plenty of it, at the tables this evening. Well, he was quite ready to g0 now, and it was time. bo 10:30 o'clock before he got there, an “The devil!” said John Bruce sav- agely, and suddenly tossed the money back ‘Into_the drawer and locked the drawer. “If I don't feel liké it to- night, why should I? 1 guess I'll Just drop around for a little conveles- nt visit and let jt'go at that” ¢ John Bruce put on & 1ight ovef wat and left the room. In tke lobby downstairs he posted his letter to Gilbert Larmon. He stepped out on the street. and from the rank in front of the hotel secured a taxi: “Twenty a key abruptly from his|crowd just around the corner, | minutes later he entered.Gilbert Lar- . mon's New York gambling hell. Here he recefved a sort of rhapso- dical welcome from the exquiste Mon sieur Henri de Lavergne, which em- braced poignant regret at the accident that had befallen him and unspeak- (& able joy at his so splendid recovery; It was a delight so great to shake the land of Mr. Bruce again that Monsieur Henri de Lavergne .com- plained bitterly at the poverty of language which prevented an ade- quate expression of his true and sin- cere feelings. Also Monsieur Henrl de Lavergne, if he were not tres passing, would be flattered Indeed with Mr. Bruc's confidence, If Mr. Bruce should see fit to honor him with an account of Low the accident had happened. He would be desolated if In any way it could be attributable to any suggestion that he, Monsieur de Lavergne, on behalf of the house which he had the honor to represent as manager, had made to Mr. Bruce which might have induced “Not at all” John Bruce assured him heartily. He smiled at Monsjeur de Lavergne. The other knew noth- Ing ‘of Claire’s presence in the car that night, and for Claire’s sake it was necessary to set the man's mind S0 completely at rest that the subjeet would lack further interest. The only way to accomplish that was to ap- pear whole-heartedly frank. “It was just my own damned curiosity,” he said with a wry,smile. I got out of tiat Ingenious ‘contrapiton at the corner after going around the block, and, well, my curiosity, as I sald, got the' better of me. I followed the thing, and found out where Mr, Veniza lived. I started on my way back. but I dldn't get very far. I 0 an | &ot into trouble with a rathér tough who didn't llke my shirt front, I believe they said. The fight ended by my be- back “into a wine shop, :whero was stabbed, but from which I man- aged to escape into the lane. 1 was about all in, and the only chance I could see was a lighted window on the other side of a low fence. 1 crawled in the window and flopped on It would | the floor. It proved to be Mr. Veniza's house." “Pour I'amour de Dieu!" exclaimed Monsleur Henri de Lavergne breath- lessly. “And which also accounts” sald John Bruse pleasantly, “for the apol- ogy I must offer you for my appear- ance this evening in these clothes. The mob In that espect was quite suc- eessful.” . _“But that you are back!" Monsieur Ae_ Lavergne’s hands were ralsed in protest. “Ttat is alone what 'mat- ters., Monsieur Bruce knows that’ in any ‘attire it Is the same here for monsied x though he were at home.” “Thank you!" said John Bruce gor- dially. (bave only dropped in through th& urge of old habits, I guess. I'm hdrdly on my feet yet, and 1 thought I'd atch the play for Httle while tonfght.’” “'And that, tob* John Bruce moved toward the stair- cage, “Is entirely as monsieur desires” John Bruce mounted the stairs and began a stroll through the.roulette and card rooms. The croupiers and dealers nodded to him_ genially. Those of the “guests” whom he knew did likewlse. He was treated with | marked courtesy and consideratbon l by every attendant in the establisli- ment. Everything was exactly as it had been on his previous visits were the soft, mellow ligh siren purr of the roulette wheel, the musical click of the ball as it spun sround on fts little fateful orbit, the “Mie Tiustworty MAKING —and conserving it genius