3p? ' fflVMPffftfl i' imp -,fW 1. J. '. l - "-" "V -(.. EVENING LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, SATURDAY, StSLY i" V?fV Av - f - iv irT Tl is STTrx si pc s- I I l I ' I J 1 " 1 VA'fl 1 ,.. ,:- 21, 1917 '"' - '--i W5B USE Piv"! williA HAMILTON1 OSBORNB CHAPTER I ' yWrs tho best years of her life. Lfcr that matter, as wio onen rciiecteu FT,,, moments Miriam Chaltoner had f0"1" . , t,. , gninrnnllnn iww.Br" .. : i" :.:: :.; fc , husband was no wuibb uuin inu ,tr 0f young mcn married to ncn hut sho could never find tho argu- ft whereby sho might arrlvo at tho de :. inclusion. It Is not to bo wondered Hhen, that eventually thoro camo a day E: .,' information was brought to her E .n In tho gay and ultrafashlonablo ..... .. 1 ..!. .An1f .j jn whicli incy muveu ijw.hu oiviu ui .... .1 lUnllnniiti " nriil tAn ls "thai muu .imi.ui.i. -" , that he was going a paco that was (4ly carrying him far beyond tho horizon ...thing 1IK0 rcspcciummy suuis i . In truth, as fast ns her money m lake him there. Htonr Miriam Challoncr was not one of tili women who deceive themselves, It not Z friends, when they say tliat It ever hear of their husbands doing such-and-L " .Mne- thev know perfectly well what 31- ""0 -, . .. ,u 1M. t.nm B1tn rwlll do. it s iruo mi., nu i..i;.. o..u .nin. ne.vortneicss. bho cuum nm uo Shaded to discuss with any ono tho hu lertuaoea w ...mm, i,r hnah.inil had atlngpos'""" " " fitted her. ITln a way, this attitude of hers was un Siiunate, for It was more or less responsible WI, note of melancholy cadenco which lint Into her mind. And so it was mat W?L very lone sho was dimly conscious of RfSffi quite unlike anything that sho gia emeuu" h , ., th b ttcrness Jr heart tod given way to sickening 1 "'.,.. .i.t .ho. ns well as he. had been & the matrimonial furnace and found Itattiw.. "Vn;1"",."r " n&J n ncr uv" 6' Init BOClety S CSlimillluili iiiuD.ui.a ... iBut direction wem " i -;- -' C doubtless sho would Incur the loss of a fcta amount of consideration An I even Nm nonpossession 01 n. .......- r."...nf rtirl not prevent her from fenMne tho expressive shrugs, and "Oh. S2Se W wife is to blame." which, for S...L f an Inferenco that Is obvious, Vwrali be voiced by moro than one Im Swd,l8 dame of her acquaintance as Em M nl superbly gullible souls whoso 'lB" . . in rl rnrt nrntinrtinn to CCSdUckof belief in the fldellty of ikttr Ueee lords. i Vor were comments of that kind the wont that sno ns"i "i"; - -- -,nalty for belonging to a set which, to a 'r . .' .. ..nrVinna than nnv other. ?L .... ih 'nosslblllty of an up-to-dato ffi8 having a mutually implied under ttudlng that neither shall object to tho tr:.... .,.,. mnm nr less temporary I SSilessncss of tho other sho knew that It BTiald be well nign miracuwua ,l ...- llT. . " ji .,! noranna (11(1 not CO Still HMiy i''-.''" :,-", ,,, rnr1,lf,t. , further lor an apiaiuiuuu . .... -. ul point to her and her husband as a iL ovnmnl nf such a precious pair. fiBut though her whole being rebelled at tho Kntre thought that there could be people who Iwld regard her in such a light, she could I't hrlne herself to take decisive action of " . . T .L.I... ,Vm, nulrl 'tar Wna. uncro was nuuuuB "" -Juald. she told herself, nothing that could It done since a most conscientious and tttleu self-analysis had failed to reveal IB? wlieiy BnoricomiiiKa -av-chw , - Attn that there were sumo Lttmany, It Is true, nut sua a iew ur ?il(oing any of tho things that so many (Mrs did, for whom there was far less ex- an than there wouia do xor ucr. fln hiiwii' wern the opinions of the ItWBtn, there was no disposition on the part of the men to hold ner in any wuy nniiM. fnr hlo hphavlor. Far from It. & And In a favorite corner of an excluslvo duo, when tho names of fair ladles li'BMtly of the stage were bandied about as t rmTino' in vnnnir iimiiiuiiei a cai.aiiuvj, . ,vWOnles of his father, between sips of their , Koica ano bouss, wtm wum. -- SWlth contemptuous Indignation anil ex I'ploitvely give thanks to tho gods for willing Stilt their lovable, old-time friend should i lot Hvs to rpb the confirmation of his fears. htind how well they recalled