1 i
THURSDAY. DKCKMBF.R J». 1WOM
WAV
« e
&
&
fhe D evil
■ 'A
• »
• >
By FERENC MOLNAR.
Dramatized by OLIVER. HERFORD
Adapted by JOSEPH O BRIEN
$
COn^VIGHT. 1903. BJ? l.’L.ACRy
JAV'AGl
' (Chapter Four Continued)
Yon are not jealous?" Olga asked
jf you don't want the truth—no I
not." Herman replied, and In b‘«
there was the peculiar mean!
!, h his words did not convey. "I; I
T not afraid of becoming rldleti
,1 ehon'il say warnlngly. ‘Chlldn
fsur? to be good.
g,> paused and looked at both of
Then he said:
•Ceodby.”
As h" turfied Karl followed and e
yteil him through the door, O!’:i
isxl frownlug. worried, ill at er
irl l.-okcd at her lu surprise wi ■
i returned.
■•Wh it is the matter?” he asked.
Ol'a started nervously anil loo
bim She pressed her bauds be.
and for a moment did uui
She loosed uway us Karl q
iched her aud said tenderly:
“Are ya afraid? Please tell me.
"I don t know what is the matter
Ith me. but just now, when my hus-
tnd went away. I felt as if I hnd
ten left without a protector.”
She broke off abruptly, and Karl
>ged her to explain.
"What do you mean? I don’t urnler-
anil.” he said.
"Yes. you do, Karl,” Olga said as
ie turned and faced him. "You know,
have fought against coming here for
1 years—ever since my marriage."
She looked away from him,, around
ie studio, with its bizarre decorations,
id shuddered.
"Ugh! This place looks like a devil's
tehen." she cried. "These strange
ling-, terrible monsters, cold, white
atue . In Als without bodies, and you
their midst like a conjurer-1 did
it notice them while Herman was
ere. but now”—
Karl turned swiftly toward her.
"But now?” he asked.
Olga looked at him with an expres-
loii of terror In her eyes. The two
:ood thus at bay.
CHAPTER V.
EFT to themselves In the big
studio, facing each other,
Karl and Olga were silent.
There was a look in Karl’s
res that Olga had never seen before.
There was a tumult In her heart that
Lthe had never before felt. It was
Karl who first recovered himself and
tried to break the silence, trying to
speak lightly.
"Don't be nervous,” he said reassur
ingly “This is the reception room of
my studio.
Every woman I paint
I comes here."
•‘And do you paint every woman who
comes here?" Olga asked sJowly.
“N >.' Karl replied shortly.
I There was another awkward pause.
Olga could not tell why she had asked
that question any more than Karl could
I have told why lie had asxed Herman
I if he was not t'rald to leave them
alone. It was some unsuspected jeal-
I ousy that prompted It.
“Did you understand my husband?
| Olga asked.
"Yes, I think I did."
“lie said ‘I trust you.’ Why should
he say " that? Why should It not lie a
matter of course?” (
“Y’ou don't think he Is really Jeal-
•us?”
Olga shook her head.
“I don't know.” she said
During
the six years we have been together
•nd you have lieen our friend he has
•Pen pretended to be jealous. This
tone there was something In his voice
tbit made me believe it was ni*»retban
pretense. It Is the first time be ha«
•ver left us alone."
They were standing. Karl near the
door, where he hnd bidden Herman
farewell. Olga was ou the opposite
•ide of the apartment. In the •'-ove In
•no corner an open fire burned I I r ghily.
casting a red glow over the I ig. com-
, before
tunable armchair drawn
It with Its high, pulpit shat
toward them. Kart walked
Olga and said with quiet ear’.
"We have tried to avoid 1 < *
tried for nix years. Now that
Us "on la forced upon us. why not
honest? Let us talk about It f
“I think It was sweet not to
It for six long years.” Olg -al
log at him. “A clean co
like a warm cloak, Karl. It inf
us and makes as feel so comfort a I
she tried to make her mood -
ftp
but Karl would not fall In
it
Lest night when it was sug-r
th’ d I should paint your portrat J
<are me a pMjk I had never seen !**•
he per-istorf 'T wonder wbj
”1 don't know." Olga answere«!.
fear returning
•TWt let W 1La’k
• it It I don' irnnt to *
i ou rrewt e •* Lc ninkl of
• - HZ were r n y one eKe you mi
•* fr'.ght«*ned. 1 am fond of
a
F do not see w rr.
e by talking evi
’• <*
'se
1
g. w
.
