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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 1915)
nre salem capita, jottrkal, salem, oreoon, Saturday, mat 29, 19:5. ; .'iij 1 , . .. v THE MASTER MIND Novelized by Marvin Dana, Author of "Within the Law." From the Successful Play by Daniel D. Carter Copyright. 1913. by the H. K. Fly Compautiy 'Aw, you needn't get so sore ubout it," Walter urged ipiaverlngly. Hlollllt Spoke again. "It looks to me us If we were likely to he together for some time to come. As fur us 1 know, you're Juot Walter Mount. Outside of Walter Blount I don't know who you nre, and I dou't tin e ell her." Walter strove again to placate the man whom he had so seriou.sly of fended. "Aw, I was just kidding," he pro bated weakly. Ms utteiuiit at a pro pilialury smile was tremulous. Of a sudden a new curiosity stirred In Waller. "And the girl that skirt my sister, you know! What is she?" he demand ed. "Is she one of us?" ".She's only been with us a week," Mis. Blount explained. "Came from across the pond, so how can we tell?" Kaid Blount: "We don't know a darned thing about the girl except that she's our daugh ter. That's all we're supposed to know, and It's all we need to know, al thai." A sudden memory moved In (lie husband's brain, and he continued wllh Increased sternness, "And another thing-ilon't you dure again to act like you did today at lunch. There we were n-dlulrig at I lie Waldorf with fine people, and uie abragglng about our big ranches and our beautiful home out west. And then I caught you try ing to cop a soon, so that I had to kick you under the table." An old In stinct revived from the association of Ideas, mid lio added petulantly, "And II was a plated one, at that!" "What's the odds'" she demanded very spiritedly. "Lots of perfectly re spectable people lake tilings like that at hotels Just for souvenirs. Why, I know a lady Unit hasn't got two tow els alike In her whole house. And she's real rich too." Walter reverted to the subject of prime interest to him. "And I lie girl!" lie Insisted. He gazed at. lllonnt eagerly. "Do you tlilnk Andrew has anything on tliu girl, like he has on ma'!" ..- In mi Instant Blount had leaped rlo.se, his face furious wllh passion. "Andrew hasn't anything on us!" ho biased. A Hash of anger gave fleet lug eour ai;e to Waller. "Hull!'' lie exclaimed scornfully, "hon't try and slip anything like that over!" Andrew mine In from the next room ami stood directly between t tut two men. Thru he addressed tlieni with contemptuous coldness: "If through Jealousy and bickering you full to net your parts so that In onseueiic my plans miscarry, It will ci t against you far more than would mere disobedience. What was the muse of this row?" Itlouut pointed to Walter. "Ask the whelp!" "I was Just kidding that's nil!" "Take care, sir." Andrew said harsh ly "One of these days my patience will be exhausted." Ho wailed a mo ment, surveying the youth with a lash ing si are. Then, abruptly, he dotted bis iloiiil i milliner and In Us stead assumed the pir-o of I lie respected ser vitor. He Lowed humbly to Waller, Hie uiiiulual head of Die household. "Why not show your father through the house, sir'.'" lie suggested, At once, without any trace of einhiir- issi il. he t.Hik the part assigned to him. "Sure:" lie exclaimed, boyishly aglow With pride lu I lie new possession of Ibis city In lie beamed on the bewildered lllouiit. "Come on, dad!" he lirged bolsteriiiisly. "V.iu'll sure Dud this plure all to the good." CHAPTER VI. Lucone. Mills. Itl.iMNT possessed the feminine trnlt (,f curiosity. She iniide a 'dawdling round of Uie room, scrulinl.lug ev ery dclnll of Its arrangeinent. At the very last she came to tlie little table, toward which Andrew had glanced to note the shimmer of blue light. ty In Mlluct her eyes went sii-ahhi to Ihc'rlug on the Instant of her approach, As she beheld the lusiers d' Hie Jewel her li'iiidsome