those fears. RTor notwithstanding his very moderate ftfiwimstances, the elder Challoncr naa oeen f.ttot rarest of mortals a man blissfully Mtent with his lot In life, and, ono wno leldom missed an opportunity to deplore lh.lniitinhin r.razo of the rich for moro Prlches, forever protesting that blatant Com- iBerdallsm, haste and artinciaiuy were u.d ttoda of the present day; and no picture In gthelr gallery of lasting impressions stood at more vividly than tno ono in wuiuu, nrrnnnrlorl hv n p-rnlin of VOUng fellOWS, tt had "got him going," as they phrased , M was declaiming againsi wnai wa rely his' pet hobby in another formthe Mglous folly of poor young men kcwi ucs inrougn marriuiic. and I, young gentlemen," he Would conclude with great earnestness, will always maintain that such a union will Htike a man lose all Incentive to work out What the good Lord put In him." Little wonder, then, that on the announce ment that a marriage had been "arranged Mtween Challoner's son and a aaugnter 01 n man whose name tho world over was Ulmlflcant of fiscal notency. tho day bid Ifalr to be a memorable ono at tho club, his ontemporarles preparing to make merry ai Pin old fellow's expense. Yi But. In a sense, his "showing up" thero jMA been a disappointment ; one look at tho ,ce, which showed symptoms or aisireaa tnd a deslro to bo reassured, was sufficient to cause the banter to dlo In their hearts Mfore it had reached their lips. H soon camo out that thero had been a alCene between father nnel Ron. TlieSO tWO, K.'or many years, had been the only members vi me ramlly; and propamy Deiier uu Pny one in the. world tho father had known I'the gon's weaknesses ; hypersensitive to new .jmuences, vanity and inability to say nu; ;jna ne had pointed out to him me many (lUadvantaees dancers to one of his tem- ryrament which ho could seo In such an i nance, to the father's tninKing, mo "" t.Jould haVe no home only establishments, iyachta. moine Btahina nnri motorcars, and iMhad contended that there .were far more tJ(rable things in life thanUhe possession RT'.ioese irorn, which It can easuy vo & that J. Lawrenc Challoner, Sr., was man little in sympathy with tho ideas of r xasnionabio society. RNow to appreciate the mental anguish of oiner, organism even if that organism I Own hnrent in never un eaSV matter! 6. of all men, the modern lover Is apt to the last to mirrnmh to an aruument that h'edlcts a blighted future btcause of an ln- "uon to marry an hc.Iress. Ana so it oniy natural that Lawrence snoum imvu arded hl.q fnther nn an old fogy, have hted hla wnrnlnp-n nnd have replied that I 'Was COmnetent in lonV after his OWn af- Jlf and that, anyhow, the consent of the parenu had been obtained and no In fernca won nn..ihie Ami with that the toer manner had completely changed; a wished the boy th best or iuck , bc. way hamfv. obviously, all this was Ei F J-ear.i ago; pnrenti on buth nlilen hn.i m.i nn, and yet things had turned out pretty much as the old man had dreaded. Indeed, mattera had como to thin iupm: how long HHi Indulgent wlfo would cnntlnuo to keep ner eyos shut to her husband making ducks and drakes of her fortune, nnd why she did t, were questions which Interested all who knew this couple, but which Challoner np parently thought wholly unnecessary to ask himself. An nutomobllc Mrs. Challoner's nutomo. bile was largely Instrumental In bringing matters to a Climax. An trnu1ite.mnlnr tho machines" rank high; In fact, thero aro moments when It would seem as If tho arch fiend himself were In them ; otlierwlro un ua-uum ior mo mysterious Inlluonco that imkcs people loo command of them selves onco they nre In command of them; that leads astray, as some ono has paid, thn great and tho good ni well ns tluwo of lesser clay; that produces tho extraordinary "'" "i "iinu inai rejoices in riding rough shod over tho lights and feelings of others, while ono nnd all claim to recognize his handicraft In the Ingenuity which tho "ma chlr.es" display In selecting the most Inop portune times and least accessible places for an exhibition of their mechanical ailments, llut bo that as It mny. In thli particular