► eeven years—■since they tom
Herman was
lt»e
? waa on the anniversary of
4a 7**—
L
seemed almost a whisper "We were
almost citlilren then I was a poor
little chan who gav» trowing lessons
t0 Her:
s
., ■> y
a little waff, fed cake and tea at the
millionaire a table. There we met. a
lieggar boy and a lieggar girl, thrown
together In
each other.
stood."
Olga c<
her band
"We k
ceutly j i
which lin
“Yes. h
led.' Olga cried eager
ly. “We
ve grown up sensibly, and
we never nientioued It"
ka rl seenied uot to hear her Interrup
tion. He went on:
“You became Herman's wife and
went to live in a palace. I found you
there when I came back from Paris,
still fond of you, but determined never
to tell you so. and when 1 met you
again I, too. was somewhat changed.
Still, when our eye« met, Olga. It waa
with the* same look of the two poor,
longing little beggars of the years ago.
But we did not kiss again."
“Why not?” Olga breathed.
"Your husband and I are the best
of friends," Karl said. "Though we
have met hundreds of times, you aud
I, we have not mentioned it."
Olga turned to him gratefully an<l
held out her ha
“Yon are a go
“Are you satii
now?" Karl asked
her. smiling. *' You are not afraid of
tne. ure you?”
“N^. but then was something in my
husband's voice that frightened me,”
Olga answered, “He knows what we
were to e:^ li otl lor, and when he was
leaving us here alone I think It made
him f«iel uncomfortable, We aren't
lu love any more, are we, Karl?”
“No, of course not."
“And it is swee’ to think that we
have uot entirely forgotten old times,
isn't it?”
•
“Yes," he answered abseutly.
"And of course If we lovexl each oth
er still you would not marry, would
you. Karl?”
i “Of course not,” he said shortly.
"Now you will get married and you
will be very, very happy. And I, too,
shall be happy, because I want you to
marry, and I myself have chosen a
sweet, clever girl for you.”
"Exactly,” Knrl acquiesced dryly.
“And now let us think no more of
It,” Olga cried, her mood changing to
one of gayety.
She ran over to the door and turned
and faced Karl, knocking loudly on the
panel.
"Now for work. We have done
nothing.” she said. "Monsieur, 1 have
come to have my portrait painted."
"Come la. madanie," K.trl cald, tow
ing gravely and entering into her play.
“Good morning."
“1 have come to have my portrait
painted,” Olga suiil again.
Knrl forgot the playing and exclaim
ed seriously:
"Ab. last night I made a memory
sketch of you after 1 got home. 1
have made many, very many, but now
1 se«' vou differently.”
"Why?" Olga asked, startled again
bv his vehemence.
""Yesterday 1 saw the lines of your
figure; today I see your soul," he said.
••Yesterday you were a model; tixlay
you are an inspiration.
“Please. Karl; please, don’t We
agreed to end everything." she pleaded.
■It is bard to end everything so sud
denly.”
good friend. I did wrong
“Karl,
ere," Olga said. “
“ Now
Now
in coml
tbnt I did come let uh work, Take
your c dors and brush We must get
- -
“i scoti as possible."
through with
It as
“You are right, Olga; as soon as pos
slble "
“Wta t shall I do first?" she asked.
“Take off your bat and coat Pj““ ”
tier with out-
Karl „topped toward
help her. She
1 b
¡th ; little gesture of ap-
't to
sbeil
it
Xi€
ht
w
tudylng my fea-
Y
m br heart, each one,**
■I am thinking of a
,w your husband wished
poF«1. >on 1 a evening gown.”
a n i n • •• “ d have preferred a fuU
Herman. Vou must be
»f qc dark **
shall
Y
mtwt take ft off
> thawla there from
l:. 4,
your niMWiidem.
You wit!
I • 1
1
'
"Don't u.<-d-
1
cloae the dP**r
Oh. Karl, can’t we post-
1 don't feel well today,
Tomorrow 1 could come and bring my
maid."
