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About Eagle Valley news. (Richland, Or.) 191?-1919 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1918)
The DESTROYING r .1, By Louis Joseph Vance CAN YOU SOLVE LOVE'S PUZZLE? What It love, anyhow? It It, In the case of husband and wife, respect and admiration of certain spiritual qualities? Or, In your ex perlence, Is It pure physical attraction between a certain man and a certain woman with respect and admiration as side lights? Do you believe that an Intelligent woman would love enough to live with him, the man who years previously had married her Just to save her good name as a girl and then had disappeared? That It the problem confronting Sara Law, the great actress, In "The Destroy Ing Angel." Hugh Whltaker, you remember, was given Just six months to live, by eminent surgeons. He discovered a decent young woman In trouble her honor at stake. "One good deed before I go," he said; "I'll marry this frightened child, and give her my respectable name. Then I'll go off somewhere and wait for the end." This he did and five years later turned up In New York from Australia, prosperous and healthy, and started a hunt for the gtrl.wlfe of other days. He discovers her In Sara Law, and mutual recognition across the footlights stops a play. Martin Ember, former detective, comet to Whltaker and tells amazing facts. A big mystery looms in this Installment CHAPTER VII Continued. "And you found her and told Drum mond ?" Whltnkcr leaned over the tnble, studying the mini's face with Intense Interest. "No and yes. I found Sirs. Whit ufc.er. I didn't report to Drummond." "But why In heaven's name?" Ember smiled somberly at the droop ing ash of his cigar. "There were sev eral reasons. In the first place 1 didn't have to: I had asked no retainer from Drummond. and I rendered no bill: what I had found out was mine, to keep or to sell, as I chose. I chose not to sell because well, because Mrs. Whltaker begged me not to." "Ah!" Whltaker breathed, sitting back. "Why?" "This was all of a year, I think, after your marriage. Mrs. Whltaker had tasted the sweets of Independence and got the habit. She had adopted a profession looked upon with nbhor rence by her family. She was already successful In a small way, had little need of the money she would get ns claimant of your estnte. She enlisted my sympathy, and I held my tongue." "That was decent of you." The man bowed a quiet acknowledg ment. "I thought you'd think so. . . . There was a third reason." He paused, until Whltaker encour aged him with a "Yes?" "Mr. Whltaker" the query came point-blank "do you love your wife?" Whltaker caught Ms breath. "What right !" he began, and checked ab ruptly. The blood darkened his lean cheeks. "Mrs. Whltaker gave me to under stand that you didn't. It wasn't hard to perceive, everything considered, that your motive was pure chivalry quix otism. I should like to go to my grave with anything half ns honorable and unselfish to my credit." "I beg your pardon." Whltaker mut tered thickly. "You don't, then?" "Love her? No." There was a Might pause. Then, "I do," said this extraordinary man, meet ing Whltaker's guze openly. "I do," he repeated, flushing In his turn, "but . . . hopelessly . . . However, that was the third reason," he pursued In a more level volet "I thought you ought to know about It that Induced me to keep Sara Law's secret. . . . I loved her from the day I found her. She has never looked twice at me. . . . But that's why I never lost In terest." "You mean," Whltaker took hlra up diffidently "you continued to ah ?" "Court her as we say? No." Em ber's shoulders, lifting, emphasized the disclaimer. "I'm no fool. I have had the sense not to Invite the thunderbolt. She doesn't know It, unless Max told her against my wish ; but It was I who Induced him to bring her before tho public, four years ago, as Joan Thurs day. Since then her destiny has been rather too big a thing for me to tam per with; but I've watched and won dered, sensing forces at work about her of which even sho was unsus picious." "What In blazes do you mean?" Whltaker demanded, mystified. "Did It strike you to wonder at the extraordinary mob hor furewell per formance attracted tonight?" "Why yes. It struck mo as rather unusual. But then, Mux had done nothing but tell mo of her tremendous popularity." "That alone, great ns It Is, wouldn't have brought bo many peoplo together to stare at the outside of a theater. Tho magnet was something stronger tho morbid curiosity of New York. Those peoplo wero waiting, thrilled with expectancy, on tiptoe for tho sen sation that presently came to them: tho report of Druramond's death." "What tho devil I" "Patience I This Is tho third time It bus happened tho samo thing, prac pcally: Sara Law on tho verge of leaving the stage to marry, n fatal ac cident Intervening. Did Max by any chance mention the nlcknamo New York has bestowed on Sara Law?" "Nickname? No!" "They cull her The Destroying Angel.' " "What rot !" "Yes; but what coincidence. Threo men loved her nnd one by ono they died. And now the fourth. Do you wonder . . .?" "Oh. but The Destroying Angel' 1" Whltnker cried Indignantly. "How can they blamo her?" "It Isn't blume It's superstition. Listen . . ." Kmber bent forwnrd, holding Whit aker's gaze with Intent, grnvo eyes. 'The first time," he said In a rapid un dertone, "was a year or so nfter her triumph ns Joan Thursday. Thero were then two men openly Infatuated with her, n boy named Custer, nnd n man I believe you knew William Hamilton." "I knew them both." "Custer was mnklng the pace; tho announcement of his engagement to Sara Law was confidently anticipated. He died suddenly; the coroner's Jury decided that he had misjudged the In tentions of n loaded revolver. Peoplo whispered a suicide, but It didn't look quite like that to me. However . . . Hamilton stepped Into his place. Presently we heard that Sarn Law was to marry him and leuve tho stnge. Humlltnn had to go abroad on business; on tho return trip tho wed ding was set for the day nfter he land ed here he disappeared, no one knew how. Presumably he fell overboard by accident one night; sane men with everything In the world to live for do such tilings, you know nccordlng to the newspapers." "I understand you. I'lease go on." "Approximately eighteen months Inter n man named Thurston Mitchell Thurston was considered n dangerous aspirant for the hand of Sara Law. Ho was exceedingly well fixed In a money way a sort of dilettantish architect, with offices In the Metropolitan tower. One day at high noon he left his desk to go to lunch at Martin's; crossing Madison square, he suddenly fell dead, with a bullet In his brnln. It was a rifle bullet, but though the square was crowded, no one had heard tho report of the shot, and no one was seen car rying n rifle. The conclusion was that he had been shot by somebody using n gun with a Maxim silencer, from a window on the south side of tho square. There were no clues." "And now Drummond I" Whltnker exclaimed In horror. "Poor fellow 1 Poor woman !" A slightly sardonic expression modi fled the lines of limber's mouth. "So far ns Mrs. Whltaker Is concerned," he said with the somewhat pedantic mode of speech which Whltaker was to learn to associate with his moments of most serious concentration "I echo the sentiment. But let us suspend Judgment on Drummond's case until we know more. It Is not as yet an es tablished fart that he Is dead." "You mean tliere's hope " "There's doubt," Kmber corrected acidly "doubt, at least, In my mind. You see, I saw Drummond In tho flesh, allvo and vigorous, a good half hour after he Is reported to huvo leaped to his death," "Where?" "Coming up tho stnlrs from tho downtown subway station In front of tho Park Avenue hotel. Ho wore a hat pulled down over his eyes and an old overcoat buttoned tight up to his chin. Ho was cnrrylng u satchel bear ing tho Initials C. H. D., but was other wise pretty thoroughly disguised, and, I fancied, anxious enough to cscapo recognition." "You're positive about this?" "Tho mun was Carter 8. Drummond. I don't think I can ho mistaken." "Which way did ho go?" 'Toward tho Pennsylvania station, I fancy; that Is, he turned west through ANGEL &$3I&84$- Thirty-third street. I didn't follow I was getting Into taxi when I caught sight of him." "But what did you think to seo him disguised? Didn't It strlko you ns curious?" "Very," said Kmber dryly. "At tho samo time, It was none of my affair then. Nor did It present Itself to mo ns a matter worth meddling with until, Inter, my suspicions wero aroused by tho scene In the theater obviously tho result of your appearand) there and still later, when I heard tho suicide, re port." "But" Whltaker passed n hand across his dazed eyes. "What can It mean? Why should he do this Ihlng?" "Thero are several possible explana tions. . . . How long has Drum mond known (hat you nro alive?" "Slnco noon today." "May I ask, what was tho extent of your property In his trust?" "A couple of hundred thousands." "Ami ho believed you dead and wna unable to find your widow , . ," "Oh, I don't think that I" Whltnker expostulated. "Nor do I. We're merely consider ing possible explanations. Tliere's n third . . ." "Well?" "Ho mny have received a strong hint that ho wns nntuluntcd for tho fate that overtook young Custer, Hamilton and Thurston; and so planned to give his disappearance the color of a simi lar end." "You don't mean to sny you think thero wns any method In that train of tragedies?" "I'm not In the lenst superstitious, my dear man. I don't for an Instant believe, as some people claim to, that Sara Law Is a destroying angel, hound ed by a tragic fate: that her lovu Is equivalent to tho death warrant of Uio man who wins It." "But what do you think, then?" "I think," said Kmber slowly, his gate on the table, "that someono with a very strong Interest In keeping tho young woman single and on tho stnge" "Max! Impossible!" Kmber shrugged. "In human nnturo no madness Is Impossible. Tliere's not n shred of evidence against Jules Max. And yet he's a gambler. All theatri cal managers are, of course; but Max Is n card-llcnd. The tale of his plung ing runs llko wlldflro up and down Broadway, day by day. A dozen times he's been on the verge of ruin, yet always lie has had Sara Law to rely upon; always he's been able to fall back upon that asset, suro that her popularity would stave olt bankruptcy. And he's superstitious: he believes she Is his mascot. I don't accuse him I suspect him, knowing him to bo ca pable of many weird extrnvngances. . . . Furthermore, It's a fact that Max was a fellow-passenger with Billy EXIST IN PRIMITIVE EASE Pueblo Indians Live In Exactly tho Same Manner as Have Genera tions of Ancestors. Perhaps tho most unique settlement In tho United States Is tho Pueblo In dian village, located In Arizona, ob serves the Christian Herald. This vil lage comprises 1,000 pcaceablo Indians, whose sole and nlmost only aim In llfo Is to secure a livelihood ns easily as possible. This settlement Is located In tho hottest section of tho state, but tho excessive heat Is not uncomfort able to these people, whoso ancestors hnve lived In that desert section for unnumbered generations. Wnstes of burning sand stretch for miles and miles on every sldo of this village. A peculinr thing about this peoplo is that they havo two distinct villages. Tho summer village Is located upon tho floor of tho valley, where tho Pueblos occupy themselves In agriculture. Tho produce they raise, over what they need to eat during theso hot months, Is stored away for winter use. Thero aro only a few places In that section of tho desert whero water Is obtain able, and In theso places tho Pueblos pursuo their prlmltlvo agriculture. Seasons como nnd sensons go, but as each goes by It sees theso peoplo living as they did during tho preceding one. Hlnco tho white man first know of this colony, which was back In tho six teenth century, tho habits of this trlho have not changed. They eat tho samo kind of food, do tho samo sort of fancy work and llvo Just ns did their ances tors. So fur as Is known to historians, this Is tho oldest colony of any kind In this country. Crude Musical 8ense, "That boy of yours Is constantly whistling." "Yes. He carries u tuno much bet ter than his sister, who Is learning to play the piano, nnd doesn't cost me ft cent for lessons." Hamilton when tho latter disappeared In mtdocoan." Kmber paused nnd sat up, prepara tory to rising. "All of which," ho con cluded, "explnlim why I havo tres passed upon your pnllenco and your privacy. It Hoentcd only right thai you should got tho straight, undlstortwl story from an unprejudiced onlooker. May I venture to add a word of ad vice?" "By nil means." "Have you told Max of your rela tions with Sara Law 7" "No." "Or anybody clso?" "No." 'Then keep (ho truth to yourself l "They Call Her The Destroying An gel.' " least until this coll Is straightened out." Kmber got up. "Good night," n snld pleasantly. Whltaker took his hand, staring. "Good night," ho echoed blankly. "Bat I say why keep It quiet?" Kmber, turning to go, paused. Ml glanco quietly quizzical. "You doat mean to claim your wlfo?" "On tho contrary, I expect to offei no defense to her action for divorce" "Grounds of desertion?" "I presume so." "Just the same, keep It ns quiet m possible until the divorce Is granted. If you live till then . . . you maj possibly continue to llvo thereafter." What Is your opinion of this Drummond suicide report? Do you believe the man Is dead If he Isn't, why the effort to create the suicide Impression? Is Drum mond a thief or a madman? iTO 1113 CONTINUED.) HAD LONG LIST OF TROUBLES And Woman Reported Them All to Un fortunate Listener In the Tele phone Department Tho family had not had their tele phono very long, says tho Southwestern Telephone News, and everyone took a deep and abiding Interest In It, On tho outside of tho directory they had noted tho words, "Trouble, call No, 4217." It had been a hard morning and ev erything had gone wrong. Finally th lady of the houso In desperation turned to her trusty telephone and culled -1217, 'This Is the trouble department," an swered tho operator sweetly. "Is this where you report your troa blesl" asked tho lady, "Yes, ma'am." "Well, I only want to report thnt our cat got drowned In tho clsteni this morning, tho baby Is cutting a now tooth, tho cook left without warning; wo nro out of sugar and starch; th stovepipe fell down; tho mllkmun left only n pint Instead of a quart today; tho bread won't raise; my oldest child Is coming down with tho measles; the plumbing In the cellar leaks; wo have only enough coal to last through to morrow; tlii) paint guvo out when I got only half over the dining room floor; tho mainspring of the clock Is broken; my threo sisters-in-law aro coming to visit tomorrow; llin man has not called for tho garbage for two weeks; our dog has the iiiungu; tho looking glass fell off tho, wull a whllo ago and broke to pieces; nnd I think that my husband Is taking considerable notice of a wid ow lately that lives next door. That's all today, but If anything happens later I'll cull you up and tell you about It." Clothing Cleanser. Glycerin, one ounco ; sulphuric acid, ono ounco; methyl alcohol, ono ounce; aqua ammonia, four ounces; cattllt soap, one ounce. When dissolved add sufficient water to make two quarts. Half Bathrobes. Two women worn shopping In o Washington -street department storo, Ono stopped Hi front of n price card which read, "Jlnlf llnthroboa." "Well, whal'ilo you think ot that?" sho said to- hor companion. "Halt bathrobes! Wonder It thoy cut thorn In two?" "Woll, If they .do I don't wiuit thorn. A whole ono for mo every llino," ro piled tho other woman, Indianapolis Newt. A WOMAN'S BURDENS IN THIS WAR JCvery woman's burdens ar lightened when aha turns to the right medicine. It hor existence Is made Bloomy by the chronic weakness, delicate derange merlin, and painful disorders that afflict tier sex, he will find relief and emanci pation from her trouble In Dr. I'lerce'a Favorite Prescription. If ahe'a over worked, nervous, or "run-down," ahe Nnda new life and strength. It'a a power ful, Invigorating tonlo and nervine which wna discovered and uacd by an eminent physician for many years In all cases of "feinnle complaints" and weakneaa. For young- girls Just entering womanhood: for women at the critical "change of life;" In bearing-down aeiiiatlone, periodical lnln, ulceration. Inflammation, And every kindred ailment, the "Favorite Preemp tion" will benefit or cure. The "Jrecrlitlon" contains no alcohol, and la sold In tablet or liquid form. Head loo to lr fierce, Invalids' Hotel, Iluffalo, N. Y., for large trial phg. Adv. No Doubt About It "It's tough when a girl murrlon a worthless man." "And modern llfo has Introduced an other anglo." "What Is that?" "It's tougher when nho gives up a good Job." Kansas City Journal. For Constipation, Illllousnoas, Liver and Kldnoy troubles, tako Garfield Tea. Adv. The Human DeasL "It Is a pity that a man spouting on a voxed question can't do as tho whales do In similar action." "What do you mean?" "Tho whales, you know, always pour oil upon tho water." LISTEN TO THIS! . SAYS CORNS LIFT RIGHT OUT NOW You corn lumiuruU uiuu and women need suffer no longer. Wear tho shoes that nearly killed you before, says this Cincinnati authority, bocauso a few drops of froezonn applied directly on a t under, aching corn or callous stops sorouons at once and soon tho corn or hardened callous loosens no It can bo lifted out, root and all, with out pain. A small bottlo of freozono costs vory little at any drug store, but will positively tako off every hard or soft corn or callous. This should bo trlod as It Is Inexpensive and Is satd not to Irritate tho surrounding skin. If your druggist hasn't any froczono tell him to get a small bottlo for you from his wholeaalo drug houso. It Is flno stuff nnd acta llko a charm ovory tlino. Adv. Trained. "Miss Strongmlnd says she doesn't Intend to marry until after tho war, and then sho'll marry only a soldier." "Why a soldlor?" "Ilccauso bur husband will thon know tho valuo of Implicit obedlonco." Doston Transcript Friends. "A dog Is man's best friend." "Well," replied tho prudent citizen, "considering tho prlco ot ham and eggs, a pig and a lion must bo vory comforting, oven If thoy'ro n so so ciable." Washington 8tar. To Dyspeptics: Othors havo found a steady courso of Garfield Tea a pleasant means of regaining health. Why not you? Adv. Last Resource. "My dear, tho doctor says I'm In need of a llttlo change" "Thon ask him to glvo It to you. Ho's got tho last of mine." Exchango. Career of Perfection. About tho host pralso that & man can get Is to como to tho end of hlo llfo and still bo tho man his wlfo Is glad that sho married. Detroit Free Press. The Modern Method. Walter What will you havo, sir? Dlnor Oh, bring mo an assortment ot protolns, fats and carbohydrates I loavo It to you, Honry, say about 800 calorics. Ilrooklyn Cltlzon. Cuticara Soap Ideal For Baby'sSldn COUGHING KKff oUie" VdhorU yen. Kellers threat Irritation awl tlcklinr.and set rid of cent In, ceWsand lioareeaees by laklag at once PISO'S