Instanco tho de II was not lurking In, tamp ering with tho Improvements of dotnll In tho big, red body of Mrs. Challoner's Masto don model no, It was not with tho machine that ho was concerned, but with tho man ntmosphero In lliu drawing room w.i elec tric, tho tension nlmost unbearable, for It was Imposi Iblo for cither of tho women to doubt that tho other saw what ihe had -en the condition that tho man was In who lnd leaped from tho car and was now crossing tho sidewalk apparently oblhlous i .e .: I'inniudoiH of wnnilcr and lnmcnt that ho had esc.iped nuthorltntlvo lgllanco. Ilislng qulrkly, Shirley llloodgoud put out her hand, "flood-by thank you so much, Miriam I" There was an nmazement of question In tho eyes that Involuntarily sought thoso of her friend ; but her ono thought was to cenpo what she wisely Interpreted ns nn oncoming sccno between husband nnd wife. llut though thero was a mist beforo her eyes, a purging In her earn, not a muscle of Miriam Challoner's faco moved ; and tho permitted tho girl beforo her to perceive no emotion other than gcntlo surprise. biirely, my dear, you'ro not golng7 What? So Boon?" Conventional though they were, there could bo no mistaking tho tone of sincerity In Mrs. Challoner's words ns she took the girl's hand In both of hers with nn nffec tlonato mocment. Indeed, for tho baron fraction of a ppcotid It almost succeeded In convincing Shirley that the distressing Inrl dent of the motor had rnllrMv psonpi'l l'r: nt any rate, It augmented tho doubt whether tho woman beforo her had even nn Inkling of tho Htorlf.s In clmil.illun coned nliig tno doings of her husband. Nor was such a band would not abandon his plea. Ilesldcs, ho had detected tho sob. Onco moro his nttltudo underwent a change ; ho moved toward her, holding out his nrms as though to gather her Into them. It was a charm that always worked with Miriam; It would now, he told himself. - llut Challoner was doomed to disappoint ment. It was tho last touch needed to com plete her humiliation, and, waving him back sho tried: , "Laurie, Laurie, anything but that I" There was a flood of tears behind her look of pain. "llut 1 must Cradlcbaugh " II camo to n helpless pause. Mrs. Challoner slowly repeated the name. Cradlebaugh I I wish you had nover seen that man that class of men! Your money my money, cry likely has been colng to them! Well, If you, want money you will havo to " Tho tension snap ped and she drew her hnnd across her eyes, then broke down completely. "A sign of weakening," Challoncr said to himself and promptly Mnrtcd toward her. "No, no go!" sho cried, drnwlnc her hands up to her faco ns If to shut out tho sight of him from her gazo. A moment later Challoner was seated In the motorcar. As tho chauffeur threw In tho clutch bomo Instinct told Challoner to look back. Ho had a fleeting Impression that ho had seen a woman's faco In tho doorway. "Surely that's Miriam." ho thought, and lifted his hat; but when ho looked again there was no ono there. Yet If his senses Ijad been perfectly normal ho would havo known It was her faco that ho had seen Hut the fates had no Intention of lettlnc him know that with his departure his wrfe's resolution had gone. nnd that sho had como to the door to be seech him to come back; for even then they were cunningly spinning tho web which was to encompass him about. SI' sl zz K "S CHAPTER II CrtADi of a himself, befuddling whatever brains ho had left- and tho devil It was and no other that Incited Challoncr to leavo a certain establishment about which wo shall have roSethlns to Say later on-tako tho wheel trZ tho chauffeur and embark on a sensa tional, bacchlo career up tho Avenue at an hour when the view of that f-" thoroughfare through tho silken, shlmmcry curtains falling over a window In a cuim.r house i facing tho Pari: was too alluring not to bo irresistible. And so It camo about that the comments on tho passing throng made by two women, fndulglng in afternoon tea in Mrs. Challon cr's white and gold drawing room, wero Interrupted In a manner nun aa u... nectcd as It was embarrassing. "Look Miriam!" Shirley Bloodgood was saving to her hostess, apropos