“Certainly uot. Your husband would
surely want to know why we did no
work today. Now I will leave you."
He left th e room, closing the studio
doors Is-hlnd him. Oiga looked appre-
henslvely ab out her. Some mysteric .HIS
presence see lued to oppress her She
rvr >s fingers at the
fumbled wit
buttons of li
“Oh. what
Ml to tier-
ith idc
I
work an«l drew
fr. i
shoulders aud
ms the silken
lit. She turned
be waist : fell to
lied, with a ; shriek
of terror, from an apparition tini at arose
slowly from the depths of the big arm
chair.
Where there had beeu uo human be
ing an instant before Olga saw a tall,
strange looking man. He was In con-
ventional nftern-iou attire, save tbat
his waistcoat was red. In sharp con-
tract to the somber black of his frock
coat. His hair was black. His up
ward pointing eyebrows were black,
and his eyes shone like dull burning
lumps of coal. Ilis face was like a
mask, matching his Immaculate linen
in whiteness. It was cynical In its ex
pression and almost sinister as he
bowed low, with ills hands folded over
uls breast, and said In a low. musical
voice:
"Pardon me. madarne; I think you
dropped something.”
He stooped and picked up the silken
waist which had fallen» from Olga’s
bands. As he held It out to her she
drew' back In horror.
res. ves. of course 1 remember. It b<E~»*ig the waist out aud bowlu/ pro
was I'- fa
when I tuul lost all my foundly.
"Permit tue, madame," be said
money plaiiug roulette
Some one
With a cry of astonishment Olga
Btood behind me, and It was you. I
was
when 1 tuitnal and saw snatched at the garment.
"Who are you? Where do you come
you.
e I fancied 1 had seen you
a nv
before bestde the croupier from?" she cried
With his restless, vibrant hands In
grtiii Ing at uie as tny gold pltves were
t away. But when 1 had lost the air the stranger said:
“I come from nowhere; I go every
vthii'g you offered me a handful
where; ! am here."
■f gold."
He touched his forehead with bls
“Which you refused, but 1 saw the
long white Angers, and his black eyes
longing to accept In your eyes.”
were fixed upon her. Clutching the
"1 did uot know you "
silken garment she bail worn, Olga
"Burl offered it again and you
rushed Into the studio. Millar, man or
epte«L”
devil, looked after her aud chuckled
"Yes, and lu ten minutes 1 had re-
eouped tny losses ano won F-i'.Otk* b**-
CHAPTER VII.
sides,** Karl cried, with growing eu-
thusiasm “
"1 1 remember Indeed
RL threw himself Into a
indeed Your
«hair as Olga fled Into the
money seemed td possess mystic luck.
When you put it lu my hands it glow
outer studio and «at there,
not ltKiklug at hla unwelcome
ed. aud I thought It was hot. It seem
visitor Dr Millar seemed to tln«l his
ad to burn me."
He allow«*d the
"You were excited, my boy." said the dejectiou amusing.
other genially. "But you repaid me silence to remain uu«l!sturb«*d while
aud Invited me to dlue. 1 could not he puffe«l a cigarette Then he said,
rtciept because I was forced to leave half to him-* If, half to Karl:
"Full s t temiierament. that woman,
for Spain that same evening. 1 prom
ised. however, to call on you wneu you and | ■etty. too.
tito. extret
extremely pretty.”
is pretty ” Karl acquiesce«!
needed me. and here I am."
“Ye
He bowed to Karl and Olga, who without I king at hl tn.
*n‘t love her hua-
stood tn sf
astonishment at
“It's :t
«•) nival remark
this strauge
She could un- bauiL" w
¡V
f this uu< stiuy that fell <
derJtand n<
stranger, tli
r lu black and
He whe itHl In III« Hl
I
« ent
white, who
to emit a lurid the vlsltu \V ho
radiance, as if his red waistcoat were «•ooluess;
"How do 1 know? It was apparent
alive.
"It was kind of you to come." Karl when she fancied I had insulted her
aud turned to you for protection."
said. “I am glad.”
Karl angrily slatumtsi down an ash
"You were not here when 1 entered,"
the visitor said, "and I took a seat in tray be had picked up lu his nervous
that comfortable armchair. The warmth fingers and began to pace the floor.
of the fire affected me. and I permitted Millar went on In a light tone:
"She docs uot love her husliand. He
myself to fall asleep.”