race suddenly named with greed, and she Ullcicd nil ejaculation of ilolkhl. I-Vir lim seciucls she con I lulled Hie glittering bauble wllh rapture, liendlng her face ever closer and closer as under a spell Tlie.i, in a udd cilllzatlon of her avaricious thought, she started guiltily, and peer ed about Hie room with furtive glances, to moke .sure that unne spiel upon her. Again, she studied the stone Willi a sensuous ecstasy In Us prlsuied brilliance; again, she (ore her eyes from lis cliarm, and now she moved Pom It hi resolute effort to escape temptation. Hut the old habit of life (Hedged her back to the table, and she pul forth a covetous hand, sel.ed the ilea, carried It to her bosom, smiling. But very soon her mood veered. The smile vanished from hor full Hps. Her oxpios.-dou became that of poign ant grief, By s!ow degrees (lie hand that held the ring , moved from her breasr, reached to the table, set the Jewel bock In Its place. It wag at this moment that Andrew re-entered. At Bight of him Mrs. Blount realized with a shudder how narrow had been the margin of her escape from detection In the very act of theft. She pointed to ward the little table and spoke with a catch In her voice: "Andrew, just look at what you left on that table there. It's a good thing there haven t been any strangers In the house with that lying around loose." Andrew crossed to the table and picked up the ring. There was a faint smile on his closely set lips as he turn ed and went to the woman. Lie extend ed the ring with a slight bow. "Mrs. Blount," he suid pleasantly, "allow uie." Andrew nodded assent as lie dropped the ring Into her itching palm. "Only a word of counsel." he said. "Itcuiembor that who I am and what my exact Intentions may be are of no Interest to you. So be careful." Having thus admonished her he left her nloue to her happiness. And Mrs. Blount, watching the lux urious piay or tne varicolored rays from the diamond, murmured content edly In the softest notes of her throaty voice: "(lee! It sure pays to be honest." The servant soon announced to An drew the arrival of Miss Blount and was directed to show the young lady into the library as soon as she should be ready for an Interview. Andrew descended to the library with an eagerness of expectancy that was almost disconcerting to himself. He ordered I'arker, whom he found al ready stationed In the hall, to main tain the privacy of the library, to bring Halter on hearing the bell. And at last a delicate rustling of draperies sounded at the door, and Lucene en tered. The girl stopped short at sight of the man, arrested for a moment by the stress of emotion. No least trace of Maggie Flint, nursemaid and convict, remained visible In the poised loveli ness of this gentle maiden. The prom ise of her beauty had been most nobly fulfilled. She was of dainty fairness, with a golden crown of locks like corn silk In the sun, us lustrous, as finely spun. The exquisite features, set In the perfect oval of the face, were pearl "It tur pays to bo honost." pure of coloring, save where the blood tint blushed lu cheeks and deepened wlusouiely lu Hps. At Ids smile l.uceiut eamu to him swiftly. "Oil, at last!" she exclaimed. Ills smile grew as lie spoke: "You're not going to be lonesome for l-'rance, are you, I.iiceue?" "Indeed, no!" was Hie Joyous nn swer, given Willi a half disdainful pout of the red lips. "I was happy enough there. Hut, after all, It wasn't Ameri ca -It wasn't home." Now, since her tlrst strong emotion at Hie meeting was past, I.ucene was constrained h, asloulshn t over some thing strange and unexpected in the a'l ranee of the man before her. "Why. Mr. Andrew," she said, with smile shew of confusion over her own Iciiierll.v, "hew odd you look! What Is If.' oil, yes, of course! It's your clothes. What can It mean? Tell' me, piease. At Hie request the smile vanished fl tbe face of tile .Master Mind. "I'allence, patience!" he admonished. luu shall know all about everything I'I'eselilly, lint tail ,,UU, yi,, lt N11-, in ssary now." 