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About Forest Grove press. (Forest Grove, Or.) 1909-1914 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 1912)
' / JL $l / ’Q J IROEgqscE>ff<Da.aTrAMaanm T hird degree W h e n in N e e d o f G r o c e r ie s [ Iß BßOSIBÄUQVE m When in need o f GROCERIES don’ t forget that we carry a full line o f both Staple and Fancy. ^CHARLES KLEIN AMD e/ THE RIGHT PRICE AND Q U A LITY . V w Y A R T H U R HORNBLOW w T ILLUSTRATIONS BY RAY WALTERS COPYRIGHT, 1909, ÔY ö.W. Dll.C.lNGHA/1 COMRANT H . T . G IL T N E R « Phone 701 Main Street SYNOPSIS. Howard I t J. C. L A T T A C. W. MERTZ t M ERTZ h & LATTA t Forest Grove Steam Laundry r t Ice, Cold Storage, Wood and Coal S « Corner Fifth Avenue and Second Street Both Phones f t I t i t » 1 Jeffries, b a n k e r ’s son, under the ev i l Influence o f R o b e r t U n de rw oo d , a fe ll ow - st u d en t a t Y al e , leads a li fe o f r C e n tr a l L iv e r y B a r n s M e N am er & W irtz, P ro p rietor» t G e n e r a l L iv e r y and Tillamook Stage Lines. CLYDE’S BICYCLE SHOP (Bellinger’ s Old Stand) BICYCLES, NEW AND SECOND HAND. REPAIRING OF ALL KINDS SAW FILING Local Agent gor Oregonian SIGN PAINTING First Avenue West o f Main Street. Phone G24 Commercial Printin E are in a better position than ever to do all kinds of Fine Commercial Print ing on short notice, having just recently installed new machinery and a com plete line of the latest styles of type faces B IL L H E A D S , LE T T E R H E A D S . S T A T E M E N T S , L E G A L B L A N K S , PO STERS, BRIEFS, E N V E L OPES, C A L L IN G C A R D S, ETC. Up-to-date work on short notice. S A T IS F A C T IO N GUARANTEED Press Job Rooms TH E Q U A L IT Y SH O P dissipation, m a r r i e s th e d a u g h t e r o f a g a m b l e r w h o died in prison, and is di s ow n e d by his fath er. H e trie s to get w o r k and fails. A f o r m e r c o l l e g e chum m ak es a business prop ositio n to H o w a r d w hi ch req uire s 11,009 « ash, ami H o w a r d is broke. R o b e r t U nd e rw oo d , w h o had been r e pulsed by H o w a r d ' s w ife , Anni e, in ids c o l l e g e da ys, and had once been e n g a g e d to Alicia, H ow ard 's st ep m oth er, lias a p a r t m e n t s at the A s t ru r l a , and Is a p parently in prospe ro us circ umstances. H o w a r d r ec al ls a $250 loan to U n de rw oo d , that r em a in s unpaid, and decides to ask him f o r t h e $2.BOO he needs. U nd e rw o o d , t a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f his i n t i m a c y w it h Mrs. Jef fries , Sr., beco m es a sort o f soc ia l highw aym an. D i s c o v e r i n g his true c h a r a c t e r she denies him the house. A l i c i a n c . ive s a note fr o m U nde rw ood , t l m Ali en in g suicide. She decid es to go and see him. H e is in de sp er at e financial straits. A r t de al« rs f o r w h o m he has been a c t i n g as co mm is sio ne r, d e m an d an accounting. H e ca nno t m a k e good. H o w a r d J e f fr i e s calls in an in t o x i c a t e d condition. H e as ks U n d e r w o o d fo r $2.000. C H APTER VI.— Continued. He helped himself to another drink, his hand shaking so that he could hardly hold the decanter. He was fast approaching the state of complete Intoxication Underwood made no at tempt to Interfere Why should he care If the young fool made a sot of himself? The sooner he drank him self insensible the quicker he would get rid of him. "No. Howard.” he said: "you'd never make a decent member of society.” " P r aps not,’ hiccoughed Howard. “ How does Annie take her social ostracism?' inquired Underwood. "Like a brick. She’s a thorough bred, all right. She's ail to the good.” "A ll the same. I'm sorry I ever In troduced you to her." replied Under wood. ” 1 never thought you'd make such a fool of yourself as to marry— ” Howard shook his head in a maud lin manner, as he replied: "1 don't know whether I made a fool of myself or not. but she's all right. She's got in her the makings of a great woman— very crude, but still the makings The only thing I object to is. she insists on going back to work, just as if I'd permit such a thing. Do you know what I said on our wedding day? Mrs. Howard