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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 26, 1915)
KG I IT PACI3 PAGE SEVEN DAILY EAST OltEGONIAN. PENDLETON, OREGON. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1915. UiaTEENTfl EPISODE. Trapped. CHAPTER I. DRAPED a the Spirit of the Marsh, the heau Uful Utile runaway lrlile tood, dated and trembilng, on the sidewalk Id front nf the tudlo from which she had been driven. At tbe curb atood a limousine with Its black allk curtain drawn. The white muatarhed man. who had prung from It, grsed (he lovely model by the wrlat and drew her to the car as the dark, hand wine, black Vaudyked man who hud followed cov ered ber gauzlly clad form with the voluminous black cloak which he carried. Down the atrect at tearing pace came the fam ily car of the runaway bride'a father and mother, ad In It with them were two of her friends and the deserted groom, hie teeth gritting and hi flnt clinched aa be aaw lhee two acoundreli bundle bl pretty June Into the car and hurry In after her. . Just behind the family came an electric coupe, driven by a aharp featured woman with a long nose nd btgn arclied brown, and aa abe aaw this bold abduction he shrieked and run ber car Into the curb. Aa the door of the luxurlnua limousine slam med ahut the quiet block seemed suddenly allre. Around tbe corner of the studio cnme bounding a Jiandsome collie, which ran to the car, loud'y bark ing. A woman with 111) tW bones &uA accom panied by tall policeman followed the dog. She dashed up to the limousine aa it atartod and jumped upon the runulng board, while tbe dog barked and leaped. From t doorway on the opposite M of the street there aprang a abort, wide man with a thick (tub of cigar In hla mouth, who pursued the limousine, . bopped upon the apare tires at the back of the car and hung there. The woman on the running board opened the door of the limousine and forced ber way In aa they daubed around the corner, furiously pursued by the family car, the electric couie and tbe barking collie. ; Tbe luiurlotia llmoimlne was speedier than Ita pnr ' auera, but not speedy enough entirely to lone the family car with tbe deserted groom. It had gained aereral blocks' headway, hirWever, when It turned comer and atopped abruptly In front of a houae where Tlvaelous brunette aud a large blond wom an itood peering eagerly ont of the window. Only for in Inatant It paused. The door opened. Out of It aprang the white mustached man and drew after him tbe half fainting girl In the voluminous black 'cloak. He vut hla arm around her and hurriedly "forced her up tbe atepa. The woman with the high cheek bone darted after her. She hesitated a mo ment and vaguely recognized the cloak; then she aprang after the beautiful young girl. The man with the blBck Vandyke caught her by the ami and held ber back, lie sioke aharply to the driver, and the limousine Jerked forward Just aa the door of the house opened and the beautiful girl waa thrust Inside. The. thick, wide man on behind struggled to gel down from bis uncomfortable position, but his cra vat waa caught In the strap of the tire covers, and o tbe well known and Justly famous private detec tive. Bill Wolf, stooped over the tires, with his wide feet In the rack and hla arma around the rims and hla bead held down, waa carried swiftly away from the ecene of hla aleuthlng. The black Vandyked man talked earnestly with the high cheek boned woman for an Instant and gave her aome money, hurried up the etepe and let himself In w ith a latch key, while the woman ran down to the basement door and pushed paat the aervant who opened It v At that moment the family car ewerved around the corner and flashed by, atlll pursuing the Inxurl oua limousine. It bad lost tbla ecene of alighting through having atopped long enough to take on the handsome collie, which now aat on tho front aeat .'with the driver. There waa no mistaking that luxurt one limousine, with It black curtains tightly drawn end a bit of filmy gauze fluttering from the door end tbe faithful Bill Wolf atlll stooped on behind. Bo It waa that beautiful June Warner came Into the boarding bouse of Mrs. Ruaael. In the parlor to which she waa abruptly Introduced there were three young women and young man. With a awlft mo tion the white mustached man drew from June'i houlden the voluminous black cloak. "The Spirit of the Marahr he laughed by way of introduction, and the shrinking June clutched her draperies convulalvely about ber as abe mot the '' frankly admiring gase of tbe young men and the 4 critical Inspection of the young women. The ttwemlnoue black cloak waa suddenly Jerked fjom the band of the white mustached man, and the me with, the black Vandyke stood there wltb ' a eoowl en hla dark, handaome face. Swiftly be wwpped tbe cloak around tbe shrinking form of . tit 7unf stlrt and drew her out of the room. "Mariel Mirier' cried June, and a tie ran toward . tie woman with tbe high cheek bones, wbo stood J a tb head of tb stair. I "Brlnf ber In bere," Bly Mid In bli low, plea I tatty modulated voice, and. opening the door of ft umptnooaly furnished chamber, be atood by It 1 fort tha tnere came springing up the stairs tbe I nwtaohed n. June darted Into tbe room, . bkek Taadykad man detained Marie and sluik'ng her bead. He showed ber some money, and Mie still shook ber head. lie gave ber aome more, snd ahe amlied and went downstairs. - "June!" It waa the voice of Cunningham. She aprang to ber feet aa the door suddenly open ed and Cunningham came Into the room. CHAPTER II. FAR out on Broadway tbe luxurious limou sine, with the black curtains drawn and the bit of filmy gnuze fluttering from the door, turned toward the river, with tbe faithful Bill Wolf atlll stooped over tbe tires, bis cravat atlll firmly clutched In the strap of tbe tire cover and bis empurpled face turned partly up, ao that the corner of one pink eye could gaze back Imploringly at tbe pursuing car. In that car, strained tensely forward, Ned Warner aat with gritted teeth and clinched bands, never re moving his eyes from the fleeing limousine Into which be had seen hla lovely runaway bride bun dled by the scoundrelly Gilbert BIye. Again be urged the driver Jerry to greater speed. He was determined that tills time the chase ahould not end until he had hU fingers clutched around the throat of the dark, handsome man with the black Vandyke and had strangled him to death. He had wrecked Ned's life, this dastardly Blye, and nothing but a life would pay. On the very day of Ned's marriage the fellow's evil machination had begun. The black curtained limousine Just ahead wheeled around the corner and dashed up the hill at high speed, with the faithful Bill Wolf wabbling on be hind like a Japanese balloon. The girl In the sumptuously furnished room at Mrs. RuKsel'i shrieked (he nam of Gilbert Blye, aud he came hurrying Into the room, a ecowl upon his dark, handsome face. Gilbert Blye pointed stern ly to the door, and Cunningham, after a moment of sullen hesitation, left the room, twirling his white mustache. At the door he turned and caat upon June a malevolent glare. "Please! I'lease, Mr. Blye!" begged June. "ComeT' His low voice soothed her. "You must rest for a few moments, and I promise that no one shall disturb you. I shall return In ten minutes." In the basement Marie atood with Gilbert Blye' lnoney In her band. She started for the door. She came back end started for the stairs. She turned again to the door, again to the stairs, then (food and looked at Gilbert Blye's money, ber high cheek bones white and Indecision on ber brow. t'phlll and downhill rushed the black curtained iiaic-ae "1th tbe Moore family car atlll Is bot pursuit. Occasionally tbe well known and justly famous private detective, BUI Wolf, loosened hi clutch for an Instant, but tightened it Immediately. The sharp featured woman with tbe long nose and the high arched brows rolled ber electric coupe up to tbe door of ber own bouse and went Into tbe parlor. June walked slowly to a wardrobe and opened It Half a dozen gaudy costumes hung there. She chose one of the most attractive. She donned this gar ment, congratulating herself that It fitted ber. Bh added a headdress of beads found lying on a bureau. As Gilbert Blye started up tbe stain be atopped, surprised by the beautiful figure which emerged from the sumptuously furnished chamber, and came down toward htm with queenly grace. It was June, an entrancing vision of lovellnes In Set borrowed finery, and lu ber eyes waa a new Kgtit "Will you give me a cigarette, p'etse?" abe gayly requested him, and be looked at tier In astonishment "Why-why, yesl" be itammered. He produced bis case, and she took a cigarette. Still studying ber curiously, be Ut his pocket lighter for her, and a slight frown twitched upon hi brow aa, puckering her beautiful red Hps, she blew a long thin stream of blue smoke Into his face. "Come on," she called, and, taking bl arm, (he tripped smilingly Into the parlor, with a sidelong glance, however, aa ahe left the ball at the stalwart attendant wbo guarded the front door. "Whose dress sm I wearing?" ahe cheerfully de manded aa ahe seated herself. "It's mine," said one of the girls, jumping up from the side of Cunningham and walking all around her. "But, honey, I'm