of a woman passing by whom they both knew, "did you Sver see anything more atrocious than that ETho7 other smiled her appreciation, nnd n train tho voluble Mls Illoodgood went on . gAnd do look at the. Heath girls in those huce hats; what frights 1" But whatever wero her thoughts on tho subject Miriam Challoner ma .. i a for Precisely at that moment her attention wax attracted by something strangely fa mUlar in an unusually Insolent and Insistent honking of a motor horn, which was caus ng a wave of apprehension to sweep down the Tone lino of vehicles. And a moment later they saw that chauffeurs were rudely Inter '"!?! .h nurrlnc of automobiles lazing over their allotted miles; that drivers were swerving their horses Into closer relations with the curb; that hardly had these at tained a position of comparative safety than there flashed by them and fetched, up In front of Mrs. Challoner's houso a. big ma cWno. which a distinguished, though dimi-nated-looklng man, had been recklessly forcing with utter disregard of tho right of way a performance which called fojth a Tolley of expletives not only from cabbies, singularly unappreclatlve of his dexterity; In executing Perilously cioso shaves, but 1 ke e.:. J!m nnerv nedectrlans who lnd halted on hearing the groan with which the k ""pora moment that seemed minutes the ''Now, let him come!" ho exclaimed, watching her as a tiger does a tigress, ,.,i..inn nt nil lllnfflcal. Shirley niood- good could recall not a word that Miriam iUtUii.ei- had ever uttered during nil tho f years of her married life, nor a look that could bo construed as Implying a knmvlrdgo of his dissipations; on tho contrary, thero nad been times when the girl had been so exatpeiated over tho wlfo's outspoken ad miration for qualities In tho man which ui.iriv i.-nef thMt lm did not possess, that she had been feorely tempted to enlighten her friend ns.to Ills escapades. But gratify ing as was the thought of tho wife s pos slblo Ignorance, it by no means lessened tho necessity of a hasty departure on .Shir-w- ,mrt- nnd somewhat confutedly but affectionately she kissed her hostess good-by. "Oh, my dear Miriam, but I must your tea la perfectly delicious though. If only I had time " Shirley stopped abruptly , her endeavor to conceal her anxiety to bo Bono was making her uncertain of her words. "One's tea. Hko ono's friends, my dear, should bo of tho best," Miriam returned with a sweet smllo. And apparent y think ing of nothing but her somewhat Insipid littlo compliment, she laughed pleasantly, iinr-ied her arm lovingly round tho grls waist, and accompanied her to tho door of mo drawing room, ,.,,,i cMr Miriam's smile nnd manner touched Shir lev deeply. Tho Inclination to offer words of comfort was strong In this tall, rangy Elrl. whoso overy movement was as grace ful as it was impulsive. How sweet how ui - .1.-,, nl.t If Mlrl.im easy It would ue, """"; , , , would only give a hint that they would bo welcome. But. like many another woman, Miriam Challoner had schooled herself to faco the woild with a smile; had learned that to lay bare ono's heart, even to ono s friends, In to court surprise, perhaps rid fJnta? and that to dissimulate, though It kills is to play well one's part ; ana sno Z reaching the hall below Shirley was Ale to seo through the open .door Challoner ascending swiftly but uncertainly tho gray, stonS steps. With a quick movement si drew to ono side while ho sullenly pushed by hh wife's young butler, Stevens, and bo. m , to stumble up tho soft-carpeted, wide stJlrway then, unnoticed and with a sigh oiliershe fled out Into the "treet Left rather aDrupiiy mw. loner went back Into tho drawing room, and, resting her arms on the mantel, bowed her head upon them nnd gave way to the misery of her reflections. It was not the first time, to be sure, that Lawrence, had returned n this condition, but heretofore It OCCUr III uiH"i ."