for making money is not always coupled with the ability to conserve it. The financial success of many years is often wiped out in a short period of time. There is a method, however, by which money or sald_‘Monsteur | Henrl_de, Lavergne ‘With a bow, as| low, ai dealers, ~the well. dressed players grouped around the tables, the hild- rious and the grim, the -devil-may- care laugh from one, the thin smile from another. same, gll exactly the same, even to the table in the supper room, free to all though laden. with every wine and delicacy that money could procure. But somehow, even at the end of half an hour, wkere he was wont to be engrossed till daylght, John Bruce became excessively bored. Perhaps it was because he was sim- ply an onlooker and not playing him- self. He had drawn close to a group around a faro bank. The play was grim earnest and for high stakes No, it wasn't that! He did not want to play. Somehow, rather, he knew a slight sense both of contempt and disgust at the eager clutch and grasp of hands, the hoarse, short laugh of victory, the snarl of defeat, the trembling .fingers of tte more timor- ous who staked with Chance and de- manded that the god be charitable In its omnipotence and toss them crumby! Well, what was he caviling about? It was the life he had ctosen. It was his life work. he with it? ¢ had ce nly liked it well enough in the oid days to squan- der upon it the fair sized fortune his father hLad left him. He decidedly had not gone into that Infernal com- pact with Larmon blindfolded Per- When You Think of Xmas, Think of Us You will be well repaid, Wonderful sliow ing of exquisite and useful gifts—Parl Lamps, Boudolr Lamps, Mahogany Tuble Dining Room Set hairs, Bedroom Sult are not to be found ¢ CORNELL te. 714 13th N.W. WALL PAPER CO Main 5373-53 Trust Gompany”™ MONEY property can be et volces of the croup'ers and | haps it was because in tho It was exactly the|the feellng which was natural enough pleased ¢ and which was {mmeasurably htman, t that it was irksome to be a to be fettered and shackled und to anything, even to what one. with one's freedom his own, was ordinarily out of choice most prone to do and delight in. Well, maybot But that was not entirely a satisfac- tory or copclusive solution, either. plaved when he wanted t these and hereafter he would play because he had to. Perhaps it was only that tonight there was upon him ve, (To be continued tomorrew.) As a man eateth SO is he ~— THINKING moulds the mind and exercise develops the body, but food supplies the materials for building mind and body. Grape-Nuts, made from wheat and malted barley, is a crisp, delicious cereal food, rich in wholesome nutriment, Theimportantmineral elements of the grains are readily available in this splendid food. The essential Vitamin-B is supplied in gener- ous measure. The nutritious starches of the wheat and barley are partially pre-digested by 20 hours’ baking. Grape-Nuts with milk or cream is a com- plete food. Its compgct form makes a little go a long way. Sold by Grocers Everywhere! Grape:Nu “There'’s a Reason” GRAPE-NUTS Six Minute Pudding 1 cop Grape-Nuts 1% cups scalded milk 1 tablespoon sugar THE BODY BUILDER down on the desk beside him, and he; as such had been very effectively dis- rose from his chair and stood there|posed of. He had had no opportunity staring unseeingly before him. That to be measured for new clothes. was not fair! What was uppermost | - The smile faded and he.stood star- now was the reerud: : of the!fing at: the-desk. The milllonaire bitterness that had possessed him two | plunger! It seemed to jar somehow nights ago_wren he had returnedon his sensibilities. Work! That was from Paul Veniza's to the hotel here | & gueer way. too, to designate it. He Nor was it a > than it was | was going to take up his work again P of | tonight, othefis may Naturesendsawarn- ing of Pyorrhea— bleeding gums. Only one personout of five past forty escapes. | younger are subject to it as well. Be on your