'I'h, u he continued: "Tell me, Instead, has our little girl left her heart hi Purls or lias she brought It back Intact?" Though he put Hie question so lightly, It was of Import to him lu Ills scheme of venge ance. "Oh, neither Hie one or Hie ether," l ucene declared, with a mono of re sentment against Hie Idea. "1 left my heart here, sir, when I went nwav. You should know that, for I told you all about my one very meager romance, which can never count to aiiyililug, of course." "Never Is u long time," Andrew sug gcsied drily, aware of the Intricacies he had set lu motion by his mechanism for the coercing of destiny. "So, then, J on have actually remained faithful to the old memory all this long time?" s-. - ,- (,. 'f -3 y ;'I . ( . ,; "Does lt surprise you?" She became grave. "I think that I have that vir tue faithfulness," she said, hesitat ingly. "It's only an ideal, perhaps, but" she was violently aroused by Andrew's next words: "I fancy," be said deliberately, "that I'm going to surprise you a bit. You shall see him soon." The girl started, and her eyes sought those of the speaker In nuiazed questioning. "Oh, Mr. Andrew! You can't mean you can't mean" "Yes," the man said with quiet em phasis, "I do mean Just what I have said. You shall see that ideal of yours very soon. Thut I promise you, my dear girl. Yes, you nre to meet the one that owes his life to you, yet doesn't even know your name. And you are to meet him speedily too." I.uceue's eyes were like stars now. shimmering with the gusty Joy of her heart, and her lips wreuthed to a smile of delight. "Oh, when?" she cried. "Oh, tell nie wneu! it can't be true. It's too won derful to be true. Is he quite well?" yuite." "When they took him away In the i. ni tin lance," she continued pensively, i was sure that he must die, in spite or wnut I had tried to do for him." "And so he would have died," An urow said gravely, "but for you." "I did do the right thing, didn't IT sue suld appealiugly. les, Andrew agreed. "You did the omy thing thut could have saved him But tell me, If you please, how did you ever learn to make a tourniquet?" ny, as to that," came the remlv reply. "I'd seen pictures of them In those 'first uld' things on a nlacurd In a tram, ana 1 studied them until I n. derstood the principle Just because 1 nan nothing else to do at the time. And then," a tremor wus In her vol at tne memory, "when ho was thrown rrom the automobile right there at my ieei inmost anil lay bleed I mr so dread. fully, then somehow I remembered " "And you never forgot him." the man excluluied. betrayed Into onen oi presslon of his wonder over this light iiltur ...l.tl... ... ricming ui uearis. "aiki you never forgot," he repeated softlv. with a half envious note ln his voice. "You never forgot, though neither of you eveu so much ns knew tho other's name." The suggestion In his words nutck- eued the girl's curiosity. Oh, she begged, "who Is he?" Andrew regarded her quizzically. "It wus a small chance, a mlL'htv small one, that you two should ever meet again, the little, friendless waif of the city and the brilliant man of the world. Yet so Ii was to be. Yes; It was for this purpose that I took the house here. Kor this same pui-jsise I have created n family for you, Lucene to take tho place of the one you lost when you were u mere child. I have provided for you a father, a mother, n brother. Even I luive made for you, a blameless past -a past that will stand all the scrutiny It Is ever likely to re ceive and more." Nevertheless the girl, even In the face of these astonishing revelations, held her chief Interest on thut Ideal around which had clustered the dear est reveries of her heart through tho years. So now she made no Comment, only: "I toes he remember me?" "Much more than that," Andrew as sorted briskly, "lie. has tried again and again to (bid you. Since my hav ing you In charge It has been, of course, Impossible for blni to learn anything of you. Hut now the tlmu has coine to reveal you." The girl's face darkened a HI He. "Oh," she cried, grieved, "why didn't you let blni llnd me, when you knew that 1?"