THE DESTROYING ANGEL By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE C H APTE R XVIII -Continued. — I ' 21 — But she wus gone. The hull door s.ammcd before he could reach it. It’s simplicity Itself: I’m going to buy him.” “ Buy Max 1” “ Body— artistic soul—and breeches,” Whitaker utfiriued confidently. “ Impossible 1” “ You forget how well fixed I am. What’s the use o f my ownlug half the gold In New Guinea If It won’t buy me what I already own by every moral and legul right?” “ He won’t listen to you; you don’t know Max.” “ I’m willing to lay you a small bet thut there will be no first performance at the Theater Max tomorrow night.” “ You’ll never persuade him— ” ’I’ll buy the show outright and my w ife’s freedom to boot—or else Max will begin to accumulate the local color o f u hospital ward.” Ember smiled grimly. “ You’re be­ ginning to convince even me. When, may I usk, do you propose to pull off this spurtlug proposition?” “ Do you know where Max can be found tonight?” “ At the theater— ” “Then the matter will be arranged at the theater between this hour and midnight” “ I doubt If you succeed In getting the ear of the great man before mid­ night ; however, I’m not disposed to quibble about a few hours." “ But why shouldn’t I?” "Because Max Is going to be the busiest young person In town tonight And that Is why I’ ve been looking for you. . . . Conforming to bis cus­ tom. he’s been giving nn advance glimpse o f the production to the crit­ ics and a few friends In the form of n final grand dress rehearsal tonight Again, In conformance with his cus­ tom, he has honored me with a bid. I ’ve been chasing you all day to find out If you cared to go— ” “ Eight o’clock and a bit after.” Whitaker Interrupted briskly, consul­ ting his watch. “ Here, boy,” he hailed a passage puge; "call a taxicab for me.” And then, rising alertly: "Come along; I’ve got to hustle home; and make myself look respectable enough for the occasion; but at that, with luck, I fancy we'll be there before the first curtain.” This mood of faith, of self-reliance and assured optimism held unruffled throughout the dash homeward, his hurried change of clothing and the ride to the theater. Nothing that Em­ ber, purposely pessimistic, could say or do availed to diminish the high buoyancy o f his humor. He maln- She paused again, but still he wus CH APTER XIX. mute and tminobile. "So now you know me— what 1 ain. One Way Out. No other man has ever known or ever Toward eight In the evening, after will. But 1 had to tell you the truth. It seems that the only thing my career a day-long search through all his ac­ had left uncalloused was my funda­ customed haunts. Ember ran Whita­ mental sense o f honesty. So 1 had ker to earth In the dining room of the Primordial. The youug man, alone to come and tell you.” And still he held silence, attentive, at table, was In the act o f topping but with a set face that betrayed noth­ off an excellent dinner with u still more excellent cordiul and a super- ing of the tenor of his thoughts. Almost timidly, with uervously fum­ excellent cigur. He wore rough tweeds, and they bling fingers, she extracted from her were damp and baggy; his boots were pocketbook a small ticket envelope. “ Mux was afraid you might upset muddy; his hair was a trifle disorder­ the performance again, as you did on ly. The ensemble made a figure wildly my last appearance, Hugh.” she said; Incongruous to the soberly splendid “ but I assured him It was just the and stately dining hall of the Primor­ shock of recognizing you that bowled dial club, with Its sparse patrouuge me over. So I’ve brought you a box of members In eveniug dress. Ember, himself us severely beauti­ for tomorrow night. I want you to ful in black and white as the ceremo­ use It—you and Mr. Ember.” He broke In with a curt monosyl­ nious livery o f toduy permits a man to be, was wonder-struck at sight of lable; "W hy?” In such unconventional “ Why— why because— because I want Whitaker you— I suppose It’s simply my vanity— guise, at such a time, In such a place. to see me a ct Perhaps you’ll feel a With neither Invitation nor salutation, little less hnrdly toward me If you see he slipped Into a chair on the other that I am really a great actress, that side o f the table, and stared. Whitaker smiled benlgnantly upon I give you up for something bigger him, and called a waiter. than just love— ” Ember, always abstemious, lifted “ What ro t!" he said with an odd. short laugh. “ Besides, I harbor no his hand and smiled a negative smile. Whitaker dismissed the waiter. resentment" “ Well . . . Y’ he Inquired cheer­ She stared, losing a little color, eyes fully. darkening with apprehension. “ What right have you got to look “ I did hope you’d come,” she mur­ like that?” Ember demanded. mured. “The right of every free-born Amer- “Oh. I’ll come.” he said with sp irit “ Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.” lean citizen to make an ass o f himself “ Really, Hugh? And you don’t according to the dictates o f his con­ science. I’ve been exploring the dark mind ? Oh, I ’m so glad 1” “ I really don’t mind," he assured her backwards and abysm o f the Bronx— with a strange smile. “ But . . . afoot. Got caught in the rain on the would you mind excusing me one mo­ way home. Was late getting back, ment? I ’ve forgotten something very and dropped In here to celebrate.” “ I ’ve been looking for you every­ Important.” where, since morning.” “ Why, certainly . . .” “ I suspected you would be. That’s He was already at the telephone In the hallway. Just beyond the living- why I went walking— to be lonesome room door. It was Impossible to escape and thoughtful for once In a way." Ember stroked his chin with thought­ overhearing his words. The woman listened perforce with, in the begin­ ful fingers. “ You’ve heard the news, then?” ning, a Uttle visible wonder, then with “ In three ways,” Whitaker re­ astonishment ultimately with a con­ sternation that shook her with violent turned, with calm. “ How’s that— three ways?” tremblings. “Through the newspapers, the bill­ “ Hello,” said Whitaker; “ get me boards, and from the lips o f my Rector two-two-hundred. . . . w ife." “ Hello? Rector two-two-hundred? Ember opened his eyes wide. North German Lloyd? . . . This is “ You’ve been to see her?” Mr. H. M. Whitaker. I telephoned “ She called this morning— ” you fifteen minutes ago about reser­ But Ember interrupted, thrusting a vation on the George Washington, ready and generous hand across the sailing Saturday . . . Yes. . . . table: Yes. . . . Yes, I promised to call “ My dear man, 1 am g la d !” for the ticket before noon, but I now Whitaker took the proffered hand find I sha’n’t be able to go. W ill you be kind enough to cancel It, if you readily and firmly. “Thank you. . . . please. . . . Thank you. . . . I was saying: she called this morning to inform me that, though wedded Goodby.” once, we must be strangers now— and But when he turned back Into the living room he found awaiting him a everm ore!” "But you— of course— you argued quiet and collected woman. that nonsense out o f her head.” “ Why did you do that?” she asked “ T o the contrary— again.” evenly. “ But— ray dear man !— you said you “ Because," said Whitaker, “ I ’ve had my eyes opened. I’ ve been watching were celebrating; you permitted me the finest living actress play a care­ to congratulate you Just now— ” “The point U,” said Whitaker, with fully rehearsed role, one that she had given long study and all her heart to— a bland and confident g rin ; “ I ’ve suc­ but her interpretation didn’t ring true. ceeded In arguing thut nonsense out Mary, I admit, at first you got me: I of my head— not hers— mine.” Ember gave a helpless gesture. “ I’m believed you meant what you said. But only my mind believed i t ; my afraid thi3 is one of my stupid heart knew better, Just as it has al­ nights . . .” ways known better, all through this “ I mean that, though Mary ran away wretched time of doubt and misery from me, wouldn't listen to reason, I and separation you’ve subjected us have, in the course of an afternoon’s both to. And that was why I couldn’t hard tramping, come to the conclu­ trust myself to answer you; for if I sion that there is nothing under the had, I should have laughed for Joy. sun which binds me to sit back and 0 Mary, Mary 1” he cried, his voice accept whatever treatment she pur­ softening, “ my dear, dear woman, you poses according me by courtesy of can’t lie to love! You betray yourself Jules Max.” in every dear word that would be Whitaker bent forward, his coun­ heartless. In every adorable gesture tenance discovering a phase o f seri­ “ I Am Afraid o f You.” that would seem final! And love ousness hitherto masked by his twist­ knows better always. . . . O f course ed smile. tained a serene fulth in his star, a 1 shall be In that box tomorrow night; I mean I’m tired o f all this poppy­ o f course I shall be there to witness cock. Unless I ’m an Infatuated ass, spirited temper thut refused to recog­ your triumph 1 And after you’ve won Mary loves me with all her heart. She nize obstacles In the way of his de­ sire. it, dear, I shall carry you off with has made up her mind to renounce me In the taxicab, en route to the Thea­ me . . .” partly because Max has worked upon He opened his arms wide, but with her feelings by painting some lurid ter Max, he contrived even to distil a a smothered cry she backed away, picture o f his Imminent artistic and good omen from the driving autumnal downpour Itself. placing the table between them. financial damnation If she leaves him, ” On such u day ns this,” he told his “ No 1” she protested; and the words partly because she believes, 'o f has doubting friend, “ I won her first; on