- ilf. - Tultnens the belief that she was W". on,y ,i -i Now tb Mi. an dement i?nicted , w th 11 jlHftrvr,Mj ognltlon on tho faco or her friend, nnd which told moro plainly than wouls that Bho had been all. undcifctond nil l'rch cntly. lilting her head, biie crossed tho room and seated herself; then i.ilslng her haiuls t-ho let them drop de'paliingly along the arms f tho chair whllo tbo unbidden tears overflowed. In this position tho remained until tho sound of footsteps warned her or her husband's approach; then a moment of Etrugglo for tolf-control ; a blushing nway of tears, and llnally, rising sho left her heat for ono behind tho tea table And It was in this unquestioned Ht " "' tnge, apparently cool and collected, In the act of pouring herself out a cup of tea, that Challoner's gazo first rested upon his wUo as. lurching In his walk but I. Is eyes holding a purpose, ho camo Into her picsenco. "Well, Miriam, hero I am -I ve como home you teo!" ho blurted out In a don t carvha" happens sort of manner and without waiting for an answer slumped Into wiuioui """"' ,,,iw "You'ro not clmlr ami mnitu ow. ..v r.imoiirtrative. my dear I .. . ......r ,ineeil. During tho long aay,-P-a,lwo,der It - ...1.r.nnlin1 TQ Klin lUltl riuiwvvM - "ir with inventing plausible excu.es for his absence; how useless they were , his loo Is manner nnd moro than anything else to Intonation of his voice now bhowed sho dared not trust herself to speak lest she should glvo way to foolish Imeetlve. Challoner camo to tho point at onco. "Miriam. I must havo .onto money 1 was not a request; it was ' i.i"-" Up to this lime tho young wlfo had not lifted her eyes from tho teacup In her hand Sho was a woman with brown eyes End Very attractive brown hair, but upon tho faco that fctlll should havo held the freshness of youth deep lines wero begin Xw to appear, l'retty she was. In a way. "hough sho liad never been beautiful; and vet there was something that spelled beauty in tho brown eyes which sho now fixed upon him. "For threo days you have been away where havo you been?" The necesa ty for raying something alone was rcsponslb 6 for tho question. Many days afterward, in ro- viewing the painful sceno. sno was j.uauno that she had not inquired nor had ho vol- ..! 1ia tnfnrmntlnn. "I don't know," ho answered dully, halt truthfully. "All I know Is that I landed at Cradlebaugh's." And after a moment, not ing tho look of mystification nn her face, ho snapped out, "Cradlebaugh's gambling rooms gambling rooms, thero now you know." ,, . With the last words he rose excitedly, stalked pver to a table and smote it with his clenohedhnd. ... , '1 ten.ywri rtust neve-gome money i lMilm I ethave i., human If again bitter words had not risen to her lips, llut ono quick glanco at tho puffy face, tho red-rlmmcd eyes, was suffi cient to warn her of tho danger of exciting his auger whllo In his present condition: and instead rho merely Inclined her head an action which Instantly caused hopo to surge Into tho eyes of Challoner. "I want I must havo n thousand dol lars." Hero again, thu nttltude was not that of a Eupprant; In tho demand was moro of tho highwayman than of tho beg gar. Mrs, Challoner's dark eyes met those of tho man. held them steady; then Bho said firmly, decisively: "Lawrence, much ns it hurts mo to refuse you, I feel that I must. It Is for your own Kood " Tho soft gown that clung to her llguro seemed to take moro rigid lines as sho drew herself up nnd went on with; "t can glo you nothing more this sort of thing has gono quite far enough." . For an Instant Challoncr was stunned. Ills wlfo had never looked at him like that: thero was something In tho catch of her breath, too, as sho ended, that meant denial, ho was certain. But ho took cour ago nnd renewed his nttack; and meeting with no (.ucccss, ho turned to Imploring, begging for tho money. DM sho not know that he would not nslc her If ha did not havo to havo it? Women never could un derstand why men nan to nave money sne didn't understand. If sho would only lot him havo tho money ho would pledge him self to mend his ways, anything but ho must hao tho money. When men had to havo money they had to havo It that was all there was to It. And then a violent, Irreslrtlblo impulse to bo perfectly truthful, to lay bare his mind beforo her, took hold of him; and that mind was so warped, his need so desperate, that