-- Her voice broko plleoi.sly. "In order, llrst, to educate and train you, so that there could be no ques tion as to your Illness, your standing as a woman of refinement and breed ing; and, secondly, to gain time for tlie blotting out of a past which, though you yourself were absolutely Innocent, would have forever kept you apart from him." Tlie girl acquiesced by silence lu the Justice of her guardian's reason ing. "And you really - really do know him?" she questioned. -u least i nave seen him, and I know that lie exists right hero In this very city Just now," Andrew replied, smiling again. "Oh! And don't you, too, adiulre hlni- ever so much?" r'ortiiuutoly lor Hie girl's neaee of tiiliid slio did not see tho unlovely hardening of tlie man's face. Hut Ills self coin rid was strong. "Why. once lie unknowingly render ed me a great service, and i well, I ile-dro to return It In kind." "You mean. Without Intllnar Mm Kuowr in iier eagerness Hie looked up Into Andrew's face. girl "le.s,' came Hie glib explanation. "You see, I.ucene, that's what these old clot lies of mine mean. You will please remember (hat Cor the present I am merely Andrew Walklns, your brother's vain and coiitldentlal mini." "Oh, Mr. Andrew," slio objected w ith some embarrassment, "don't you see that you're asking me o deceive him?" "My dear little girl," , declared gently. "1 am only doing my host to give you a rail- chance of happiness." The Master Mind walked awav from Ids ward to where tlie call button was set In the wall. He pushed it to notify I'arker that It was lime for Walter's presence tu tlie library, Walter came Into (tie room wllh curl oslty writ large on his boyish face. Andrew addressed (he girl suavely. "l'erinlt me, I.ucene, to Introduce to you your brother, Mr Walter Blount." Waller strode fur ward ami heartily shook the hand she reluctantly yielded to his proffered clasp. "How do you do, I.uce?" ho exclaim- ) v V '1 jU -it' yt iliilll v "Jj);- .-.fife "Does ho remember me?" Parker will tukeyou to Mrs. Blount." be said. Tlie girl went rather hastily out of tho room. The fuce of Andrew was forbidding as lie spoke to Wulter. 'You perceive," he said shurolv. "that this young lady Is not of your class. You must understand that thor oughly, mid you mtist remember lt, sir. never presume." The thief scowled heavily. Andrew continued: "When Walnwrlght conies nnd the conversation begins, you must hour In uiiiKi my written directions for vour guidance." He went close to tlie door Into the hall. "Now, If I stand In the position corresponding to tills In Hio drawing room, then, according to your instructions, in my memorandum for you,, whut form of conversation must you miopt?" Walter answered wlili the'iilert nnn. fldeneo of a schoolHoy. sure that his lesson has been well conned: Ihu lonely stranger gag." Andrew moved to the end of the ll. brary table and paused there. And if I stand bV the lai-irn tnliln there?" he demanded. "The gay White Way." The teacher went to one nf llm u.i- dows at the end llf I a hnnm "And here?" "Tlie hard to net ncnnnlntrwl a Hut Just the same, vou'll llnd tliu all for nothing," Walter declared . gresslvely, In a new ,..,. r,.i,iii,. I'arker appeared ln the doorwav. iiounclng visitors. "Mr. Walnwrbht. sir mwi n ''orbos, asking for Mr. Walter Blount." CHAPTER VII. In the Toilg. A' Waliiwrigiit and his friend, Pr. forties, Sat waiting In the house f whlcU t0 titular bead was Mr, Walter Blount of l.iii-ainle. W.vo., , Andrew entered le drawing room, wearing his de ferential as t f tho old family re tainer, somewhat Inclined to garrulity. Mr. Blount tins been Informed of your call, sirs," he said. "He