He Indicated with a sweeping ges must tie a genius or a very common
ture the big pulpit backed armchair. place man. Marriage always Is a fall
un* with such men Common men live
Olga started and cried out:
“That chair was empty. I remeuilier so low that women are afraid some
quite well when m.v busband was here, rm* may steal Into their Ilves nt night
There was no one in it. 1 am abso- through a cellar window. Uenlus-
’well, jrt'nlus lives on the top fioor. up
lutely certain."
Karl was so straugly affected by the toward the clouds, ami with so many
stranger's presence that lie did not no gloomy steps to climb, and no elevator.
tlce Olga's agitation. The other re It's very um-omfortable for a pretty
garded her with his expression of cyn woman. Iler Ideal Is one easy flight
ical amusement, bowed gravely and of stairs to comforflible living rooms
on the first floor."
said:
•
Knrl mnlntnincd silence and contln
“Then 1 was mistaken, madanie.”
“Won't yon sit down?” Karl said lied to walk th«* floor. He looked nt
•Allow me to present you to—but I his watch and start««! townrd the door
>f the re option room lending Into the
can't remember your name."
“It does not mutter." the other said hall. whl< h was lot ked.
"This is the second tim** I hnv«* seen
with an expansive outward gesture of
his restless, eloquent hands “I am a nsndtiiue's shoulders " Millar remnrk<>d
CHAPTER VI
LGA shrank from this strange philanthropist traveling incognito. Yon
lieing. sensible of his serpent nin.v call me anything you like; cal!
like fascination, even while me Hr. Millar.”
“Dr. Millar,' Karl reiwated. seeming
he repellitd her. It flashed
across her consciousness that lie was for th« first time to have some doubt
something more than human, some as to the character of bls guest.
“Oh. you nlay rest assured my social
thing worse—the embodiment of malev
olent purpose- a man devoid of good position is beyond question," the strilli
ger said, as !f divining Ills thought.
—the devil himself.
Karl dkl not heed 'lie Irony of his
He came from liehind the chair, and
as he moved toward her his every ac npct*< h, but presented him to Olgn
tion heightened the Impression she who distantly acknowledge«! hi* bow.
bad received. In a situation where As Knrl npi»enre<l to succumb to this
any man might have tieen confused he strange Influence she felt herself grow
was perfectly self possessed. Ills atti ing Indignant. Millar seemed lient on
tude was neither offensive nor Ingrati provoking an outburst, and his nston
ating. He liecame at once a part of Ishlng remarks In another would have
her surroundings, of her thoughts— seemed vulgar Insolence, but In hint
yes. of her soul. It was this Influence they possessed n singular meaning that
that she felt herself combating with made both Knrl nnd Olgn shiver
"Under different circumstance*
growing weakness.
should now take my hat nnd sny good
“1 hope you will forgive me." his
by," Millar «aid after the Introduc
smooth, suave voice went on. break
tion. "But my Infinite tact compels
ing the stillness almost melodiously,
me to force my presence U|*on you In
and he bowed again. “I permitted
this most unplensagit situation.”
myself to fall asleep."
The Innuendo stung Olga, and
Still Olga could not find tongue, aud
turned to tlie artist.
she drew yet farther away. The man.
"Knrl. I can hnrdly believe It.”
or the devil, watched her as she groped exclaimed Imllgn^ntly. “Think of
for the shawl, found It and quickly tbl* man dared to"—
wound Its filmy length ■round her
"How long has your husband I
beautiful shoulders and arms.
An dead?" Millar tetemipted. with e
Ion
of
cynical
amusement
exprv-
Iierailng coolness.
crc sed his face.
"1 am not a widow.” Olga said, sur-
“Excuse me. but 1 awoke just as you prise«! that she should reply.
were about to unbutton y< ■our blouse,"
“Oh. you are divorced?”
he said, "Propriety should have made
“I uui But."
me close my «‘yes. but"—
•Then If -you feel that I have
“Ob!" Olga cried, shocked into fronted you I should think your bus-
speech.
band would be the proper mnn to ap-
“Oh. I know, madnme.” he said, with | m * ii J to." tie said, uffi the utmost c^il-
a deprecating gesture and another I ro-
n«*ss.
found bow. "you think I am suspicious,
He seemed like a trainer prodding
and you only came here"—
tame animals with sharp prongs out
“To have my portrait painted." Olga of the lethargy of their caged Ilves to
said quickly.