ho camo perilously near to blurting out tho rent reason why ho needed tho money. For an Instant ho actually thought that his wlfo would see, understand, appreciate tho reason as somo of his malo friends doubtless would. "I'll tell how lUIs. Miriam " he had begun, nnd then suddenly stopped. What was ho about to dol Was there not something queer, something not ex actly right, In his telling Miriam about the other woman? After. all, that was. the one thing In his llfo that he had never told her. She was welcome to the rest, but that she mustn't know that; and he ended by pleading "Surely, Miriam, you're not golnr to re fuse me cpmo '' T am sorry, Lawrence, but I must." afhere was a sob In the refusal aa ne I'turned lavtty, .. . .. I ItjrttJL&like.'SMUed thW. the hue? ItADLEBAUGH'S Cradlebaugh's houso thousand chances rearing Its four btorlos of brown stone, spreading Itself out liberally on tho north sldo of ono of tho sldo streets which Is fast being given over to fashlonablo clubs and restaurants, Is n thoroughly up-to-dato establishment. Hero tho Jeunesso doro of tho city nro mado welcome onco tho critical eyo of tho senti nel behind tho trlplo steel doors nt tho top of tho brown stono steps has recognized In them tho essential qualifications. In appointments tho houso Is luxurious nnd gorgeous, and Is so closely shuttered that not a ray of light from outsldo Is per mitted to penetrate It. Cradlebaugh's day and night, night nnd day. is lit within by tho glow of artificial llglits; tno suiiiigiu has no chance In Crad'cbaugh'ii. In addi tions to the main hall of play, thero nre accommodation for parties wishing to In dulge In quiet games among themselves. Meals aro served at all hours supper being the specialty of iho house and notwith standing that no fchargo whatever Is made for them, tho culslno and servlco nro beyond reproach. It can truly bo said of Cradle baugh's that It has all tho cheerfulness of tho hearth, tho quiet of tho sanctuary, mingled with tho glaro of Irresistible recklessness. It was to this establishment then that rhnlloner directed a cabby to tako him after hours of unsuccessful attempts to borrow money from his friends unsuccess ful becauso they had come to know his Irresponsibility and to realize that his obli gations were not the obligations of his wife. The consequenco was that man after man invnnteii nn excuse or refused him em phatically. And finally In desperation he had offered to sell the Mastodon. But tho dealers knew who owned tho car ono of tho hansomest cars in town and on Chal loner disgustedly ordering his chauffeur home, a dealer more daring than the others had said to hlnvwith aggressive familiarity: "Get your wife's bill of sale, Challoncr; we'll buy It then, all right." A spark of anger Immediately lit up Challoner's eyes, resentment was deep down In his Inmost soul; but his brain had been abslnthlated for days, his sensibilities blunted and Indignities fell from him like tho proverbial water from a duck's back. Nor was It solely with his mentalities that tho dissipations of tho last five years had played havoc. Ills face, his body wero unnaturally thin, and his glanco had become fixed and strained. Nevertheless, overindul gence had not grossened him. ho was still cood-Iooklng, nnd there was an air about him that few men had. In nil his reckless ness, whenever ho wanted money he had not forgotten that fact. It had nlways counted with Miriam until now. It counted still with Miss Lctty Love of the frivolity! Thero had been moments, It Is true, when rushing madly about town for funds that ho had felt It would surely havo been better for him If ho had never gono to Cradle baugh's: but then like a flash would come tho thought that If he had not gono to Cradlebaugh's ho would never havo known Lctty Love! And by no means had ho arrived nt the Btate whero ho could have wished that With tho thought of Letty Lovo there came another Indlssolubly connected with If Wns Colonel Hargravcs slowly under mining, ousting him out of her affections? Not without reason ho argued that Colonel n...,irM had nlentv of money, nnd the man with money was going to win