will see you, sirs, ut once." He bowed nirnln. I hope, sirs, you won't mind if 1 oo on wltli a few ,,H ot mj, work ller0i as It's so late." "Oh, certainly mo Wnlnwrlirht said. Indifferently. Next came the enlraiien of Wither, who hailed Just within the doorway, and looked from one to tlie other of his guests, In obvious per plexity Kit ween ih,. two as to which might be Mr. Walnwrlght. That gen tleman, Ntumting up and smiling, went forward with Ids ind outstretched. "I am Mr. Walnwrlirht." ho said, aa ho shook hands win, ,ls host, "and I Ht 11,11 'uu that I'm mighty glad to meet you - again!'' The emphasis on the last word was significant. Then, Ve luriied toward the physician: "Tills is or. forbes. a particular friend of mine, who was good enough to accom pany me. ll,. i (i,,, superintendent of the Powhatiau asylum for the Insane." The three men were ueated near ono anot her. "I called," Walnwrlght explained simply, "In order to deliver In person the thanks you wer at such pains to escape last night." Walter beamed pleasantly. "Oh, that's all right," ho exclaimed, breezily, ",,f ooll,.(i , km,w y(JU ,() night the tnlnuie I caught sight of your race, though the name didn't explain, anything to me when your card wag brought. 1 only ,n, ,v,ut any one Would, It's Hot Worth mentioning" Awfully glad happened along as I . ' Walter said in.idnilv n,n. did,' they caught the ni?" he Inquired In. erestedly after Andrew had served lights to Hie sinok,,,..,' Waluwrlgiii shook ills head. No, I'm orry to sHy, thev hnve not, he replied with disgust ln his voice. "The scoundrel reully made a wotueuu, Kotairiv And that reminds me, Mr. "Blount how did you contrive to disappear so soon?" "Why, the fact Is," he said, with an assumption of great candor, "I'm a stranger In New York, and I knew, of course, there'd be a big hullabaloo about a thing like this, and I hate no. toriety police courts and so on, you understand newspapers too. So when I saw the fellow that attacked you had skipped I had the Idea that I'd do' the sumo thing, though for a different rea son. I Just mixed ln the crowd a min ute and then slipped around tbe corher Into the next block and come home." Ho chuckled complacently and then added, ln order to change the topic, "But how d you manage to find me?" "Well, now," Walnwright answered, "that's a bit odd too. An anonymous person called me up on the telephone at my place last night after I got back, said he'd been among those present nt my little adventure, had seen my res cuer nnd had guessed afterward that I might like to know who lt was, and he gave me your nnme and address." Walter perceived that Andrew was now occupied ln rearranging some magazines on the largo table, and he recalled tho memorandum prepnred for his guidance. Yes, the Great Whlto Way! That must be Introduced next He spoke mechanically. "Funny," he commented. "Yon see, I know so few people ln New York." Dr. Forbes peered with curiosity at the young man. "You're a stranger here, you sav. Mr. Blount?" "Yes," was the answer, very cheer fully given, for now the thief saw his way to carry out the required instruc tion. "And I enn't say that I like your town very much. Of course there are some things right enough. I'll admit that the first month I spent along the Great White Way passed off lively enough. But, you. know, a mnn soon gets enough of that. When dad and mother came on east to meet sister, who's just got back from Europe, I took this place so we could all be to gether for awhile. Dad's been josh ing me nbout getting homesick," he added, with a shamefaced grin tlmt acknowledged some Justice ln the charge. "He says "1 won't be able to stick it out for u year, but I think I will maybe Just for a stunt." "Where is your home, may I ask?" Walnwrlght Inquired. "My home town is Lurnmie, Wvo. Of course I'll hnve to odmit that It's a dinky little place, but I like lt st that You see, everybody's your friend