bound to say that It look better on you than It does on me." And there was a trace of envy In tbe compliment "By George, you're a stunner!" said Orln Cunning ham, wbo had been too much astonished to rise un til now, and, with a sidelong glance at Gilbert Blye, he walked across to ber, and from hla pocket he drew a long white leather caae doted with a golden clasp. He opened It, drew something from it and, his eyes sparkling, held up a string of milk white pearl. She flaahed her large, lustrous eye at him, and her rosy llpe parted In a smile; (hen she looked at Gil bert Blye. He hesitated a moment and nodded. Then aha bent ber head, and Cunningham threw the string of pearl around her beautiful white neck. She put ber arm through his and merrily danced across tbe room to a mirror, where, with sparkling eyes, she admired the pretty bauble. "I think I'll have a cocktail, please," she said, turning suddenly to Mrs. Russel. "Bless your heart, honey," laughed Mrs. Rnsael, "I didn't suppose you knew how to drink a cock tall." June was a bubble, a sprite, a dancing efferves cence, a gay llttl tantalUatlon, until Mrs. Russel returned with cocktails for all of them. June drank ber with enchanting abandon. Suddenly she whirled to tbe door, and Cunning ham followed. "No, no!" ahe laughingly cried. "I'm going to sur prise you. You must stay In here and wait" "Not me," laughed Cunningham. "Then I won't surprise you." And abe flounced Into a chair with a pretty pout "Here, Cunningham," called the young man, wbo bad followed June, "we want that urprtel" "Bit down, Cunningham," said Blye, and he Indi cated where Cunningham waa to tit while be held back the portiere for June to pa. She (topped In the curtain. "Now, mind, none of you I to cornel And have another cocktail ready for met" She whispered something in Blye' ear a she hurried Into the ball, and be threw a kta at bar. He put hi bead out however, and looked at tbe liveried attendant That stalwart person stood stiff j at tbe door and cut W gloomy eyes on June. Halfway up tbe stalrs.June turned and found tbe eye of the stalwart guard fixed steadfastly upon ber. She amlied sweetly at him and beckoned. He hesitated a moment tben came stalking (lowly to ber. So long a she was within reach of blm be need not be within reach of tbe door. "What' your name?' and, folding her band to gether, abe beamed down at tbe big lout "Christian," and he actually grinned. "Well, Christian, now listen," and she held up a warning finger. "I want you to help me play a lit tle trick. Come on and I'll show you." She turned and tripped lightly up the stairs. Christian, however, turned and stalked to the par lor and poked bis yellow head between the por tieres. "She want me to help play a trick," he an nounced, and tbey all laughed. "It'a a afe trick If you help," chuckled Cunning ham, and Blye motioned his assent Thereupon Christian stalked np the stairs and entered the room where June stood anxiously awaiting blm. Her silvery little laugh came as she saw him, and she ran lightly to tbe window and threw it open. There was a tiny balcony outside which was en tirely isolated and quite high above the street. "Now, Just tand out there," abe directed, and be tepped obediently out. Gently she towered the window. "I'll tell you what to do next" she laughed and, nodding to blm, turned tbe window lock; then abe i f a 1 !" i K XT' v: IMS ft. s tt. f-r BILL frOLfi WB. JUSTLY FAMOUS PfffCm. slid the steel fire shutters, which sbe bad discov ered In tbe window Jamb, and dropped their bolt In place. On tbe bed were tbe eoat and bat which she bad laid out She grabbed these up and then, with a quick glance about ber, closed ber door softly from the outside and tiptoed down the stairs. She scarce ly breathed as (he slipped pest the parlor portieres and covered tbe slight cough which she could not repress. Her touch upon the locks of the heavy front door wa a deft and a light a a featber. As the big door swung (lowly June (tilled a shriek with tbe (harp Intake of ber breath. The portieres bad awayed, and an elbow bad come through! Quick a a fiasa June (lipped out through tbe nar rowest crack which would accommodate her body. Closing the door behind ber wttb a touch aa toft aa tbe breath of cummer, June harried lightly down the (tep, crouching close to the (to wait CHAPTM 111. THE black curtained llmoostne, ita bit of filmy gaut fluttering at tbe door and Bill Wolf holding on to the apare tires for dear life, swapt from the road down Into the long private drive to a beautiful residence over looking the river, and BUI Wolf, with a long sigh of relief, prepared to unbend at laat from his stiffen ing position. The car, however, never slackened. As It daabed past the porte-cochere Its wide faced Italian driver bent (nd looked st bis clock and swpt around on the other side of the long curve just as the family car of th Moore whirled Into tbe drive. The handsome colli yelped as be rec onuu4 the familiar spot and tbe five people In the VI XI JOlNEWaVEK. r ? 1 H' J 4 B Mil I family car looked at each other in perplexity as Jerry curved round back to the road. How pecul iar! The black curtained limousine waa apparently heading Into the city again, and a curved limpness came Into tbe broad back of faithful Bill Wolf. In the decorated parlor Mrs. Russel served tbe cocktail and started upstair with June's. Tbey stopped ber st tbe portiere. "She not to tie disturbed," tbey all told ber In their different forms of speech. June Warner bad fled far away from that section, hurrying on and on as If she could not put enough distance between herself and that hateful scene. She waa In the more densely populated district now, on a street of cheap shops and rickety tenements, and the fourth or fifth pawnshop which abe passed gave ber a happy Idea. She looked In at the next one. It was repulsive looking. She remembered a cleaner one which she had passed and went back to it She hesitated a moment, then went boldly In. There she found a pudgy, bowlegged little man. "Is It anything I can do, miss?" be asked ber. "How much will you give me for this, please?" and from her hair ahe took an exquisitely carved tortoise shell comb studded with blue stones. Tbe pudgy little man glanced at it Indifferently. "Half a dollar, maybe." "Oh."" And June picked up the comb In dismay. "Why, these are real sapphires. Tbe comb cost" "Excuse me." Tbe pudgy little man grabbed the comb from ber band and trotted nimbly to tbe II jtSvriLAJ s i w IVW I HEsmeswmA .ill V I I I v U I I v. - rv ft - , i window, screwing a jeweler's glass In bis bulging sye as be went "Oh, S, maybe P "Why, the comb cost" "Sorry, lady" and rubbing his pudgy hands to gether, be smiled Ingratiatingly at her, "but by tbe time you dig them little stones and sell them you waste so much labor that if I'd give you $S.2S I'd lose money, maybe." June (lowly picked np the comb. She was outside the door before be called her back. "Waltr He (mlled ingratiatingly at ber. "Ton need the money, lady 7" "Very much, I rear," she confessed. "And would you gtv me your promise that you take ep the tona some ,1m e, with tbe Interest?" "Ob, year Tbsa very eagerly. "Tb comb Is a keepsake." "Tben I give yea SAM She gathered up the aumsy wttb a sickening sense of humiliation and took tbe ticket be gave ber and walked out fiwflaa; tbat she had been badly worst ed, because sbe bad no Uart for this sort ef barter ing. It dawned upon her that there were worse humiliations than accepting mouey from one's bus band, and yt Sbe conquered the weakness which sprang fiercely op In ber, which made her heart cry In anguish for Ned, which made ber long to desert all this hideous struggle and fly to bis sheltering anna. No; she must fight to the end! But what wa she to do next? A sign at tbe foot of a dark, narrow stairway caught her eye "Girl Wanted to Sew PanU." Labor, honeat toll. Slight a might be the pay, wa It not better, after all, than tho occupation in which lb bad auffered 10 much? Timorously Jun climbed the stairs, stopping at tbe (tret leading for a recurrence of that slight cough which bad come upon ber. An Impossibly dirty man stood behind a long ta ble, on which were piled huge bundles tied In rough paper. "Welir be said gruffly. "I would like to aew some pants, If yon please," said June modestly. The man shrngged his shoulders. "You go over to that woman there, and she'll show you what's to be done snd how much deposit to pay." He indicated another table. When June went down tbe narrow etalrs ahe car ried as heavy a bundle as sbe could conveniently t lift, and her scanty tore of money wa reduced to a very small margtn. Little as It waa, however, ahe bad yet to make a purchase. In the first little store she bought an inexpensive little plain black dress. She had less than a dollar when she stopped before a building to which she had been directed by the ehopkeeper. It lower floor bsd once been occupied as a bank, but It had been tenantless for years. On tbe doorpost of tbe stairway wa a algn, "Room to Let." June here engaged a mean little hall bedroom from a dumpy landlady. Down Broadway tore the black curtained limoo sine, the observed of all observers, for still attached to hi cravat and clamped to the tires so stiffly that be felt he would have to be pried off was the well known and Justly famous private detective, B'U Wolf, faithful In spite of himself. Not more than two blocks behind came tbe family car, with June's handsome colli on tbe (eat beside Jerry, June's fa ther sterner, and June'a mother gentler ami mot quiet Bobby Blethering in patient wonder at te restlessness of the world, June's bosom friend. Iris Blethering, quivering with excitement snd emotion, and the deserted groom gritting his teeth and clinch ing bis fists as the black curtained limousine, witb it bit of filmy gauze fluttering at the door, con stantly kept just before them like a tantalizing will 0' the wisp. In the gaudily furnished bouse of Mrs. Russel there was a frantic running to snd fro snd up snd down stair. Every room in the bonse was search ed, and at last Orln Cunningham thought to InvestV gate why one of tbe window In tbe room which Bad been provided for June seemed darker behind Its heavy hanglngs'than tbe others. He found the fire ahutters closed and opened tbem, revealing the stalwart Christian frozenly waiting on the Isolated balcony to be told his further share In June's trick. Tbe young man'and the three girls laughed. June was gone, and Gilbert Blye turned and walk ed down tbe stairs. He paced the hall for a few moments, bis heao bent, bis black eyes somber and his long, lean white fingers stroking bis black Vandyke. There was a ring at the doorbell. A messenger boy, and he carried a bundle, A stealthy figure (lipped forward Into the ball. "No answer," said the boy as he delivered the bundle, ' Orln Cunningham at a signal from Blye took the bundle and passed It to Mrs, Russel. She tore it open and drew forth before tbe revelers who bad gathered in her parlor the gorgeous raiment bs which they bad last seen tbe beautiful June. Orln Cunningham stooped down with an oath and picked up something which had fallen to the floor. Tb string of pearls! He stamped upon tbe floor in rage. "Stop that messenger boy!" came tbe cold, hard tones of Gilbert Blye, snd the stalwart Christian, rushing out brought back the boy. "Where did you get this bundle?" demanded Onn Cunningham. The boy hitched his trousers. "I ain't supposed to tell" "How much did you get for not tclllcg?" demand ed Mrs. Russel. "AU she had TO cents." "Here's $2," said Orln. "Now, where did you get this bundle r The boy grinned. "Tellln' always worth more than not tel'.vo ," aagely observed and Jerked his call slip from his pocket "There's the address." Gilbert Blye, casting a glance at the slip, openea the door and strode out on the steps. The stealthy figure which had crept along the hnil suddenly dart ed out of the door after the messenger boy and hurried up the street with blm. It was Marie. Down the street there whizzed the black curtained limousine. Blye hurried out to it as it sfopied aud, with blazlug Impatience, called, "Come on!" Cunningham dashed from the house and Jumped Into the limousine, while Blye gave swift directions to his driver, ne, too, hopped In and abut the door and threw up the side curtulns, revealing the car empty except for himself and Cunningham. The women In the door called something in shrill ex citement as the car rushed away, but Scattl paid no attention, and the well known and justly famou private detective, Bill Wolf, groaned. Around the corner dashed the family car of the Moores, with Ned Warner. The dumry landlady knocked at the door of June little bedroom aud stopped in profound astonish ment when she entered. At the rickety table sat her new lodger in a plain, cheap black dress, bent earnestly forward. She was sewing pants! "Why, I hardly knew yon," said the landlady, look ing around the room. She waddled to the door of the flimsy wardrobe and peered In. It was empty. "Where them fine clothes yon bad?" "They did not belong to me," June said lmply. "I sent them way after buying this dre." "Oh. you did! What about the necklace r "That wa a gift which I could not ocpt" and June' eye dropped. "1 sent it sway alo." All tb pucker In the fat landlady' brow deep ened and knotted. "Ob, you dVl.- Sbe cleared ber throat and looked (t tb stack of pant and at th delicate 8ngr which wr laboriously pushing th need' through th coars cloth. "By th wy, I forgot to got any rent from you. I always get a wtk In advaac." June amlied wanly and shook ber head. "I us sorry," sh ald. "I hav uo money." "What!" Th dumpy laudlady Jumped to her tut. Sh wis breathing so hard that sh wheezed. "No money! Toung lady, you'll bar to gat outr "Oh, nor pleaded June. "Flease!" Bh turned for one lost word of appeal, but QM landlady'! pitiless arm was outstrttcbed. TO II COSTHVID.)