I stir them to vlcloukness. Turning to
“Precisely," he acquiesced, with the Karl, be went on:
same cynical expression. "Only yes
“However. If you wish
terday I met a lady at the dentist's, at your dlsiiosal. But do
and I observed that «he permitted him mndame. that it would be an admis
to extract a l*rfectly good and very sion on your part?”
pretty tooth.”
He spoke as one w b» had read every
"But I"— Olga began, accepting the secret thought of each
Bewildered.
defensive [io*ltion Into which he placed Karl cried out:
her w hen be Interrupted her.
“What does all this talk mean? I
"Yes. you, 1 know. «¡*eak the truth. don't under-t.ind anything. You come
I am «ven at liberty to believe you. In here unannounced; 1 don't know
but I cannot”
how nor from where. You make tit
For an instant Olga recovered her feel quit«* uncomfortable, just ns If
self |**sse««Ion. and her inulgnatlon you hud trapped us in some compro
sprang into a flame that she should be mlslng situation."
addressed tn this manner by a mao
"Yes, yes, that is it.” Olga cried, re
whom she had never seen before—an lieveil at Karl's outburst.
Intruder.
The stranger looked st him smused
I don't know why I permit a stran
iy-
i this fashion." she
ger to talk to
“Y’ou may be as Imieillte to me as
izes me."
exclaim«:«!
you w ish; I cannot go.” be said.
toward tier. Terri
The man st
“Why?' Olgn demanded.
id fled toward the
fled, «he tun
“My departure now weuld mean that
door of the al
I leave y»n
ause I have fnterrup»«*d
"Karl! Ks
you. On the ot.ier hand, by remaining
smiled
as
me
ooors
Th« strang
I prove that I sus|«ect nothing.”
ami Karl burst Into
were flung o
"There I* nothing to *u«p«*ct," Karl
young artist paused,
the room. 1
de dared angrily. "I do not want you
presence of the st ran
astouUtie*l at
here.”
ore aniHZ'-d wlien the
ger He wai
"Then
n
the
voice
of
genial
man eric«! <><
of «omethlng else." th
comradeship'
marked with the ui«t e
ron do?"
tion to Karl's rage "1
Karl
Isn't It snow Ing hesntlfu
• H-.-a to
you preparing anything I
nV—
exhibition at the Royal t
"Perhaps I may setx
Karl answer««! subenly.
to
«tiro's l- w lderment i
rl sai l
the
panic. In her mind wa
rpsrpos» of snatching up
she
rn»'..ng from the room
do It 'he stranger was th«r»
*I»*ctaOle man could behave with suck
Infernal stupidity ”
Karl was about to retort w ien the
studio door opened and Olga ei tntered.
He turned quickly toward h *r. aud
she went to him without notie ng Mil
lar
"What tlnn* Is It?" she asked
"Your hustmnd will la* here In ten
tulniit«*«.’’ Millar Interposed.
Olga turnml toward him and cried
accusingly:
"Thou you were not asleep lu that
chair when my husbaud »«« here
You hear«! him say when he would re
turn."
"Madame Is mistaken.
Feminine
presentiment always feels the approach
of th«* husband ten minute« ahead of
time. Were It not for those ten min
utes there would tie fewer locked
doors.”
As h«> spoke he w alked over and un
locked the disir leading Into the hall,
then turned and look«*«! at them calm
ly.
“Is this never to finish?" Olga asktd
“1 trl«*d to change the subject, but
Knrl would not let me. ' Mi inr an
swereil.
“I have not »¡sikc:
rd." Karl
protested
fato» Insinuations. t bardi* kfiow rodi
e minutes, nnd I Imagine I feel your
Ring finger* nt tny throat.”
“Other pretty women do not feel
i ' i u quite «> soon.” be murmure«L
oet* lit’g toward her
F
e«l at the attl ude of the man.
F<irl stepped toward him.