Jeff ries, you are entering one of the old est families in America. Nature has fitted you for sociul leadership. You'll be a petted pampered member of that select few called the "400,” ' and now. damn it all, how can I ask her to go back to work? Hut if you'll let me have that $!!,000— ” Ry this time Howard was beginning to get drowsy Lying back on the sofa, he proceeded to make himself comfortable "T w o thousand d ollars!" laughed Underwood. "W hy. man. I'm in debt up to my eyes.” As far as his condition enabled him, Howard gave a start of surprise. "Hard up!" he exclaimed. Pointing around the room, he said: "W hat's all this—a bluff?" Underwood nodded. "A bluff, that's it. Not a picture, not a vase, not a stick belongs to me. You'll have to go to your fa ther." “ Never," said Howard despondently. The suggestion was evidently too much for him, because he stretched out his hand for his whisky glass "F a ther's dontj with me." he said dole fully. "H e'll relent." suggested Under wood Howard shook his head drowsily. Touching his brow, he said: "T oo much brains, too much up here " Placing his hand on his heart, he went on: "T o o little down here. Once he gets an Idea, he never lets It go. he holds on Obstinate. One Idea —stick to It Gee. but I've made a mess of things, haven’t I?" Underwood looked at him with con c< cy J ---- -v »V A , & O r CP us: Sank Sleepily Back Among the Soft “ Howard, wake up! confound you! You’ve got to get out— there'3 some body coming." He shook hint roughly, but hl3 old classmate made no attempt to move. "Quick, do you h ear!” exclaimed Underwood Impatiently. “ Wake up— some one's coming." Howard sleepily half opened his eyes. He had forgotten entirely where he was and believed he was on the train, for he answered: “ Sure, I'm sleepy. Say— porter, make up my bed.” His patience exhausted, Underwood was about to pull him from the sofa by force, when there was a ring at the front door. Bending quickly over his compan ion, Underwook saw that he was fast asleep. There was no time to awaken him and get him out of the way, so, quickly, he took a big screen and ar ranged It around the divan so that Howard could not be seen. Then he hurried to the front door and opened it. Alicia entered. C H A P T E R VII. For a few moments Underwood was too much overcome by emotion to speak. Alicia brushed by in haughty silence, not deigning to look at him. All he heard was the soft rustle of her clinging silk gown as it swept along the floor. She was incensed with him. of course, but she had come. That was all he asked. She had come in time to save him. He would talk to her and explain every thing and she would understand. She would help him in this crisis as she had in the past. Their long friendship, all these years , of intimacy, could not end like this. There was still hope for hint. The situation was not as desperate as he feared. He might yet avert the shameful end of the suicide. Advancing toward her, he said in a hoarse whisper: "Oh, this is good of you, you've come— this is the answer to my let ter.” Alicia Ignored his extended hand tempt. Then, turning on "You've made a mess of your life.” and took a seat. he said bitterly, "yet you've had some him, she exclaimed Indignantly: “The answer should be a horse measure of Happiness You. at least, How dare you send me such married the woman you love. Drunk whip. Drawing from her bag en beast as you are. I envy you. The a message?" woman I wanted married some one the letter received from him that evening, she demanded: else, damn h er!" "W h a t do you expect to gain by Howard was so drowsy from the effects of the whisky that he was al this threat?" "Don't be angry. Alicia.” most asleep. As he lay back on the Underwood spoke soothingly, trying sofa, he gurgled: "Say. old man; I didn't come here to conciliate her. W ell he knew the to listen to hard-luck stories I came seductive power of his voice. Often he had used it and not In vain, but to tell one.” In maudlin fashion he began to sing. to-nlgbt it fell on cold, Indifferent "Oh. listen to my tale of woe," while ears. "Don't call me by that name,” she Underwood sal g'arlng at him, won snapped. dering how he could put him