out there.". Andrew had gone- to a win dow at the for end of the room a fact duly observed by his pupil. "Yes; ev erybody's your friend out there," he repealed, with a hint of emotion ln his voice, "but hero It's so hard to get acquainted-Hint Is, with the right sort." "If 1 cun be of service to you in any way" Walnwrlght suggested. "Oh, 1 don't menu to butt In," Wal ter declared modestly, Walnwrlght smiled In friendly fash ion. "I'm glnd you did last night," he said emphatically. "Oh, Unit! But, say, hnve you got any Idea why this particular man tried to kill you or who he wus or any thing?" "Nothing definite," Walnwrlght re piled. "I dare say It was just some one with n grievance. You may hap. pen to know, Mr. Blount, that 1 was for some years district attorney here. During my term of service I wus com. polled to semi n good many men to prison, llrst and Inst, and some even to the electric chair." As the lanl words were spoken Andrew, who had been surreptitiously watching tho speaker, turned his face instinctively to hide from view (lie distortion of'hate that transformed It. "Yes," Walnwrlght continued, unwitting the feeling arous ed In one of his hearers; "a good many criminals have come to hate tne." "Gee," Wnlter ejaculated, "It gives mo a chill Just to think of It!" "Oil, you'd soon get used to It!" Walnwrlght returned Indifferently. Walter shook tils head violently. "Yes," he agreed, "I supposo It's nil In the day's work; but, Just the same, the Idea of receiving threatening let ters and nil that sort of dope" Walnwrlght Interrupted, "My secre tary usually destroys them nt once." There is one notable exception," Dr. Forbes observed In his characteristical ly precise manner of speech as he re folded his hands carefully and smiled it wintry smile. "I refer to tho white card episode." "The wlilte card episode?" Walter re peated. Waliiwrlglit's face lost Its rather bored aspect. "Ah, Hie white card!" he said Ihnueht. fully. "Yes, that Is something differ ent. And the white card Is still com ing coining from some very mysteri ous person, a sort of genius In his way." He put n hand Into the breast pocket of his cent and drew forth a hit of wlilie cardboard, which ho ex tended toward lils host. "Tills Is one 1 received yesterday." Waller, wlio had examined the curd curiously, looked up ln disappointment as bo returned it to Its recipient. "Why, there's nothing on It," he com plained. "What's Hie Idea? Is It from somebody you sent up?" "It carries a message In spite of Its being blank," Walnwrlght said somber ly. "As to your question, no, It is not from some one I sent up. I've never seen tne man that sent me tills itud the others like lt, and promises to send me more, of different colors." Walnwright then proceeded to do se r lie tlie Allen murder, (li8 sentence nnd the threatening developments thereafter. Winter's desire for details concerti ng the curious situation outlined bv Y alnwrlght was thwarted by the en iruuoo of Mr. and Mr,. Blount, pursu nut to.Androw's prlvntely conveyed In- TJtVi: and wu-e .. m T ure88 Ue "Prang on as his guests rose, and introduced the twala B8 hla father .nd mother Im right glad to meet any friend of my son's... the husband affirmed ' He proved himself my friend Inst cnK;eawa,nwr,8ht cS jooYttTne,ltober,gUtonthe Mrs Blount, who did not approve in h 8 'hi' f any cersation n her neighborhood, Interposed hospi- tably as ahe arranged her ample form in a chair near the guests. "Now, do sit down," she nrged, and beamed on first the one visitor and then the other. She felt a triumphant pride In her position here as hostess n metropolitan society and wished that the members of the Tufi,, club of Laramie, Wyo., might see her now, entertaining thus intimately two distinguished gentlemen of New York city. Walnwright remarked, as he seated himself In a chair facing his hostess "I fear we nre detaining vm, "Not a bit, you ain't." Mrs. niniw wiiu rorcerutness. "Father and Lucene and I were just going out to have dinner at some restaurant, and we ain't in any hurry nt all." Mr. Blount re-enforced hla mfc'a statement "No, slree, we ain't in We've got a taxi waiting," the west! erner went on as ho opened a cigar case. "Let It wnlt, I say. Mother and I dou't come to New York often, and, when we do come why, darn the ex peusel Eh? Ain't that right, mother?" Dr. Forbes made nn effort to in. tain a share ln the conversation by ad dressing Blount. "You come from tho cattle country, I hear." It used to be n real cattle coun try," was the answer, "but nowadays It's all sheep. It's good business, too, nil right, though the smell of thna critters In something awful. The last few years hnve been wonderful, I tell you, sir. Why, I can remember when U cents for wool was considered a very good price. But two years ago we got 27. That's some price for raw wool, believe me. But of course no one knows what this new tariff Walter Interrupted the speaker with nn admirable Imitation of the pert sou's rude manner toward the futher. "Now, dad, for heaven's sake, don't you get started on the tariff." "No, John," Mrs. Blount tittered. "1 wish I bad a dollar for every hour I've had to listen to that stuff." 8he turn ed her eyes on Walter. "I wish, my dear," she said in tones expressive of deepest maternnl pride, "that you'd go nnd nsk Lucene to please hurry." Walter stood up obediently. "Yes, mother," he said, "if you will excuso me to our guests." And ho hurried from the room. Blount took advantage of tho refer ence to tlie daughter of tho house to enter again into tho conversational arena. "Yes, Mr. Walnwrlght, and you, doc tor, we're Just naturally some proud of thnt girl of ours. You might think four years ln France would spoil a girl. So It might some of them, I' guess. But not our girl! Why, Lucene Is Just crazy to get home ngalu out to Lnrnmlo, Wyo." "I don't know, fnthor," the wife snld doubtfully. "I'm afrnld she'll never be really satisfied hero ln her own country any more." "I guess that's right," said Walter, who had re-entered In tlnio to hear his mother's remark. Blount waved nn nnn ln vehement denial. Then the visitors htood up quickly, looking toward the doorway. Lucene hud pnuscil there, nnd her blue eyes, now darkly lustrous, were fixed on 'Walnwrlght In a gnze that penetrat ed to his soul. CHAPTER VIII. The Lovers' Mooting. L" CCKXE was ln nn evening gown of a whlto fllmlnoss that re venlcd with modest truth the gracious lines of tho slender, lissome form. A deeper rose blossom ed warmly In her cheeks, tho tender bow of the Hps wns slightly pnrted to a tremulous smile of rapture. On the man, too, a spell wns laid, like unto hers, yet unlike, for where she knew him In the first Instant his memory Jul not stir ns yet, though the exqui site charm of her there thrilled him with longings new nnd masterful. The voluminous voice of Blount, mnk ng tho introductions, freed tho twain, In part at least, from tho enchant ment fallen upon them. Walnwrlght managed nrtfully to be beside tho girl ns the general exodus was begun. He was tilled wllh nn un reasoning Indignation thnt wholly ob scured his sense uf humor as ho heard the dialogue between Dr. Forbes nnd Mrs. Blount ns they passed on their way toward the door. "Your daughter Is n dainty creature, Mrs. Blount," the physician was say ing wltli enthusiasm. Mrs. Illount swept nil. approving look over her owu majestic frame. "Yes. All our family nro Just bite that." lteally, the' woman Is indecent!" wns Waliiwrlglit's angry thought. "Coino on, Cortland," Forbes called over his shoulder ns ho reached the doorway, Walnwrlght turned again to the girl beside him. The others were nil out of the room now, nnd iho looked up nt him with a little smile, ro wistful thnt It set his pulses hounding in a wild longing to comfort her-why, for what, he knew not. "Shall we go now?" slio naked tim idly. "Ycs-no-tliat Is, wait, just a mo ment." Then, ns she faced him with i certain shrinking bravery born of long yearning, their eyes met and held In a lingering look thnt stirred each to Uio deeim. And. lu that look, the memory 8nrrea ana Amazem.nt . , "Pression. ThB .., pittn. H,o h " '""Ulte mno.1. " T Of utruri. ""met Qf mmer, vibrant i. . : 'ull gre sir . m. ,. .. " me nam. u,.,' But-I know!" The ,, Te" Bt triumphantly, though mi '?' The gln-s t J,: U utterl to Mfti, r heart raced w, r:ira terln for "Then v,, .. ""I'l'mess, hands. wfhltlT'" cene laid her shm nT'3'' ' warm clasp '" Wthli hi. .aIS'W... I do." y Wel1' Jw. I think 'After ail these years"" ,1, The rigidity of hit '!' 8hebrMtN. nrd that reached to her hlrt "or jou, the man explained lnanrit . , . ""eiiuess, "Onlv derful that we should at la f again like this." " won. meet whe.Tke 8ea"t0,y cno,,1!h' tbongh rervo,ce.UPPyqUttVerlMbsm "Theywlllbewntng But the glamour wa, still on the full of a reverent tenderness; mint a princess you've grown to be! The girl turned away resolutely, though her heart wns listening to & singing of his praise for her. "We must go," she commanded. Walnwrlght aroused himself. "Yes," he said very softly as he walk ed beside her, "we must go." then he added still more, low, "To gether." -...,,! The days thnt followed tblst llrst meeting were halcyon ones for tbe Iot-ers-for lovers they wore, Lovers they had been, ln a fanciful, dreamj, alto- j gether extravagant fashion, since the ! few seconds together ln Chicago yean ago, with never a word exchanged be-! tween them. I Lovers they were of a different tmU from the Instant of the association! brought about by the macbluatlotu of me Ainster Minn, mere wns mr. any tiniest suggestion of doubt at tit part of either. The tore that had W no more than I romantic ftiimen wns sprung Into full, glorious llte-tht single reality ln the universe, the be ginning and the end ot ill tblnga. ' Little by little WalnwrlsW, sell con- eclous, fearful as never before, dared to profess hla adoration. And, by at much as ho dnred to sieak, Bbe shjtr. dared to listen, until at last tlif pretno confession set them Mna with ecstasy. For once, It sceodM there was no obstacle to prerot Smooth running of the course of tne, love. The Hlounts, concisely tim bv Andrew- welcomed WalnwrlgWM a sullor for Lucenc's hand, For rest the young mini was hla own mi ter, the possessor of nn ample fortw. There was nothing to occasion deny, and, ns soon ns n sufficient trow could bo assembled, the marriage tool place. After a heavenly boneymoon the bride nnd groom established them selves Joyously lu 0 country f near New York, wllh the Andrew lu charge of a nnM stair of servants. Tho arrnngement was satisfactory to the Blount", they were invited to a long vW ' their daughter and sod-iim". - leaving for their Home In tot -Of the various persons wnw I this strange menage M"1" niostwholesoIm"lylaUWtbouKle his happiness wns qualified. W" element of peril, the threat of ! mi.nence which lie fw ' "?, ' an ndded at lo the "ll"li Tlmt which iiicuii.-cd WinMitM miliar dreid of the mysterious geance to be vlslte.1 mnn M W 3,-eadwns .wollen to Olmcn Ion l.v ominous. ltwn.tli. Ter following tl.owc,liling. lna,e tel. whllher the bridal l r secretly lest any one ki. ' abouts, that Hie blow fc y. As Wnlnwrlglit pass . ., ,.. ...i, i,n nnrcehro way or men- m llllllK white under the ""'"" 'a examining tills Ho found uvelope bearing a l- " ., Ioo,ol 0 himself. Som..rUI.. to tb .1.0 unexpected tn man, nauseated ltl , prehension of dialer. A d '(((. tlonwiis, tnlJ'MrUH Inglho cnrelorehcrl"0 J It n red caru . ., ,lo.l (Coal inud ;" BOWERS PLEADS OUttTT- Portland. (''.. W - B,,jr J """'.VVi' '" .i-'frf- M.,nno.n.. , ill It It 1 1 in . . .;tir wnu ,, y, Stccgcm, the h'l"'r- I '.', onti" ,lmri!i and his '"Ki. tio' tci .. ...!, i The mi . " ,i, i.or in uptown 1 1 e s ie - i . ,i, grills o . ONE CENT A WOBtt 1