were almost sobs— “ N o !” been led to believe, In this ‘destroy­ such a day I shull win her anew, final­ " Y e s !” he exclaimed exultantly. ing angel’ moonshine. Now she’s got ly and for all tim e!" . . . “ Y es ! A thousand times yes! It to Ü8teu to reason. So, likewise, Max.” From Broadway to Sixth avenue. must be s o !” “ You’re becoming more human word Forty-sixth,street wns bright with the With a sw ift movement she seized by word,” commented Ember with yellow glare of the huge sign In front ber muff and scarf from the ch yr aDd open approval. "Continue; elucidate; o f the Theater Max. But this night, fled to the door. There, pausing, she I can understand how a fairly resolute unlike "that other night wher he had lover with the gift of gab can talk a nppronched the stage o f his w ife’s tri­ turned, her face white and blazing. “ It Is not tru e!” she cried. “ You weak-minded, fond female into deny­ umphs, there was no crawling rank of are mistaken. Do you hear me? You ing her pet superstition; buf how cabs, no eager and curious press of are utterly mistaken. I do not love you’re^oln g to get around Max passes people In the street; hut few vehicles you. You are mad to think It. I have my comprehension. The man unques­ disputed their way; otherwise the rain Just told you I don’t love you. I am tionably has her under contract— ” and the hurrying, rain-coated wayfar­ “ But you forgot his god Is Mam­ ers had the thoroughfare to them- afraid o f y o n ; I daren’t stay with you mon," Whitaker put in. “ Max will do thenaselves. . . . And even this he fo r fear o f you. I— I despise you I” “ I don’t believe It I” he cried, advanc­ anything In the world for money. chose to consider n favorable omen: Therein resides the kernel of my plan. them was not now a public to come ing. m m Try Grandmother’s Old Favorite Recipe of Sage Tea and Sulphur. betweeti him and Ills love—-only Max and her frightened fauclea. The muu at the door recognised Em­ ber with a cheerful nod; Whitaker be did not kuow, “ Just In time, Mr. Ember; curtain’! been up about ten minutes.” . . . Black Out. The auditorium was In almost total darkness. A single voice was audible from the singe that confronted It like some tremendous, moonlight canvas in n huge frume of tarnished gold. They stole silently round the orchestra scuts to the singe-box— the sume box that Whitaker hud on the former oecasoln occupied In company with Mux. Almost everyone knows that Bags Tea and Bulphur. properly compound­ ed. brings back the natural color and lustre to the hair when faded, streak­ ed or gray. Years ago the only way to get this mixture was to make It at home, which la muaay and trouble­ some. Nowadays wo simply ask at any drug store for “ W yeth’s Hage and Sul­ phur Compound." You will get a large bottle of this old-time recipe Improved by the addition of other Ingredients for 6(Tcenu” ‘ E T Ó r y b ^ r ü « ^ this pr<,par(U|0n now. because no one can powwlbly tell that you darkened your hair, as It does It ao naturally and evenly. You dampon a sponge or soft bruah with It and draw this through your hair, taking one small strand at m time; by morning the gray hair dls- w S t^ m .... ‘n without attracting o r - T y ^ o u í am| Ü Z ||ou S r Í Z aml B you f f i K look R dafk C H APTE R XX. T °r attention, either from the owners o f that scanty scat- terlng o f shirt bosoms lu the orchestra — the critical fruternlty and those In- tlmutes hidden by the manager to tba flrst glimpse o f his new revelation In stagecraft—or from those occupying the stage. The latter were but two. Evidently, though the curtain hnd been up for some minutes, the action o f t?te piece »....i . . . ... . had not y .t b e e n perm "ted to begin to unfold. Whitaker Inferred that Mux mnl bw‘n <11 tom tl* fled with Hoiuething about the lighting o f the scene. The manager was atnndlng In mid-stage. staring up at the borders—a stout und pompous figure, tenacious to every de­ tail o f that public self which he bad striven so successfully to mnke unfor­ gettably Individual; a figure qunlntly Incongruous In his Impeccable morn­ ing coat and strlin-d trousers and flat- brimmed silk lint, perched well back on his head, with hla mu lucen stick and lemon-colored gloves and small and excessively glossy patent-leather shoes, posed ugalnst the counterfeit of a moonlit formal gnrden. (TO BE CONTINUED.) MR. SMOOTH’S NEAT GETAWAY — ...... Insurance Agent With Keen Eye to Business Came Near "Putting Hia root in i t « ____ __, . . . PI' ng on i d untennnted banana skin, the homely young woman **t on the pavement with un unmusical splnsh. With efficient presence of mind, Eustace Smooth, agent for the General and Particular Insurance com- puny, slipped on unother peel und sat down beside her, with two muttered r. Pierce's Favor- 11 e Prescrip­ tion. 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