out In the graces of tho Frivolity actress) Chal loncr could see It. could feel It, and now In this crisis ho couiu not raise u. pamj i.,uu sand or two Suddenly a volco from overhead broke In upon his thoughts with: rroni ciiu.n.ci n Challoner started. Tho query was perti nent, frequently Important, sometimes vital. But In all tho times that Challoncr had driven to Cradlebaugh's. never until now had this question been put to him. The entrance on tho street nbove, he was quite woll aware, was for thoso whose liveli hood supplied sufficient reason for pre ferring tho moro secret way. while tho man-nbout-town such as ho flattered himself that he still was tho credontlal-bearlng stranger, even thoso whoso reputation might suffer, found mat ino urnum":"'" " main entrance furnished them with nmple nrotcctlon. Nevertheless, far from feezing him, Challoner felt that In somo subtle way the question fitted In with his scheme of things. For a shadowy purpose was Blowly forming In his mind a purposo that re quired thought. His answer was of para mount Importance, he must make no mis take "Tho rear no," ho quickly ,,.in,i "the front entrance." Beforo tho main street door the driver pulled up his horso nnd Challoncr hurriedly walked as ono whose nose was Btralght nnd who followed his nose Into the whlted sepulcher caddie Cradlebaugh's. No one greeted Challoncr ns he passed Into tho main hall; It happened there was no one present at the table that he knew. In the old days It had been tho custom of Cradlebaugh, tho human Bplder, frankly to exhibit himself In tho middle of his net, his grim smile and dry hand extended to each guest who came or went But of late years -since ne nau snuiueu uu ima mu, tat w, thero had been no one to make these obsequious greetings V for, though Cradle- baugh's stilt was Cradlebaugh's, Its owner- I ship remained a mystery. And whether It was a syndicate, an association, a relnear-''. natcd spirit, or a man, no one could telLi ui one imnK, nowever, us pairons were cer- j For fully half an hour Challoner stood at tho buffet, every now and then unsteadily., tilting the decanter. And while this courser of refreshment may have dulled hl w, ; it certainly strengthened his couraie, for..' presently ho said to himself; ;'' "I'll try him, yes, why not?" "tyu And a moment later, still optimistic, he, called a servant and asked: "Where Is I'cmmlcan?" "Faro, sir." Challoner ascended swiftly to the second floor, and paused at one room whose door wns open. "How long?" he Inquired, thrusting In his head, by way of greeting to the group at tho table. Four of tho men there did not glance up from their cards; hollow-eyed, cigars be tween their teeth thev u,r, nlk. nnl- m tho hundredth chance that still eluded them. ' Tho tilth man, a railroad president, coatleii, alono nodded to Challoner, and said senten tlotisly: "Forty hours for me." Half way down the corridor Challoner met l'emmlcan, hend card dealer of Cradle baugh's, a man with a pasty face, a low brow and shifty eyes a man who knew his buslnoss. This I'cmmlcan -seemed the all-and-all of Cradlebaugh's, apparently general factotum ; but though he simulated tho appearance of an owner, in reality he was a servile servant stamped with a dread of tho pseudo Cradlebaugh, of the man higher up. Nevertheless, whoever controlled tho destinies of this gambling house bad -. ..l.n...u 1.1... I ... SoU uiv-ii-ii iiiiu wisely. Challoner came at once to the point "I'cmmlcan, I want some money about " nnd broke oft abruptly, for the other was eyeing him coldly. , Instinctively I'cmmlcan of the low brow knew; that tho game was up with Challoner: moreover, ho saw that, although the man ' seemed sober, In reality ho was very drunk. Ho walked away quickly, dismissing him with: "I'm sorry, sir, but It's against the rules. I can t " "What rot!" interrupted Challoner. But by this time I'cmmlcan had reached the end of tho hall, leaving the other to gather what ho could of his mumbled ex cuses. In anything but nn amiable mood, Chal loner resumed his position at the buffet Suddenly ho was conscious of a light touch on tho arm. Turning Blowly, he found