The evening world. Newspaper, March 5, 1914, Page 19

Prone, 208, Wy 3, 9, time on) Aa, alt ot re, to eat La a * CHAPTER x 1. (Conttoaed,) “The Et! tes of the Profession” a) TS a good thing to have ae somebody like him to slough the blame on in case of trouble.” “By gad!"—the exclamation burst -fom him involuntarily—“but you're 4 cold blooded proposition.” “Merely business foresight, my lear Mr. Symes,” she smirked com- Macently. “Some fool, you know, hight. think he could get a judgment f he didn’t like the way we handled tim, “And you're sure he couldn't?” “Lord!—no, Not out here.” Her eg slipped over her knee and her wot slumped to the floor, She slid ower in the chair, until her head sented on the back, her sprawling te outstretched, her fingers clasped teross her starched walstcont, upon ter face an expression of humorous lindain. “I can promise * she urged, ‘that I'll be equal to any emergence: “P've no doubt of it,” he returned Symes smoke hard; he was think- fg, not of the contract which he in- ended to peremptorily refu but ow best, in what words to tell this ‘oman that now more than ever he vished the intimacy between her and lg wife to end. At the close of an | the demanded bluntly patient silence ‘Do I get tho contract?” With equal bluntness he re worded: “You do not.” She straightened herself instant y hm the chair and he knew from the bok in her eyes that the c! 'd better reconsider,” it last, and there was in her voice (ud manner the taunting confidence of @ “gun man” who has hand at his hip. Symes spat out a particle of to- ‘eeco with angry vehemence and his tuddy face turned redder. &. “My answer {s final.” = composure grew with his loss o 1" hoped it wouldn't be necessary to reraind vou of your first visit here, , but it sec..m it is.” ‘That was it then--the source of her nce—she meant to trade upon, ote make capital .f a professional ‘*becret, It was like her to remind him of an obitgation fo attain her end. ¥ you mean"—his voice dropped *™ {o an incredulous whisper—-“that you are threatening to betray Augusta to attain your end?" “Something of the sort.” she re- piled in cold stubbornness. With his hands thrust deep tn his lpowsers pockets Symes faced her, dyeing her with an expression which would h. made most women wince Tee which she returned with absolute _tamposure. She was in control of the “aitwation and realized it to the full. Bymes was speechiess, nearly, in the face of such effrontery, such dis- loyalty, such ingratitude, _ "You would sacrifice (riend for money!” . “Business is business, and I'm out for uff, asx I told you, but there's ho sense in letting it come to that. T don't want to do it, so don't be a stop!” your best ymes groaned; she had attacked him in his most vulnerable spot. = Wamely, his horror of scandal, of any- thing which would besmirch the name , oust which he was so inordinately + Froud, The pride was at once his btrength and his weakness, e pre if I permit myself to be black- i matled—there is no use in mincing words—if I give you this contract in exchange for my wife's good name, are you willing to consider every ob- ligation wiped out?” ler eyes flashed their triumph at this quick collapse of his stand. “1 am. “and, “furthermore, will you agree to discontinue your visits to my ‘oune 7” seme ny 7" There was hard bravado in the question, “Your influence is not good, Dr. vevhat does Augusta say?” “I've not consulted her.” “And the contract {s mine?—that Is ac at ” “go long as you keep your word. She smiled enigmatically. “fll keep my word.” +. Mymes descended the stairs of the ‘Teretbe House tn a frame of mind that was very different from the de- * termined arrogance with which he had ascended them less than an hour be- fore. He was filled with a humiliating sense of defeat and of having acted weak! He returned mechanically the ralutations of those he passed upon the street and sank into his office Cl with his hat upon his head, a @amed sense of shock and humiliation mn him. sie iow ice of Dr. Harpe's unbe- perfidy would be a shock to Asie Pout it would terminate the miendship, he told himself, and he would be relieved of the disagreeable neceswty of asserting his authority too Le td removed his hat and flung It upon a nearby chair, then turned to his desk. <A telegram propped conspicu- ously upon the Inkwell proved to be from Mudge, the promoter, and read: trentave poasible investor who wants detailed information. Retter come on at once. “8. MUDGE.” CHAPTER xu, The Top Wave. EDICAL contracts between Drs. Harpe and Lamb, Andy P, Symes and the several contractore upon the pro- were properly executed before The Evening eee ASE A Biss Slide, Symes left for Chicago—alone. It en- talled a delay, but Dr. Harpe insisted upon immediate action, and her cov- mk ert threats had the desired result. “I've kept my word,” she sald, “and ite up to you to keep you if Gus comes to see me, that's your lookout, not mine.” And since Symes could not help himself, consented, al- though he knew that the delay might ean the loss of an investor. Dr. Harpe quickly realized that she had assailed him in his most vulner- able spot and Symes realized as surely that she would use,this know!- edge to the limit to attain her ends. “Am | 4 coward or @ hero?” Symes sometimes asked himself in his hours of humiliation and ignominy, The day Andy P. Symes left for Chicago Dr. Harpe celebrated the era of prosperity upon which bout to enter by the purchase of a bugsy,” which is usually the first evidence of affluence in the West. Lamb accepted her partnersh., Proposition with an avidity which rather indicated that he needed the money. He had no objections to being a salaried scapegoat providing the pay yas sure, but naturally it did not occur to Lamb to regard himeelf in any h light. If Dr. Harpe dubbed him her “peon,” she took care to treat him and his opinions with flat- tering deference, They rented a ef one- story buildin, which been a boarding house, for hospital purposes. It was divided lengthwise by @ nar- row hall which ended in a dingy kitchen in the rear, Dr. Lamb, who had some vague theories upon sanita- tion, protested feebly when the oper- ating room was located next to the kitchen, but changed on that account. in the front was furn Imposing bottles and their combined display of cutlery was calculated to impress. Their ideas as to keeping expenses for equipment at a minimum were in perfect harmony, for Lamb well as Dr. Harpe regarded tt as a purely commercial venture. If Dr, Harpe had been given tho op- portunity of selecting an associate from 4 multitude of practitioners it is doubtful if she could have found another better suited to her purpose than the man Lamb. Although by Ro is he had succeeded in be ated from an Institution of rood repute, he a charlatan tn ery instinet—greedy, unscrupulous, yering the ignorance of an_un- ‘uined mind with a cloak of solemn ond pious pretense which served its purpose in the uncritical, unsuspi- cious Western community, where a profession is always regarded with more or leas awe. In her new buggy with its flashing wheels Dr. Harpe was soon driving through the different camps along the project, and the laborers rather enjoyed the novelty of its from the “lady doc,” as they called her, and consented good-naturedly enough. to the deduction of monthly dues for hospital benefits from their wages. While her horses trotted briskly the length of the ditch and she was re- turning smiling nods and flinging re- torts that were not ‘too delicate over her shoulder, she began to fee) her- elf a personage; she was filled with a growing sense of importance ai power. There was everything to indicate that the contract would prove all that she and Lamb had hoped for. The general health was exceptionally food and she urged sanitary precau- tions upon the men to prevent lone and expensive fevers; as yet there was no dangerous rock-work entall- ing the of explosives to imper'l the lives and Iimbs of the men, The remedies required were of the stim- plest and the running expenses of the hospital were nil. When they received thelr first checks from the company and the contractors Lamb's joy was almost tearful, “It's easier than layin’ bricks, Do he said ax they wrung each other's hands in mutual congratula- tion, Dr, Harpe's ambition grew with her bank account, and among them there was one which began to take the shape of a,fixed purpose. With her successful manipulations of con- ditions to further her own ends she came to believe herself in her small world invincible, The effect of this bellef upon @ nature like hers was to jucrease its natural arrogance and her tendency to domineer, while the strange, extravagant personal conceit which seemed so at variance with her practical nature becamo a para- mount trait. ‘There was really no doubt in her mind that she could marry Ogden Van Lennop if she really set about doing so. It was only of late that she had given the thought words, In the beginning when 4) had discovered his identity, the most she had hoped for was to be friends, for a friend of Van Lennop's importance might be useful, She felt that there would be some way of turning his friendship to ag lake il account. The fact that they were xtill only acquaintances did not dis- courage her, nor the fact that he pmed entirely satisfled with the mpanionship of the erstwhile belle ot Crowheart, Rich men and rich men's sons had @ way of amusing themaelves with the soclety of their inferiors where th were unknown, was her <lis- dainful explanation to herself, but it piqued and irritated her even while it furnished the material for her sly innuendoes, for the insidious attacks which were fast completing what An- dy P, Symes's social dictatorship had begun. With her mounting arr gwance Dr. Harpe believed that if her ultimate success in her new ambition demanded the entire removal of Es- sie Tisdale from the fleld, this too she could accomplish. Her overweening confidence now was such that she was persuaded that she could shaps events and mould the lives of others and her own as she willed. CHAPTER XIV. “(Her Supreme Moment.” IR. HARPE had surprisingly good shoulders for so slen- der a woman—white, well rounded, and with @ gentle feminine glope. That she never had been given the opportunity of showing them to Crowheart had been a matter of some regret. Her chance came when Andy P, Symes celebrated the sale of $150,000 worth of bonds by an invitation ball in the dining room of the Tersriberry . presion upon Crowheart. House. even a C72 Elation over the placing of these bonus with the estate represented by J. Collins Prescott mitigated in some slight, degree the humil eee ad bit- terness of his feelings when, upon his return from his successful business trip, he found that Dr. Harpe had re- sumed her visits as before and vouch- sufed to him no word of explanation or apology at the deliberate violation of her promise. In any case, as Symes saw clearly now, the fulfilment of it would have been futile so far as ending the inti- macy Wt concerned, for the only result would have been that Augusta would have done the visiting. That he let the matter of Dr. Harpe's brok- en word pass thout protest evi- denced the completeness of his capit- ulation, his entire realization of the hopelessnes of resiatance to the situ- ation, It is not likely that more time and care is devoted to the making up of the list for a court ball than Bymes bestowed upon the selection of guests for the proposed function, which ho ¥ intended should leave an indelible im- It was a didcult task, but when completed the result was gratifying. No person whom Symes could even dimly foresee as being of future use to himself was omitted and with real astuteness he singled out those who hel within themselves the qualit! w ch made for future importance. It due to @ suggestion from Dr. . made through Augusta, that Van Lennop also received his first soctal recognition in Crowhear! “I don't know who the fellow | Symes demurred. In reality his re- luctance was largely due to a secret resentment that Van Tennop had geemed to withstand so easily the in- fluence of his genial personality. ‘Their acquaintance never had passed the nodding stage and the fact had piqued Symen more than he cared to admit. “Besides, he has elected to identity himself with rather singular company.” “No doubt he has been lonely,” de uildly, wand of course Essie is pretty.” When Van Lennop found the Invita- tion In the mail a couple of days later he frowned in mingled annoy- ance and Seon ent, “Digcovered,” he sald dryly, quick- ly guessing ita Import. Dr. Harpe’s increased friendliness had not escaped him and it had oc- curred to him that thelr frequent meetings were not entirely accidental, Past experiences had taught him the significance of certain signs, and when Dr. Harpe appeared with her hair curled and wearing a lingerie waist, the fact that roused the risi- bilities of her friends stirred in him 1 fecling which resembled the in- stinct of self-preservation, Van Lennop's brow contracted an he re-read the invitation in his room. “Confound it! I'm not ready to be discovered yet.” Then he grinned, in himself, at the hint In the He flung it con- pon the washstand. and it is to be feared he referred to the sole representative of the notable House of Symes. The dining room of the Terriberry House was a daggzling sight to the arriving guests, who were impressed to momentary speechlessness by such evidences wealth and elegance ax real carnal sand smilax and a real orchestra in the nearest large town on ain line. ‘The sight which held their eyes longest, however, was a large glass bowl on a le In an anteroom, beside which, If-conscious but splendid tn evening clothes, stood Mr, urging an unknown but erage hospitably upon rival. Dr. Harpe did not come down until the evening was well along, but the delay produced the effect she intends ed. As she appeared, fresh and coul, with her hair in perfect order, at tie end of a number which left the dancers red and dishevelied, si caused a sensation that could not w have been otherwise than flatteri Crowheart stared in candid amazes ment and admiration. Her sheer, white gown fell fror sloping, well powdered shoulders w11 Ita filminess softened wonderfully lines which were beginning to hard)n each her face. She had dresred with th» eagerness of a debutante, and her en were lumincus, her cheeks deh- ‘ately flushed with the excitement o£ it and with happiness at the visiole impression she was making. Dr. Harpe could, upon occasions, jume an air which gave her a cer- in distinction of carriage and man- ner which was the direct antithesis of the careless, swaggering, unfemin- ine creature that Crowheart knew, and as she now came slowly into the ballroom it is little wonder that # buss went round after the first fat- silence of astonishment, for her out at @ glance from the perspir- ing female crudities upon the floor. She looked younger by vears and with that unexpected winsomeness which was her charm. The murmur of approval was a tribute to her fem- ininity that was music in her ears. The night promised to be one of triumph = which she intended to en- Joy to the utmost, but to her It in- sured more than that, for Ogden Van Lennop warn there, as she had seen in one swift id it meant, perhaps, her “c 4 For reasons of his vn Van Len- nep finally decided to accept the In- vitation which at first thought he fully intended to refuse. He figured that he had time to telegraph for hi clothes, and this he did with the re- sult that Crowheart stared almost as hard at him as at Dr. Harpe's amaz- ing oe ‘The reserved, ui come to be tacitly recognized as an object of suspicion, not readily reconciled with this » self possessed young man in clothes which they felt intuitively were correct in every detail. He moved among them with a savoir faire which was new to Crowheart, talking easily and with flattering de! erence to this neglected lady and that, agreeable to @ point which left them animated and coquettish. Dr. Harpe quickly demonstrated that she was easily the best dancer in the room, and there was no dearth of partners after the firat awe of her had worn off, but her satisfaction in her night of triumph was not com- plete until Van Lennop’s name was upon her programme. Essie Tisdale, busy elsewhere, had her firat glimpse of the ballroom when Van Lennop claimed his danc She grew white even to her lips, ai her knees shook unaccountably be- neath her as abe watched Dr. Harpe glide the length of the room in Van Lennop’s arms, The momentary pain whe felt in ber beart had the poign- ancy of an actual stab. It was so-- so unexpected; he had so unequiv- ocally ranged himself upon her sid he had seen oo plainly Dr. Harpe's illy concealed venom and resented it in his quiet way, as she had thought, that this seemed isloyalty, and Cl in the first shock of bewilderment ,oow and pain Essie Tisdale was conscious only that the one person in all the world upon whom she had felt she could count was being taken her. Van Lennop had told her of his in- vitation in amusement and later had po, remarked carelessly that he might ac- cept, but apparently had given it no further thought. Even in her unhap- piness the girl was fair to her merci- less enemy, She looked well—tar, far more attractive than Easie would have believed possible, softer, more feminine and—more dangerous, Van Lennop was buman; and, after all, as she was forced to recognize more and more fully, she was only the pretty biscuit-shooter Terriberry House. Essie Tiadale pushed the awinging doors from her with a shak- ing hand and managed somehow to get back into the kitchen where, as she thought, with a atrange, new bit- terness, she belonged, Van Lennop did not leave Dr, Harpe when the waltz was done, but seated himaelf beside her, first part- ing the curtain that she might get the air and showing @ solicitude for her comfort so different from the cold, imper: courtesy of months that her h beat high with triumph Verily, this propitious beginning all she needed and, she told herscif again, was all she asked. While she » believed in herself and her personal charm when she chose to exercise it, Van Lennop‘s tacit recognition of it brightened her eyea and aoftened her face into amiling curves of huppiness. Van Lennop toyed with her fan and talked idly of impersonal things, but there was a veiled look of curiosity in his eyes, a kind of puzzled wonde each time that rested upon her face. An he covertly studicd her al- tered expression and manner, strongly conscious of the different atmosphere which #he created, there rove persist- ently in jie mind Fteven@en's story of the strange case of Dr, Jekyll and Mr, Hyde, He could not conteive « more striking example of dual person- ality or double consciousness than Dr. Harpe now presented. There was a girlish shyness in her fluttering glance, honesty in the denthe of her limpid’ hazel #, whiil Unmarred forehead sugm renity .of @ good woman, n Lennop was dimly conscious that for some undefined reason he never had thought of her as that. Sho had per- sonal magtegjsm—that he had con- waded 'ir0 vat, had found himself prenence ever, when most. To-night he was mure strongly rare of it than ever. “Wise ‘ight fulsiies the evening. It was a successton of triumphs for Dr © ‘The floor was at beneath hey feet and the com bination of insidious punch and eens. uous music turned her alow - running blood to fire, the disputed belle of the cold, aI the trating smilax from the side lamps on the wall and made her # wreath in jaughing aciatowl- edement of the fact. It wae much an hour ae she had dreamed of and the reality fulfilled every expectation. She wad attracted Van Leniop to herself at Inst; she had arouses! and held his interest as she bad Known Eavie she could and she had sent ‘Tisda’ prawiing ridicutousiy at his feet. She had shown Crowheart. how she could look when shs tried—what she could do and be with anty half an effort. In other words, she had proved to Van Lennop and to Crowheart that she was @ success as @ Woman as well as a doctor. one person ask? ‘The road to the end looked smooth before her. She to scream, to shriek aloud in tion. Her cheeks burned, thd lazed triumph. She had the tholing that it was the climax of her caaver, that no more satisfying hour coud come to her unless Leviag it was the day she married Ogden Van Lesnop. And she owed nothing, she thought as she whirled dizsily in Mr. Teri- berry’s arma, to any one but hopreeif, A clicking sound in Mr, Teriberry's throat due to an ineffectual to motsten his lips brought the ten that her own throat and mouth were parehed. “Let's stop and hil whispered feverishly. a feh.” Mr. en? seemed to check him- self in “Tkin hardiy swaller.” He led the way to the anteroom and she followed, swaying a little both from the dizzy dance and the effects of pre- vious visits to the punch bowL The hour was late and the remaining au were rapidly casting aside the strained dignity which their clothes and the oc- casion seemed to demand, Observing that Van Lennop had made his adieux, Dr, Harpe also felt a sudden freedom from restraint. Mr. Terrtverry filled a giass to the brim and executed a notable bow as he handed it to her. “To the fairest of the fair.” saki Mr. Terriberry gallantly, protruding his upper lip over the edge of his glass #0 wathering in the last or* In hin ba Dr. Harpe raised her glass to @ ten th and cried Ch li ‘o my Sypreme Momen' Mr. eerie, who had closed his eyes while the cooling beverage flowed down his throat, them again. Again she swung her glass above er head and shriller— My Supreme Moment —irink to it if you're a friend of mine!” awful capacity.” Mr. Terriberry her in languishing admiration. “That's why I like you. Honest t'God I hate to nee a lady go under. the table firs’ shot out o' the bax. Now my wife,” — suddenly remembering the existence of that lady Mr. Terriberry tiptoed to the door and endeavored to locate her y wife,” he continued in a con- fidential whisper, “can't tak drinks 'thouht showing It. Doc, Terriberry’s chin quivered as the pathos of the fact swept over him— “Doc, Merta’s no sport.” Mr, Terri- berry buried his face in his highly perfumed handkerchief as he con- fessed his wife's shortcomings. ‘Take another and ne un” she im as dry as She did not turn d. case came in at the honpital— teller shot, down the street.” ‘Where's Lamb?” she demanded tr- ritably. “Out of “Thunder impatiently. wa.” She stamped her foot “What is itt” she wied. “Billy Duncan. He's bleedin’ bad, Doc.” There was a note of entreaty in bis voice. ‘All right,” she answered shortly, I'll be down. “Frien’ of yours?” inquired ri ~a “Friend? No, One of those anes hoboes on the Ditch. Looks lik might hi taken some other ight than this. “Don't blame you ‘tall, Dee. I gotta get to work and Gn’ Merta. wee Merta”—— Mr. Terri denly realized that he was talking to himnelf. Ans Dr. Harpe made her way to the cloak room she was conacious that it was well she was leaving. The lights were blurring rapidly, the dancers in the ballroom were unrecognizuble and indistinct, she was sensible, too, of the increasing thickness of her longue, Yes, decidedly, it was time she was leaving, her saner self told er. She fumbled among the wraps in the cloakroom until she found her own, then steadying herself by run- ning her finger Ups along the wall, she slipped from the hotel without being observed, “Made a good get-away that time,” muttered, mh lips felt stiff and dry and moistened them frequently an she stumbled across the hummocks of sagebrush Krowing on the vacant lotm between the hospital and the hotel, he fell, and cursed aloud as she felt the sting of cact! spines tn her palm, She sat where she fell and tried to extract them by the light of the moon, ‘Then she arowe and stumbled on, ! i'm drunk—-jus’ plain drunk,” she waid thickly, and glad that there would be no on Nell Bee- croft about. ell againat the kitchen door opened with her weight. Jullo, Nell!” She blinked foolishly jn the glare of the light ‘The woman looked at her in silence “Been celebratin’, she glee- fully chuckled, “heen celebratin’ my S'preme Moment.” “You'd better git x arm or we'll be celebratin he woman anawered c' “That's what he is—ood joke, Nell, Where'd it happen?” She seated her- aelf in a chair and alid until her head rested on the back, her aprawling legs te fight ot the dance hall, Look he took her roughly by the “Tt tell you he's bad off, What :.ore could any “nKe trata: dogewoy nething in the manner of a horse Moses! ‘ Thursday, March $, _A COMPLETE. NOVEL EACH WEEK IN THE EVENIN THE LADY DOC = =A Story F Full of the Dash, Romance ahd Thrill of the West |—— down the long hallway into the re where the new patient lay moaning softly upon the ly w iron cot oanINK sed in reltet. and he said faintly ‘Oh, 1 thought: you'd voice wan quarrelsome, “do you think I've nothin’ to do but wait i t the beck and call of you for he was only thot, Surprise and resentment at the epithet, but he was tov weak to waste his strength in usel She raised tis arm boun Hloodsoaked rags roughly and he groaned, “Keep still, you calf! ' He shut his teeth hy the Sweat of agony stood out on hin pallid face as abe twinted and pulled and probed with clumsy, drunken “Nell!” she called thickly The woman was watching from the “cet the hypodermic and I'll give him @ shot of hop, then I'm gein' to bed. Lamb after him when he comes. I'n t goin’ to monkey with him now. But, the boy protested, “don't leave me like this, The bullet’ in there yet, and a piece of my shirt. ‘The boys pulled out some, but they couldn't reach the rest. Ain't you goin’ to clean out the hole or some- thing? I'm scart of biood- - polsonii Doc, for I've seen how it works,” ie Drotent angered her. “God! ‘re wise with your You bums from the Ditch give me more trouble and do more kickin’ than all my private patients put together. What you want for a dollar a month—* phe sneered—“a special nurse? A a@hot in the arm will shut your mouth ull morning anyhow.” She shoved up the ‘night clothes on the xripped his wrist; the needle viciously. lunged down the corridor and Beecroft stood looking after with & curious expression of derision and @ntempt upon her hard face. Dr, Harpe threw herself upon the ved In one of the private rooms and ‘soon her loud breathing told Nell Bee croft that wasn in the h of drink. The nurse opened the Pownall sleeve of hin food arn then she jabbed n her as she lay dressed hy IP she had come from the dance, on the out- anlde the counterpane. One bare thrown over her head, the othe. wan hanging imply over the edge of the bed, her loose hair was a- snarled mass upon the pillow and her open mouth gave her face an empty, look that was Destial. ‘There was no color in the east, only a peowving Might which made Dr, Harpe k ashen and haggard when pnhed ie jed from the bed and looked herself in a square of glass on the chicken in the cold, gray dawn, Harpe,” she said aloud as she made a_wry face and ran out her tongue. “Billous! A dose of nux vomica for you, That mixed etuff does knock « fellow's stomach out and no mistake, 1 look flerce.* ae head ached dully, her mouth a throat felt fenat rehed, and yet hal she had a ling of content- ment the reason for which did not immediately penetrate her dpll con- sciousness. sone agrecable her with a sensation of warmth about her heart. As she fumbled on the floor for hat » yawning sleepily until her Jawa cracked, she wondered what tt wan. he ‘stopped in the midst of hair and her face | recollection, Ogden Van Lennop! Ah, that was it. She remembered now. She had broken down his prejudice: she had partially ; x ‘her loa lighted ig) mudd won him over; se had been the “hit" of the evening; further con- quests were in sight within easy reach if she played her cards richt. And Enssle Tisdale—her long upper Up stretched in its mirthiess smile— she would not have her feelings this morning for a goodly sum. The thought of Van Lennop accele- rated her movenents. Shy must cet back to the hotel before Crowheart ‘was astir, for it might be her ill-luck to bump into Van Lennop starting on one of his early morning ride: he had no desire that he should see her io her present plight. hospital, with its odors of disinfec- tants and nickness, nauseated her ola! fan she opened the door and son into the hallway. She frowned a: delirious muttering» of a ty- Piola patient at the end of the cor- ridor, for it reminded her of a threa*- ening epidemic in one of the campa. ‘The sharper moans of Billy Duncan, whose inflamed a wollen arm was wringing from him ejaculations of pain, recalled vaguely to her min something of the incident of the night before. Hearing her step, he called aloud 4s she pased the dour ‘Won't somebody give me a drink” we, please give mea drink! I'm Nell will be up directly,” she awered over her shoulder. There w no time to lose, for the day was com- ing fant. She lifted her flounce and pulle torn and trailing her cloak about her bare shoulders am she opened the ; street door. The alr felt good her hot forehead and she breathed deep of it. The east was pink now, but the town wae still an silent as the grave save for the sound of escaping steam from the early ing train Happening to glance toward the sta tion, something in the appearance of # man carrying a sultease across the cinders attracted her attention and caused her to slacken her pace It looked like Ogden Van Lennop. It was Ogden Van Lenne leas in, What did it mean? castles collapsed with « th left her limp. * She kept ot tle was toward the hotel her step lagged. What did sh who saw her now? Surely, she rei ured herself, he was not leaving for good-like this. It wus certainly strange: Hatering the hotel through the un- locked office door she found the night jamp still burning aad ‘Terriberry wi where ubuut, That was curi- ‘ov be was always up when any of bis guests were leaving on the early train. Van Lennoy's decision must have been sudden. ‘What could be the exe planation? ‘There was « letter propped against ‘ but 3 ous + Wife was furthest from her thou She realised only that ! happening had left ¥ 1914 - Author of “ME, the lamp on a ta behind the desk and, as she surmised, it w: dressed to Mr Terriberry in Van Len- Hop's handwriting oking cloner she naw the end of a second envelope behind the first whom could he have written? In some respects Dr. Harpe bad the curiosity of a servant office - G WORLD #8 By Caroline Lockhart SMITH,” ly hopeless nituations. Her min@ was working in a circuitous way toward a definite goal which she net self had not as yet perceive when she did see it, it ca) % flash. of inspiration. “ne bounded to her fect ‘and began td pace the floor in the quick strides of and it now prompted her to walk be- mental exeltement, A plan suddenty hind the desk and gratify it outlined itself before her with the ‘Minn le was the ad- clearness of @ written text. Her drese on nd envelope. ine crushing disappointment ‘wap almost st iy © changed and the forgotten in the keen joy u° working swift, jealous rage of the evening be-VOUt the detatis of her plot. it only fore swept over her again she could influence certain minds— She ground her teeth together ax she regarded the letter with malice glittering in her heavy eyes. He was writing to her, then, the lite upatart, that infernal little biseuit-shoo Shorty, the cook, wan rattling the Kitehen range, Sho listened a mo- ment. There was no other sound. She thrust the letter quickly beneath the line of her low-cut bodice and Uptoed up the stairs with stinking, feline stealth. D CHAPTER } XV. “Down and Out.” KR. HARPE ripped open the envelope addressed to Kasie Tindale and devoured its contents standing by the window, bare-shouldered In the dawn. Long before she had fin- reading her hand shook with excitement, and her nose looked Pinched and crawn about the nostrils, As @ matter of fact the woman wan being dealt @ staggering blow, Until the moment she had not herself re- allzed how strongly she had built Upon the outcome of this self-con- structed romance of her In her wildest dreams she had not considered Van Lennop's attentions to Esato Tisdale serious or, indeed, his motives good. Ogden Van Lan- Th entertained the remotest no- king Esvie Tisdale to be his Vet there it was in bi @taring at her in word ‘k and white, which burned sleep themselves upon her brain, searing the deeper because she learned from ‘ owe deed had precipi- rinks wasn't sure of myself until last night,” Van Lennop wrote, “byt that creature’ erent act left Ynu in doubt. I had been aure of yon, Erste Tindale, T would have put my arm about you then and there ai told that braying crowd that any dignity offered you was offered to my ure wife. “But J was not sure, 1 am not sure fow, and only business of the utmost urgency could take me away trem you tn this state of luncertainty. It you want me to come back won't you ‘ou sure don't look lke a@ spring send me a telegram telling me so to in her the address [ am giving below? Just 4 word, Essie Tisdale, to let me know that you care uw little bit, that your Sweet friendship holds somethi more for me than just friends! 4 Li ir shall haunt the offi ihe rei ‘abtlly, Essie from you, #0 Furth le, and I have not closed my eyes for making plans you and me, It the moat rious happiness » I long to take from Crowheart and you in the environment in which you rightly belong, for while we know nothing of your parentage, | would stake my life that on ta you have no cause for shame. I am filled with all s lover's eagerness to give, to heap on you the things which women like- to al he with you my possess. fons and pleasures, “But in tne midst of my castle building comes the chi!!! thought that I am taking everything for granted and the fear that | have been presumptuous in mistaking ysir dear, loyal comradeship for somv- thing more makes me fairly eile. 1 am very humble, Essie Tindal: eee think tl a but T am coin 1o leve you es’ until you have a Naa allie % ‘pe crumpled the letter aut Riedy: i into the farthermost corner of the room, hi of helpleasne: and despair, She realized to the it what was losing, or, as sho phrased tt to herself, what was “alip- pt through her fingers.” And this BOO! to be the future of the girl who: it seemed . he hated above all others and all else in the world! The thought was maddening. She strode to and fro, kicking her tora fleunce and trailing akirt out of the way wit @uvage resentment. Van Lennop's letter temporarily punctured her con- celt, chagrin and mortification, adding to her feeling the anguish of that bad half hour, “That creature" he wos calling her while in her ridiculou self-complacency she waa drinking her Supreme Moment. Oh, it was ui bearable! She covered her redden- ing face with both hands, When she raised it at last there wan 4 light in her eyes, new pur- pone in her face. Her moment of weakness and defeat had passed, She would make good her boast that that person was not yet born who could ultimately defeat her, She would not go #0 far am to say that In the end she would marry Van be would she admit that it In every clash be- nd this girl whe had won, 80 Why not again? There must le-there Was-some way to pre- vent it! She Ind no plan in mind as yet, but something would suggest itself, she knew, for her crafty resourcefulness had helped her since her childhood in many @ tight place, from seeming- tween herself & WILL BEGIN NEXT Monday's Byening ind here; you're =—Saaqoeeeeaw— TWext Week’s Complete Novel | AFOOL AND HIS MONEY By George Barr McCutcheon World and trouble oa d manipulat “Lean! 1 will!" She emphasized her determination with clenched fist, After a hasty toilet sbe a aukreves herself tn the glass with satisfaction. The jaded look wan fast fading under a the stimutus of ie a of her and ‘Ii cnolgenee of the night nding up well under the “That pe, letter was sure @ body blow. She seated herself at the break- fast table and im her habitdal -attl- tude of alouching nonchalance sat with hilf-lowered lids watching — Tindale an 4 moved about the din ing room, ere Wan bi ‘n her Wb octane Dose, vie cra ane as nean of her eyes, which bird of prey, but it wae ae until tenet were alone that she asked care- jemaly : “Ot course you know that Van Len op left Crowheart this mora- ing?" She drawled the words tn crugt enjoyment with her eyes fixed upen the girl's face, Her eyes shone miatevolently an she it blanch, Didn't he tell you he was going? tm erie’ ‘The git! stood in atunned 4 aliens. “Yes, @ telegram sent him to ico to look after some important in. tereste the Quite unexpected. He left a letter for me saying net te and regretting that he would not buck. So you Ree, my dear that when it eomes to the covet count your friends have simmered down to one.” Tt was not = that she should crush her, she wanted senew to wring from her a cry of pain. umhed a that | ® man like Van Lennop, of his post- tion, doesn’t take a: biacuit- bie seriously, Green aa you ' should have known that. rutned yourself in Crowheurt, dee Lod footsteps ever; lime. he urn all that sort ne ey couldn't shake you. ‘you're done down and out aad might ap well quit flat. It's Lend Ase ean do, or marry the first Rent jot and settle down.” ked at hei o uit takin to may, aching heart they must be true, he would not hava left her wit! a word. What did it mm mean? could auch sincerity be pet no one true im all the world hint sickening misery it he turned away and {eft the din- ing-room, awaying a little as she ‘walked. Dr. Harpe returned to her room with a amirk of deep satisfaction upon her face. “I soaked the knife home that time,” she murmured, Piasing om her t i seit 42 te te id gone than etfe had intended in mentios Van Lennop’s letter an@ boastio it had been left Cy her. A night of tears courage, meni Dhyaicaity spent. Back of everything, loomed tn black and the fact that bove all else, come propor. In the long hours of the it her tired brain constantly recall the things which he had sai@ that had made per at the Sow. Ay:.) eae time, oo window-nill, finding the good upon her hot Bernd weak, the weaknegs of black for it seemed to her that her fait human nature a received ite Qnal shock, If onl re was some one upon whone al r she could ‘ey her head she imagined that it might not be half so hard. There was Mrs, Terriberry, but efter what had hap- pened could whe re eure even of Mrs, ‘erriberry? Could any inconssaag, tlal person like herself be anybody tf it conflicted with th ine ter sts? It seemed not, She Ne from voicing the thougnt, the truth was she dared not pat Mrs. Terriberry's friendship to any “The best way to havi she whispered bitterly with a lum; her aching throat, “is'not to m them.” She dreaded the beginaing of an- other day, but it must be gotten through som@how, and pot i that all day but the day after that and the innumerable, dreary day of her. Finally she crept shi bed to await the ordeal or anot! morrow. (To Be Continued.) The exploits ofa} voung New Yorker who buys a roma | lic Ger man castle | and finds he has ume |} knowingly a tillelo mystery PICS EN