"Stop! f won’t allow any more of
chap, he wns nfrukl. " . ■ m .. e I to
Olga
"Afraid!" Knrl i xclalii e l
"Yes, afraid that your Im. tminl would
conn* before you titiished dressing
And you were rliiht. Karl "
"Why. my dear Olga”
Knrl began
Impatiently, when the other Interrupt
ed him.
"Please, please, let us be logical." he
urged. ”Iz«ok at the situation. The
busbund enters smhbiuly. 'Well, here
I am. back again, my durllng.' hi* an
nounces. 'Where Is the plctur»? I
must see the picture.’ There Is none,
Karl did not work on the picture,
Y'our husband Is worried. He does not
s|ieak. but he Is Irritated, He i wants to
speak, nnd the words stick I In his
un
throat. You look at eiu
the
happy Nothing Ims lutpp
mischief Is done. What u
Ap
|icaranccs. \\ hatever you sny makes
matters worse, au<! a compromising
situation like tills Is never forgotten by
the husband You go home together lu
silence."
“Ah. If It were Ilk«* that!" Karl broke
m. “But we are uot alone You are
here.”
WOULD MAKE ’
casually, blowing cigarette dngs in
the air.
“What do you mean?" Karl demand
ed. stung to apeeeh by Jealousy
"Ah, 1 saw them first In Paris, at
the Louvre, fashioned of snow while
marble They were the shoulders of
Venus. Am 1 right, Karl?"
"I don't know," the artist suapistd.
"Well, you must take my word for
it then." Millar said lightly. "I have
sewn both.
And «lire Alcgnienea I
have known but one sculptor who
could fortn such wonderful shoulders.”
"Who?” KarJ asked. turning to him
"Prosperity,” Millar replied senten-
tlously. “Ruch tender, soft, exquisite
curves are iwamlbie only to women who
live |>erfeetly. Madame must be the
wife of a millionaire."
Karl fell to pacing the floor again
glancing Impatiently at the door
through whl' h Otga had fled
“Is she dressing?" asked Millar slyly.
“Yea." Knrl answered nervously.
"Is there a mirror In your studio Y'
"Te*."
“Madarne must tie very reafiectable."
Millar sold In an Insinuating tone
"Rhe taken no long to dress.”
"Tour remarks are In very bad
taste.” Kart 'Tied angrily, walking up
threateningly to hie visitor
Millar stood erect. without changing
Ha expression of Ironical amusement,
and said:
"T>o you wish to offend me?”
"Yea." Karl snarled.
"Then yon. too. must he respects
Ie." the visitor said molly, adding, as
Karl «And at hlrn with won« let. “IB
a situation like this only a very rs-
Millar shrugged bls shoulder*.
"Ab. that la It! I am here, and with
one word I could dispel the Illusion,”
be seq«deseed “But I know myself
I a lu cursed with u peculiar, sinister
sense ef humor, aad I am afraid I
would not say the word; lieuce when
the husband enters we are all silent.
Then 1 say. ’I regret to have arrived at
such an Inopportune moment.' I take
my hat and walk out. leaving you,
mndame, your husband and Karl ”
He seemed to find keen pleasure tn
the possibility of forcing the two Into
a position which would cause them
suffering and weaken the barriers of
self control they bud built up around
that boy and girl levs that had come
back so« vividly to both Had they re
garded him as merely human It Is cer
tain that Karl would have kicked thia
cynical being out of the studio with his
infernal innuendoes But there «van
something supernormal about him He
dominated both the artist and the
wife, and they were completely under
his spell, st niggle as they would to
break It. Olga shrank from the cruelty
of their tormentor
“If this In s jest It 1« a cruel one.1
abe cried
"True, madams But there la another
way If you wish It i can I* quite
truthful. Should your busband arrive
I ran tell him th« portrait has not
m en touched and ask his pardon.”
"Panion for what?”
"For having seen your shoulder*"
“This Is a trap,” Olga cried, turning
toward Karl for protection "What do
you want? You overwhelm me with
mine.”
Interrupted
the
rai
mrs?" Knrl said In amazement.
-s
They were crushed lu my
tli? other said coolli
"I told
allor to press them and send them
for the evening I must dress, as
Invited to the I mi II of oue of the
leautlful women lu the city to-
•t the residence of the ltnke of
t her. bis black
thro, gli her own.
fasci rib-,!. Olgn
of those eye*.
Am I not Invlt-
el?" he naked
"Yes, you are luvlted.” »be falter-
<«-1
She could not resist th«* subtle Influ-
e .ee of tin* mail, even while every In-
itlint of giiod made her recoil from
him
With a triumphant smile tn»
boe.d and «aid softly:
"Madame, a little while ago yon ask
ed me what I wantiaj. It wns your In-
ifti:'l"U that I wanted I thank yon."
"But my husband.” Olga «ili. al-
reudv repe nting <if the sdvar ige abe
hnd give :t him.
"Ob, b > will lie delighted 1 > see me,"
the atran r assured her coulidently.
"He rp.*eulat«'S In wlient. I lin ve Ui-
formation that will la* of value tl»
him Tin* crop Ims turned <i »lit worse
thill) v -s expected
You love your
husband. You sbou'd bo happy that
th«» wheat crop la laid”'
"1 am." Olga assented. "IVe want
wheat to be bud becniise the price will
go tip.”
"Your husliand will make another
fortune, and you will have the new
gown you want.”
"How do you know
gown?" Olga naked, falling In oucw
more with the devil's humor of the
observe that you have n new hat
a pretty one. Surely you want •
gown."
"You must U» in :trrie<l."
"M irrlt-d! No' I." he ex* I:.lined. "A
wife Is 111:? ■ monne!- ft looks well,
bi.; < ue tees more t ' • ly w ithout It."
ur views
against marriage.
" Olgn naked.
ie tone of Millar I wiiiih > suddenly
sc. Ions ns he sn id:
"You want Knrl to marry. I want
to prevent him from marrying."
"Please let's not dl«cu«s that.” Karl
protested
>
“Pardon me. Knrl. tnit an urtl«t
should not marry,” he went on. "Your
future wife will swear to stand by
your al Io for life—until the wedding
day and the da)' after she will lie In
your way."
“Not the true v.ife." Olga declared.
•'.\h. but the true wife 1« always th»
other fellow’s wife," lu> ansitered
Ml'tar hud tulkcd so absorbingly
that 1 irl un<I Olgn uuconsclously drew
nenr to each other. They stood In
front of the high pulpit back of the
armchair, each one resting n hand on
the chair back. Although they were
quite unawnre of It. their poaltlou aug-
gested that of a young couple tie for»
the altar nlsiut to Is* jolneil lu wed
lock. The cynical humor of the situa
tion struck Millar, who walked around
them, stood In the chair and leaned
over the back, like a preacher In hla
pulpit.
“You are a pessimist." Olga declare
looklug u. at him
"Nd. not a peaslmist; only practi
cal."
"I agree with yo*." Karl suld. "A
mnn should stay at home ”
Millar leaned down, placing hla hands
over Karl's snd Olga's ns they rested
on the back of the chair. Fxnklng at
Karl, be said:
"Why didn't you stay at home? You
ran away to he«-ome an artist. You re-
fused a professional fwMltion au 1 ordi
nary morals, a drt-ent ocrtiptitlon ?t so
much a week. You wanted to go out
nnd se«-k the gohlen fleece of tame.
Now tight your liattls; fight It : one;
don’t get married.”
As he spoke be lifted the hands oft
Karl and Olga and placed them to-
aether, holding them dnsprd In hit
own. They thrHIed at each other's
touch; they tookad Into each ether’s
eyes, and they hardly hearw tho< ileal
devil’s voice ns Millar leaned yet far
ther toward th»m and »aid:
"I was thinking what a splendhl cm-
i |>le you two would make.’’
(Continued naxt week.’
This is Worth Beading
l.eo F Zellnskf of
Gibson 3t.,
Bnlfalo. NY.«*
re! th*
most annoying cold so • 1 svsr had.
with Biicklen's Arnica Salve. I ap
plied thia salve once a Jay for two
daya. when every trace of the sore
was gone." Heals all tores Sold un
der guarantee at W A. Kuykendall's
tr ig store. 15».
New dining tabier and chalra di
rect from factory
See show win
dow
Chambers Hardware Co.
(
De Witt’s
Haire. liest
and hurts.
piles Held
Car bo 11 red Witch Hasel
salve for burns, scratches
It Is especially
good fer
_
by all druggists.