guard. flao;ed beyond the probability of loss. Itis known as A Living Trust, because it operates during the owner’s lifetime. pick up the threads of his iife again where he had dropped them. “A bt ragged those threads, | weren't they? Frayed, { " What the devil was the matter with He begun to pace the roo ¢ |him anyway? There was money in had left Veniza's in_bitterness. Hellt, a princely existence. What more had not seen Cluire. It was a strange | could any one ask? What did Claire, sort of love he boasted. little of un- | his love for a girl who was glad to welfishness in it, much of importance, | marry some one else infinitely worse und still more of intolerance. That it ! than te was, have to do with t? Ah E s love in so far as he she did have something to do with It, rsing. of care, of and kindly hospitali to an utter stranger Only—only she had s 1t is the most economical form of prop- ertymanagement. Our officers will gladly esplain it. [} e WASHINGTON LOAN AnD TRUST COMPANY Sokn B. LornerLresident” MAIN OFRICE SRANCH QFRICR Nk G F Stresty Swontterth 8G Siuety: 2754 inches..$13.95 36263 inches..$19.95 FOR THE GUMS More than a tooth paste it checks Pyorr) A Sale of Chinese Rugs 2x4 feet $ 1 0‘95 Open a can of Wagner'’s and you have a lunch su- preme. A tasty bite that’s full of nutriment. H i H 1. Famous Chujo rugs of pure Jap wool with soft, heavy pile that feels so fine under foot and improves with wear. Rugs that en- hance the beauty of any room and last for generations. The amazing response to our Chinese Rug sale has led the importer to send a new shipment which we include in the lot at these special prices. We have no overliead or capital investment; the importer has quoted us special prices and limited the time of disposal. Porcelain colorings, rich and subdued, that blend with any color scheme. Rose, blue, tan and mulberry. Scatter sizes. Wonderful Values! Steam oven blending makes them more deli- cious and easy to digest., gners Steamy Oven Blendea Pork 22 Beans WITH REAL FOMATO SAUCE In 3 Convenient Sizes Fourth Floor, A Sale of Lace and Neét Curtains Two extraordinary values in lace curtains of beautiful patterns and excellent quality At 52.95 At 54,-95 Nottingham lace, filet net, Finer grades of filet nets, lace voile, Tuscan net and plain nets, and nets, Marie | Ansninctt.es, 214 yards long. Many lace edged. Cluny and Irish point, in white, Panels fringed. Formerly $3.50 ivory, cream or ecru. Formerly to $6 a pair. $7.50 to $12 a pair. (Annex, Second Floor) Washingtbn Knows . White Economy There is a larger owner investment in White Trucks than in any other high-grade make. White owners’ records show both truck and investment are very slow to depreciate. Checked performance proves the economy of Whites. In this city and everywhere, White Trucks deliver more work against time and less cost against operation. ~—" Plump, il s good” Jor yoit 'REEN olives do sppeal to your taste. They are so tangy, salty, and plump and- meaty. Do you know how healthful and nour. ishing they are? Green olives contsin 1400 calories to the pound. Fricasseed chicken has but 855. Serve green olives often—at dinners, teas, luncheons, eto. Serve them ‘in salads and’ sandwiches. As garnishes, and by themsélves: Buy @ bottle or two to-day: :;-;:.l-r.:ru m‘ sn:q ':“m olive Association AMERICAN IMPORTERS of Spanish Green Olives * 200 Fifth Avenue, New York City panish « OLIVE by s i ‘h e A olives and aull-.,d_ (Annezx, Second Floor) Blankets, $5.95 Wool-mixed blankets, soisette bound. The cotton base insures wear and the interwoven woolen threads, warmth. ~Blue, rose, gray or tan checks; double style; double size. Cbmforts, $4.95 Soft, downy comforts, light- weight yet warm. Filled with fine fresh cotton and covered with heavy, durable silkoline, in at- tractive colors and patterns, Full double-bed size. (Annex, Second Floor) (Amnez, Second Floor) The Hecht Co. F St 7th at F AF St nnex THE WHITE COMPANY CLEVELAND WasnincTon Brancu: 2101 New York Ave., N. W.