out. Underwood made no answer. He Aa he reached the laat verse his head began to nod The words came turned slightly paler and. folding hia thickly from his lips and he sank arms. Just looked at her. In silence. aleeplly back among the soft divan There was an awkward pause. At last she said: pillows. "1 hope you understand that every Just at that moment the telephone Our sc- bell rang Underwood quickly picked : thing's over between us. j qualntance Is at an end.” up the receiver. "M y feelings toward you can never "W h o 's that?" he asked As he heard the answer his face lit up and change.” replied Underwood earnest- he replied eagerly: "Mrs. Jeffries— I ly. ”1 love you— I shall always love yea. I'll come down. No. tell her to ; you.” come up." Alicia gave a little shrug of bar Hanging up the receiver, he hastily shoulders, expressive of utter Indiffer weot over to the dlvaa and shook ence. ''L o v e !" she exclaimed mockingly Howard Divan Pillows. you must promise me solemnly not to make any attempt against your life.’’ ”1 promise nothing.” muttered Un derwood doggedly. “ But you must,” she insisted. “It would be a terrible crime, not only against yourself, but against others. You must give me your word.” Underwood shook hls head. “t promise nothing.” “ But you must.” persisted Alicia. “I won’t stir front here until 1 have your promise." He looked at her curiously. “ If my life has no interest for you, why should you care?" he asked. There was a note of scorn In hls voice which aroused hls visitor’s wrath. Crumpling up hls letter In her hand, she confronted him angrily. "Shall l tell you why I care?” she cried. “ Because you accuse me In this letter of being the cause of your death — I, who have been your friend In spite of your dishonesty. Oh! It’s des picable. contemptible! Above all. It’s a lie— ” Underwood shrugged his shoulders. Cynically he replied: "So it wasn’t so much concern for me as for yourself that brought you here.” Alicia's eyes flashed as she an swered: “ Yes, I wished to spare myself this Indignity, the shame of being asso ciated in any way with a suicide. I was afraid you meant what you said.” “ Afraid,” Interrupted Underwood bitterly, “ that some of the scandal might reach as far as the aristocratic Mrs. Howard Jeffries, Sr.!” Her face flushed wjth anger. Alicia paced up and down the room. The man's taunts stung her to the quick. In a way, she felt that he was rig h t She ought to have guessed his charac ter long ago and had nothing to d o , with him. He seemed desperate enough to do anything, yet she doubt ed If he had the courage to kill him self. She thought she would try more conciliatory methods, so, stopping short, she said more gently: “ You know my husband has suffered through the wretched marriage of hls only son. You know how deeply we both feel this disgrace, and yet you would add— ” Underwood laughed mockingly. “ W hy should I consider your hus band's feelings?” he cried. "H e didn't consider mine when he married you.” Suddenly bending forward. every nerve tense, he continued hoarsely: “ Alicia, I tell you I’m desperate. I ’m hemmed in on all sides by creditors. You know what your friendship— your patronage means? If you drop me now, your friends will follow — they're a lot of sheep led by you— and when my creditors hear of me they’ll be down on me like a flock of wolves. I'm not able to make a settlement Prison stares me In the face.” Glancing around at the handsome furnishings, Alicia replied carelessly: “ I’m not responsible for your wrong doing. I want to protect my friends. If they are a lot of sheep, as you say, that is precisely why I should warn them. They have implicit confidence in me. You have borrowed their mon ey, cheated them at cards, stolen from them. Y'our acquaintance with me has given them the opportunity. But now I've found you out. 1 refuse any long er to sacrifice my friends, my self-re spect, my sense of decency.” Angrily she continued: "You thought you could bluff me. You've adopted this cow ard’s way of forcing me to receive you against my will. W ell, you've failed. 1 will not sanction your rob bing my friends. I will not allow you to sell them any more o'f your high- priced rubbish, or permit you to cheat them at cards.” "You love no one but yourself.” Underwood advanced nearer to her and there was a tremor In his voice as be said: "You have no right to say that. You remember what we once were. Whose fault is it that I am where I am to day? When you broke our engage ment and married old Jeffries to grati fy your social ambition, you ruined my life. You didn’t destroy my love— you couldn't kill that. You may forbid me everything—to see you— to speak to you— even to think of you. but I can never forget that you are the only woman I ever cared for. If you had married me, I might have been a dif ferent man. And now, just when I want you most, you deny me even your friendship. What have I done to de serve such treatment? Is it fair? Is it just?’’ Alicia had listened with growing im patience. It was only with difficulty that she contained herself. Now she interrupted him hotly: “ I broke my engagement with you because I found that you were deceiv ing me— Just as you deceived others.” “ It’s a H e!" broke In Underwood. “ I may have trifled with others, but I never deceived you.” Alicia rose and, crossing the room, carelessly inspected one of the pic tures on the wall, a study of the nude by Bouguereau. “ W e need not go Into that," she said haughtily. "That Is all over now. I came to ask you what this letter— this threat— means. What do you expect to gain by taking your life unless I continue to be your friend? How can I be a .friend to a man like you? You know what your friendship for a wom an means. It means that you would drag her down to your own level and disgrace her as well as yourself. Thank God. my eyes are now opened to your true character. N o self-re specting woman could afford to allow her name to be associated with yours. You are as incapable of disinterested friendship as you are of common hon esty.” Coldly she added: "I hope you Underwood listened In silence. He quite understand that henceforth my house Is closed to you. If we happen stood motionless, watching her flushed to meet In public. It must be as stran face as she heaped reproaches on him. gers.” She was practically pronouncing hls Underwood did not speak. W ords seemed to fall him. Hls face was set and white. A nervous twitching about the mouth showed the terrible mental strain which the man was under. In the excitement he had forgotten about Howard's presence on the divan be hind the screen. A listener might have detected the heavy breathing of the sleeper, but even Alicia herself was too preoccupied to notice it. Under wood extended bis arms pleadingly: "A licia— for the sake of auld lang syne!” “Auld lang syne," she retorted. ”1 want to forget the past. The old mem ories are distasteful. My only object In coming here to-night was to make the situation plain to you and to ask you to promise me not to— carry out your threat to kill yourself. W hy should you kill yourself? Only cowards do that. Because you are In trouble? That Is the coward's way out. Leave New York. Go where you are not known. You are still young. Begin life over again, somewhere else." A d vancing toward hltn, she went on: "If you will do this I will help you. I never want to see you again, but 111 try not to think of you uualndly. But death sentence, yet he could not help thinking how pretty she looked. When she had finished he said nothing, but, going to hls desk, he opened a small drawer and took out a revolver. Alicia recoiled, frightened. “ W hat are you going to do?” she cried. Underwood smiled bitterly. “Oh. don't be afraid. 1 wouldn't do It while you are here. In spite of all yon've said to me, I still think too much of you for that." Replacing the pistol in the drawer, he added: "Alicia, if you desert me now, you’ll be sorry to the day of your death." Hls visitor looked at him In silence. Then, contemptuously, she said: (T O B E C O N T I N U E D .) Sa menses. "There Is a certain sameness about natural scenery,” said the man who looks bored. “Do you mean to compare a mag nificent mountain with the broad ex panse of the sea?" "Tee. W herever you find n spot of exceptional beauty somebody la sure to decorate It with sardine tine and biscuit boxes.”— Washington Star.