himself faco to faco again with Femmlcan. "Why don't you try Colonel Hargraves?" whispered tho latter. "What?" camo from tho clogged brain of Challoner. "Try Hargraves," the other "He's been down to Gravcsend for two days, and he's back " Pcmmlcan's meaning was lost on Chal loner, for ho merely exclaimed: "Well?" Beforo answering, Pemmlcan of the low brow shrugged his shoulders and spread out Jils palms, then he said pointedly: "Only that ho pulled out ten thousand on Flora McQueen that's nil !" "What?" Challoncr began to understand. l'emmlcan nodded. "Kiire thlncr tpn thnnanri nnllam!" Slowly and deliberately Challoner refilled his glass to the brim. For a moment there was silence, then Femmlcan repeated tan- tallzlngly: "Ten thousand dollars not a cent lessl' Challoncr thought for a moment "Hew did you come out?" he asked, much to tho other's surprise, l'emmlcan shook his hend. "I lost a cool thousand because I did not i back tho mare. I played on TIgerskin, Iv"a nA, ,A .v. tlm tT.ni, ,.ii,l hfielr nmAliAH ? KUl I.U AC, fc..fc im,o.. ......... ................ Challoner emptied his glass. "Was Colonel Hargraves down there a!one7" His voice was thick, hoarse. " "Where7" returned Pemmlcan, as If he had misunderstood. ' "At Gravesend?" Pemmlcan looked long and quizzically Into Challoner's eyes. "He was not." was his simple butf significant answer, and moved away. But Challoner followed him up, and sell ing his arm, said somewhat gruffly; "Look here, Pemmlcan, If Hargraves comes in I want to seo him tell him to wait for me." For the first time reramlcan's eyes lost their curious tiredness, an enigmatical smile played about tho corners of his mouth. "Yes." he said simply, and nodding, went N . ''. ills wily 5ll Left alone. Challoner found himself a ilfla ,... in nil the htfinlf Hernia nf rnirn. tealoUSV .J9 ,.w . .... ... ......... . " --0-. v., nnd deslro for revengo. .For a time every- ai thing was blotted out from his vision ex- -jj cept the face of Letty Love and the race 01 ya Colonel Hargraves. "This small worW," he SK muttered to himself, "Is much too small ( for mo and uoionei iiargraves r n nn uim jh: there loomed up tout of the mists of htl M went on. m IS $ mind the brilliantly lighted and ornate en M trnnco of a certain apartment house a, VA short distance away; and a few minutes fit later, obedient to his subconscious will, his 'n fcot carried him down tho stairs to a door,vtfg evidently leading to tne ouuiae. A rew words of explanation from Challoner to the ! man on duty there were necessary before he would uroceed to undo the complicated . system of bolts; and then he passed outjw UI1U W.IS U11UC, HIU Dim antva. ..w.w..-. .- was not the first man of social prominence 'u in the community that could directly trace , -J the beginning of his life as an outcast t-M passing through that door I CHAPTER III HIRAM EDGAIt LOVE: so read a faded m yellow card on the door panel ot'SjM Suite 10 in the "Drellncourt," an apart- .3J ment hotel In a section of the city which, t J . ... t.MMM nnnlllnn Wirtth It elnVtt thftC JJ lias ever ucci t'wew.". ...... .---., , I,., been well termed the "fringe of SOr ? cloty." The name was not printed, not sfl engraved, but written in ancient inaia inis-f In copper-plate perfection by the careful, Wf cleanly, genteel Englishman that Hiram ?. Edgar Lovo had been Hiram Edgar Love,fS that long since had been laid to rest In fcUSi quiet Surrey churchyard leagues dlatant;llS though his namo still did yeoman service,, fnr it cnett resnectabllltv: It covered a, multitude of peccadilloes; his soul VentB marcning oni l' or vtaa u. nut iuo ruauwf;.. of Hiram Edgar Love that had rented the' Lovo sulto in the "urenncourv nis snaae'j that raid the rent his pipe and his slip pers that lay near. the fireplace for thej world to eee7 Jiiram jiagar tve ia. myth, the constantly expected but neveryt coming maaicr ui mo uuuoo, ,: Before the entrance of this suite Co loner came to a halt , jr; s (Copyris-.nt. by Dodd. Meed A Co.V-i 'f, J CONTINUED IN MONDAY'S LJh p t EuntingiGe&grr iMsBHBBBBBBBBBBBWBiaKSWHBmS X -
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers