Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / Dec. 8, 1916, edition 1 / Page 2
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AUCfS MEK. BEACfUMSB SYNOPSIS. 8 Peter Knight, defeated for political of fice In his town, decides to venture New York In order that the family fortunes might benefit by the expected rise of his charming daughter, Lorelei Knight, known critic interviews Lorelei Knight, now stane beauty with Bergman's Revue, Xor a special article. Her coin-hunting mother, outlines Lorelei's ambitions, but 81csson, the press agent, later adds his Information. Lorelei attends Millionaire Hammon's gorgeous entertainment. She meets Merkle, a wealthy dyspeptic. Bob Wharton comes uninvited. Lorelei dis covers a blackmail plot against Hammon, In which her brother is involved. Merkle and Lorelei have an auto wreck. The blackmailers besmirch her good name, Lorelei learns her mother is an unscru pulous plotter. She finds in Adoree Pem orest a real friend, and finds Bob Whar ton is likable. Lorelei leaves her family and goes to live alone. 4.4,.4. 4. 4.4.4,4.4,4,4.4.4.4.4 .H"t; Greater tragedy stalks Into Lorelei's life. She is besmirched by vile men and women urged on by her mother and brother. The memory of one night's expe rience was a horror burned into her mind for life. Her only friend in this crisis is a drunken profligate, and he makes her 111 with his attempted caresses. How she solved one problem, how she was trapped Into taking the biggest step of her life is described with vivid detail in this installment. 4.4.4.4.4.4.4,4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.4.- Lorelei has been taken to a "swift" restaurant by her employer who has designs on the girl. She Is badly frightened and helpless. At this point Bob Wharton appears. She sees In him a protector. CHAPTER XII Continued. Mise Wyeth tittered; the sophomore with the bristling pompadour uttered a bark of amusement. Meeting Bob's questioning glance, Lorelei seconded the invitation with a nod and a quick look of appeal, whereupon his de meanor changed and he drew a chair between her and Nobel Bergman, forc ing the latter to move. Ilis action was pointed, almost rude, but the girl felt a surge of gratitude sweep over her. There was an interlude of idle chat ter, then the orchestra burst Into full clamor once more. Much to the cha grin of her escort, Lorelei rose and danced away with the newcomer. "Why the distress signal?" queried Bob. "Mr. Bergman has been drinking." "Rum is poison," he told her, with mock indignation. "lie must be a low person." "He's getting unpleasant." "Shall I take him by the nose and run around the block?" "You can do me a favor." lie was serious in an instant. "You Were nice to me the other night. I'm Borry to see you with this fellow." "He forced he deceived me into coming, and he's taking advantage of conditions to be nasty." Bob missed n. step, then apologia His next words were facetious, but 1 tone was ucrlv: "Where do you w: the remains sent?" "Will you wait and see that mine ar, safely sent home?' She leaned bacj and her troubled twilight eyes bti. sought him. "I'll wait, never fear. I've been look ing everywhere for you. I wanted to find you, and I didn't want to. I've been to every cafe in town. How in the world did you fall in with the old bell-cow and her calf?" When Lorelei had explained, he nod ded his complete understanding. "She's Just the sort to do a thing like that." Wharton ignored Bergman's scowls; he proceeded to monopolize the mana ger's favorite with an arrogance that secretly delighted her; he displayed the assurance of one reared to selfish ex actions, and his rival writhed under it. But Bergman was slow to admit de feat. Dawn was near when the crowd separated and the hostess was driven away, leaving Lorelei at the door of a taxicab in company with two or her ad mirers. The girl bade them each good night, but Bergman ignored her words, and. stepping boldly in after her, spoke to the driver. Bob had imbibed with a magnificent disregard of consequences, and as a result he was unsteady on his feet. His hat was tilted back from his brow, his slender stick bent beneath the weight he put upon it. "Naughty, naughty Nobel'." he chided. "Come out of that cab; you and I journey arm and arm into the purpling east." ''Drive on," cried Bergman, forcing Lorelei back into ber seat, as she half rose. Bob leaned through the open cab window,, murmuring thickly: "Nobel, you are druns. Shocked nay, grieved as I am at seeing you thus, I shall take you home." "Get out, will you?" snapped the manager, undertaking to slam the door. "I'm tired of your insolence. I'll " Bergman never finished his sentence, for in his rage he committed a grave blunder he struck wildly at the lashed face so close to his, and the ON fM next instant was jerked bodily out of his seat. Lorelei uttered a cry of fright, for the whole side of the cab seemed to go with her employer. There was a brief scuffle, a whirl of flying arms, then Bergman's voice rose in a strangely muffled howl, followed by nasal curses. With a bellow of an guish he suddenly ceased his struggles, aud Lorelei saw that Bob was holding him by the nose. It happened to be a large, unhandsome and fleshy mem ber, and, securely grasping it, Berg man's conqueror held him at a painful and humiliating disadvantage. Bob was panting, but he managed to say, "Come! We will dance for the lady." A muffled shriek of pain was the an swer, but the street was empty save for some grinning chauffeurs, who of fered no assistance. "Be a good fellow. I insist, my dear Nobel." "Drive on, quickly," Lorelei im plored, but the chauffeur cranked his motor reluctantly. A moment passed, then another; he cranked once more. Bergman was sobbing now like a woman. Bob paused and wheezed: "Bravo! You done noble, Nobel. We've learned some new steps, too, eh?" All power of resistance had left the victim, who seemed upon the verge of collapse. "I say we've learned some new steps; haven't we, Bergy?" He tweaked the distorted member in his grasp, and Bergman's head wagged loosely. "Oh, please please " Lorelei cried, tremulously. "Don't " "Canter for the kind lady," Whar ton Insisted. Bergman capered awk wardly. "Mr. Wharton! Bob" Lorelei's agonized entreaty brought her admirer to the cab door, but he fetched his pris oner in tow. "Let him go or we'll be arrested." "I'll let go if you insist. But it's, a grand nose. I love it. Never was there such a nose." Bergman, with a desperate wrench, regained his freedom and staggered away with his face in his hands. "It actually stretched," said Bob, as he regretfully watched his victim. "I dare say I'll never find another nose like it." Lorelei's cab got under way at last, but barely in time, for a crowd was as sembling. Not until she was safely inside her little apartment, with the chain on the door, did she surrender; then she burst into a trembling, chok ing fit of laughter. But her estimate of Wharton had risen, and for the first time he seemed not entirely bad. CHAPTER XIII. Jimmy Knight felt his sister's deser tion quite as keenly as did his mother and father, for his schemes, though in choate, were ambitious, and his heart was set. upon them. Lorelei's obsti nacy was exasperating a woman's unaccountable freakishness. He confided his disappointment to Max Meleher. "ft's pretty tough," complained Jimmy. "I had Merkle go- I ing, but she crabbed it. Then just as "Canter for the Kind Lady." that boob Wharton was getting daffler over her every day she gets her back up and the whole thing is cold." "You mean it's cold so far as you're concerned," Meleher judicially amend ed. "Sure. She's sore On me, and the whole family." "Then this Is just the time to marry her off. New York is a mighty lone some place for a girl like her. Suppose I take a hand." "All right." "Will you declare me in?" "Certainly." Meleher eyed his associate coldly. "There's no 'certainly' about it. You'd throw your own mother if you got a chance. But you can't throw me, un derstand? You try a cross and the cold-meat wagon for yours. I'll have you slabbed at the morgue." Jimmy's reply left no doubt of the genuineness of his fears, if not of his intentions. Strange stories were told in the Tenderloin tales of treachery punished and ingratitude revenged. Jimmy knew several young men who appeared out of the East side at Mol cher's signal. They were inconspicu ous fellows, who bore fanciful dime novel names and no rustler's strong hold of the old-time western cattle country ever boasted more formidable outlaws than they. Jim knew these tinmen well; he had no wish to know tnem worse. . "I can't promise anything definite when she's sore on me," he declared. "He's about ready to ask her she's the one to fix. She hates men, though, and that Merkle story made her crazy." Meleher pondered for several mo ments. "I think I know Lorelei better than you do," he stated, deliberately, "and I believe we can pull this off, pro vided Wharton really wants to marry her. Anyhow, he's so rich it's worth the odds, and she's just the sort to fall for it. , Meanwhile I want it un derstood with your mother that I share in what comes her way." "I'll fix that," promised Jim. ne found it, in fact, no very difficult task to regain at least a part of his sister's lost esteem, though the process took time. He went about it with the lazy, catlike patience of his kind, be haved himself, kept his mouth shut, and assumed just enough of an injured air to be plausible. He enlisted the aid of his mother and of Lilas Lynn, and meanwhile made himself as agree able as possible to Robert Wharton. Meleher was as good as his word, and there shortly appeared In the Dis patch an unpleasant rehash of the for mer story! It was published in con nection with the Hammon divorce pro ceedings, news of which was exciting comment, and it further smirched Lo relei's reputation. Jim was appropri ately Indignant, but helpless, and Mrs. Knight unweariedly blamed everything upon her daughter's desertion of the family circle, predicting more evil to follow unless Lorelei came home at once. She also dwelt upon the fact that Peter was steadily falling and was in Immediate need of both medical and surgical attention. The doctor had pronounced sentence, prescribing & to tal change of living and a treatment by foreign specialists. In some unaccountable way the story of Nobel Bergman's humiliation be came public and afforded the basis for a newspaper article that brought him to Lorelei's dressing room in a fine fury. Even after she had convinced him of her innocence his resentment was so bitter that she expected her dis missal at any time. Other press stories followed; the girl suddenly found herself notorious; scarcely a day passed without some disagreeable mention of her. Adoree Demorest, as indignant as Lorelei her self, declared finally that her friend must be the object of a premeditated attack directed by some strong hand, and once this suspicion had entered Lorelei's mind it took root in spite of its seeming extravagance. Her good sense argued that she was of too little consequence to warrant such an as sault, but her relatives seized the sug gestion so avidly as to more than half convince her. Mrs. Knight attributed this injustice first to Bergman, then to Merkle, whom she hated bitterly since her unfortu nate attempt at blackmail; Jim was inclined to , agree with her. Mrs. Knight, as always, ended her sympa thetic reassurances by saying, "If you were only married, my dear, that would end all our troubles." The climax of these annoyances came one night after a party at which Lorelei had been presented to an old friend of Miss Lynn's. Lilas had In troduced the man as one of her girl hood chums, and Lorelei had tried to be nice to him; then in some way he arranged to take her home. The mem ory of that ride was a horror. She knew now that she was hunted; the man had told her so. She felt like a deer cowering in i. brake with the) hounds working clost?. This first at tack left her trembling and wary, ner cover seemed pitifully insecure. Thus far Max Melcher's campaign bad worked even better than he had expected; and meanwhile he had em ployed Jim in assiduously cultivating Bob Wharton and arranging as many meetings as possible between Bob and Lorelei. A short experience had taught Jim to avoid his victim in daylight, for in Bob's sober hours the two did not agree; but once mellowed by intoxica tion, Wharton became imbued with a carnival spirit and welcomed Jim as freely as he welcomed everyone. In cidentally the latter managed to reap a considerable harvest from the asso ciation, for Bob was a habitual gam bler, and the courteous treatment he received at Melcher's place seemed to reconcile him to the loss of his money. When, on the morning after her dis tressing adventure, Lorelei sent for her brother and demanded vengeance upon her assailant he decided that it was time to test the issue. He pretended, of course, to be ferociously enraged, but on learning over the telephone that the wroteb had left the city he declared that there was nothing to be done ex cept perhaps exact an explanation from Lilas. - Miss Lynn, however, could offer no excuse. She was heartbroken at the occurrence, but she was too full of her own troubles to give way to her sym pathy for others. Jarvis Hammon, It seemed, had heard about the party, and was furious with her. "Von must expect to meet such muckers in this business," she re marked philosophically. Jim agreed. I guess you'll have to forget it, sis. Just do..'t think about It. I'll bring Wharton around tonight, and we four will have supper, eh?" Lilas' hesitation in accepting this in vitation seemed genuine, but she acqui esced finally, saying with a short laugh: "Ali right. Maybe a little jeal ousy won't hurt my lord and master, He's getting too bossy, anyhow." When the four set out that night Wharton was in exceptional spirits, and, as usual, devoted himself to Lore lei. For him life was a joyous ad venture; he took things as they came, and now that ho knew the girl for what she was he did not allow him self the slightest liberty. He was a fervent suitor, to be sure, yet he court ed her with Jests and concealed his ar dor behind a playful raillery. Jim had ordered supper at a popular Washington Heights inn, and thither the quartet were driven in an open car which he hired in the square before the theater. It was a charming place for a sup per. Contrary to her custom, Lilas Lynn allowed herself free rein, and for once drank more than was good for her, rejoicing openly in the liberty she had snatched. It is a peculiar liberty to sit soberly through a meal and see one's compan ions become intoxicated. ' Lorelei watched Lilas and Bob respond to the effect of the wine. The whole pro cedure struck her, like her present life as a whole, as both inane and wicked, and she longed desperately to lay hold of something really decent, true and permanent. Jimmy Knight's admirable hospital ity continued; he devoted his entire at tention to his guests, he made conver sation, and he led it into the channels he desired it to follow. Then, when the psychological moment had come, he "She's Stalling, Bob. Make Her An swer." acted with the skill of a Talleyrand. No one but he knew precisely how Bob's proposal was couched, whence it originated, or by what subtlety the victim had been induced to make it. As a matter of fact, it was no pro posal, and not even Bob himself sus pected how his words had been twist ed. He was just dimly aware of some turn in the conversation, when he heard Jim exclaim: "By Jove, sis, Bob asks you to mar ry him!" In prize-ring parlance, Jimmy had "feinted" his opponent Into a lead, then taken prompt advantage to "counter." Lorelei awoke to her surroundings with a start, sensing the sudden grav ity that had fallen upon her three com panions. "What?" Lilas nodded and smiled at the be wildered lover. "That's the way to put it over, Bob before witnesses." "Don't joke about such things," cried Lorelei sharply. "Joke? Who's joking?" Jim was in dignant and glanced appealingly at Bob. "You meant it. didn't you?" "Sure. No joking matter," Bob declared vaguely. "I was just say ing that this Is no life for a fellow to lead batting 'round the way I do; then Jim said I mean I said I need ed a wife, a beautiful wife. I never saw a girl beautiful enough to suit fne before, and he said " Jim's relief came as an explosion. "There! That's English. You spoke a mouthful that tline, Bob, for she certainly is a beauty bright. But I didn't think you had the nerve to ask her. If she says yes, you'll be the luck iest man in New York the whole town's crazy about her." "We'll make her say yes," Lilas add ed, with drunken decision. "Come, dear, say it." She bent a flushed face toward Lorelei and laid a loose band upon her arm. "Well? WhatB your answer?" Bob fixed heavy eyes upon his heart's desire and echoed: "Yes, what do you say?" More than once in his sober moments he had pondered such a query, and now that it appeared to ; have taken shape without conscious ef fort, he was not displeased with him self. "I say, you don't know what you're doing," Lorelei responded, curtly. Now, Bob, like all men in his con dition, was quite certain that he was in perfect possession of his faculties, 1 and therefore he very naturally re-1 sented such an absurd assertion "Don't you b'lieve it," he protested. "I know what Txa doing, all right, all right." "A man never speaks his mind un til he's ginned," Lilas giggled. "Righto! I'm not half drunk yet. Jim urged the suitor on with a nerv ous laugh, at the same time avoiding his sister's eyes. "She's stalling, Bob Make her answer." "Yes or no?" forcefully insisted the wooer, determined, now, to show his complete sobriety. "No." Jim seized Wharton's hand and shook it lustily. "Congratulations, old man; that means yes. I'm her brother, and I know. Why, she 'told father that you were her ideal, and pa said hq'd die happy if you two were married. He meant It, too; he's mighty sick man." Lorelei stirred uncomfortably, and the faint color In her cheeks faded slowly. "We'll talk about It some other time tomorrow. Tlease don't tease the poor man any more. He didn't know what he was saying, and now, for heaven's sake, talk about something else." Jim leaped to his feet with a grin and a chuckle, then drew Lilas from her chair, saying: "The lovers are em barrassed, and they're dying to be alone. Let's leave 'em to talk it over." "She's a dear, Bob, and I wish you both joy. But don't kiss her here," said Lilas, warnlngly; then, with a wave of her hand, she turned toward the dancing room with Jim. "Call us when you've fixed the date," laughed the latter, over his shoulder When he and Lilas had danced the encore and returned to the tatile Bob rose unsteadily, glass In hand, and nodded at them. "Thanks, noble comrades," he pro claimed; "she's mine!" "Hurrah!" Lilas kissed Lorelei ef fusively. Jim seized Bob's hand, cry ing: "Brother!" He waved to a waiter and ordered a magnum of champagne. Bring me a wreath of orange blos soms and a wedding cake, too." Ills jubilation attracted the attention of the other diners; the occupants of a nearby table began to applaud, where upon Bob beamed with delight. Lorelei was very white now. She had decided swiftly, recklessly, reason ing that this proffered marriage was merely a bargain by which she got more than she gave. She had accepted without allowing her better self an opportunity to marshal its protests. and, having closed her eyes and leaped into the dark, it now seemed easier to meet new consequences than to heed those higher feelings that were tardily struggling for expression. She did pity Wharton, however, for it seemed to her that he was the injured party. But she was in a wanton mood tonight, and of late a voice had been despe rately urging her to grasp at what she could, that she might, as long as pos sible, delay her descent into worse con ditions. She heard Lilas inquiring: "When does the marriage come off? Right away?" Bob, who appeared somewhat dazed by the suddenness and the complete ness of his good fortune, smiled va cantly. "Any time suits me," he said. "I'm a happy man little Joys are ca pering all over the place, and old Doc tor Gloom has packed his grip." Jim startled them all by saying, crisply: "Let's make it tonight. I know Bob he's not the sort to wait." "Fine! Never thought of that. But I say where do they keep these wed dings?" he inquired. "Everything's closed now, and there's nobody danc ing at the city hall, is there?" ne ap pealed helplessly to Jim. Jim rose to the occasion with the same promptitude he had displayed throughout. "Marriages aren't made in heaven any more that's old stuff. They're made in Hoboken, while the cab waits. Get your things on, every body, while I telephone." ne allowed no loitering; he waved the girls away, sent the waiter scurrying with his bill, helped Robert secure hat and stick, and then dived into a telephone booth as a woodchuck enters its hole. When he had disposed his three charges in side a taxicab he disappeared briefly, to return with a basket of champagne upon his arm. It is a wise general who provides himself in advance with ammunition. The smooth celerity with which this whole adventure ran its course argued a thorough preparation on James part, but Lorelei was in no condition to an alyze. Even at the journey's end there was a suspicious lack of delay. The vehicle stopped in a narrow business street, now dark and dismal; its occuj pants were hurried up a stairway and into a room filled with law-books, where a sleepy justice of the peace was nodding in a cloud of cigar smoke. There followed a noisy shuffling of chairs, some mumbled questions and answers, the crackle of papers, a deal of unintelligible rigmarole, then a man's heavy seal-ring was slipped upon Lorelei's finger, and she knew herself to be Mrs. Robert Wharton. It was all confused, unimpressive, un real. She was never able fully to re call the picture of that room or the events that occurred there. They formed but a part of the kaleidoscopic Jumble of the night's occurrences. The wedding party was in the cab once more, and it was under way. It was all so like a nightmare that Lore lei began to doubt her own sanity. Once at rest in the dim-lit tunnel of the ferry boat, however, she was brought sharply to herself by hearing her brother exclaim: "Say! He hasn't kissed her yet." Lilas shrieked, and Bob stiffened himself, then slipped an arm around his bride. As she shrank away he mumbled angrily: "Here! I won't stand for that," and crushed her to him. "You are beautiful beautiful. And you're mine. She's mine, eh? So foolishness about that, is there?" h appealed to Jim. As they drew in toward the New York side the chauffeur iuquired,, " Where to, now?" "Why, drive us" Jim hesitated.. There was a silence which Lilas broke with a titter. "Nevei thought of that." Bob turned again to Jim, who solved the difficulty with a word. "Why, you're both going to Lorelei'8 place, of course; then you can make your plans tomorrow." The bride's half-strangled protest was lost in a burst of enthusiasm from Lilas. "Surest thing you know," she cried; "and we'll stop in my flat for a fare well bottle; I've got a who'e case. We'll end the night with another party at Jarvis' expense. He's crazy about marriages, anyhow. Ha! But you needn't tell him I was full, under stand?" She fell silent suddenly, tfcen burst into a loud laugh. "Bar-5 I should worry!" The ferry drew into its slip, the cab motor shivered, the metallic rattle of windlass and chain proclaimed the re turn to Manhattan. Up the deserled avenues the vehicle sped, while inside the white-faced bride cowered with fin gers locked and heart sick with dread. CHAPTER XIV. nitchy Koo had gone home. When Lilas ushered her friends in and. snapped on the lights, the apartment save for the delirious spaniel, was un occupied. She flung down her hat,, coat and gloves, then, with the help' of Jim, prepared glasses and a cooler. Lorelei was restless; the thought of more wine, more ribaldry, revolted her, and yet she was grateful for this delay, brief though it promised to be. Any interruption, trivial or tragic, would be welcome. She was forced to pledge her own happiness in a glass, then in a wild moment of desperation longed to deaden herself with liquor as the others had done. Jim and Lilas were talking loudly when a key grated in the lock, the door of the little apartment opened, and Jarvis Hammon paused on the threshold, glowering. Lilas' wineglass shattered upon the floor. "Jarvis! You frightened me," she cried. "Evening, Mr. Hammon." Bob' lurched to his feet, upsetting his chair. This is a s'prise." Jim had risen likewise, but Ham mon had eyes for no one except Lilas. "Ah! You're home again, Anally. Where have you been?" he demanded. in a voice heavy with anger. His hostile tone, his threatening attitude brought an uncomfortable silence upon the hearers. "Now, Jarvis," said the bridegroom. placatingly, steadying himself mean while with the aid of the table, "don't be a grouch. Everything's all right." Lilas remained motionless, staring defiantly. Her face had slowly whit ened, and now Its unpleasantness matched that of her elderly admired Hammon dropped his smoldering gaze to the half-empty glasses, then raised it, scowling at Jim. "numph! Who is this?" Lilas made her guest known. "Mr. Knight, Mr. Hammon. I believe you know Miss Knight." "So you're the one." Hammon showed his teeth in a sardonic smile. "I'm the one what?" inquired Jim, with a sickly attempt at pleasantry. "What does she see in you?" Ham mon measured the young man with contemptuous curiosity. "Don't be an ass, Jarvis," began Lilas. "I" She was Interrupted roughly. "That s precisely what I don't intend to be; and I don't Intend that Bob shall be one, either." He turned to young Whar ton. "What are you doing here, my boy? I'm sorry to see you with these grafters." Hammon Indicated Jim and Lorelei with a nod. "Eh? What's that?" Bob stiffened. "Lorelei's my wife. 'S true, Jarvis. "Wife?" Hammon took a heavy step forward. "Wife? You're drunk, Bob!" "P'r'aps. But we're mar " "So! You landed him, did you? Hammon glared at the brother and sister. "You got him drunk and mar ried him, eh? And Lilas helped yon. suppose. Fine! They're crooks. Bob, and they've made a fool of you." Bob checked the speech on Lorelei's Hps with an upraised hand, then said slowly, with a painful effort to sober himself: "We've been good friends. Jarvis; you're a kind of an uncle to me, but you're a liar. You've lied 'bout my wife, so I s'pose I've got to lick you." With a backward kick he sent his overturned chair flying, then made for Hammon. But Jim seized him by the arm; Lorelei sprang in front of him. "Mr. Whar Bob," she eried. "Yon mustn't for my sake." The three scuffled for an instant until Hammon said, more quietly: "I couldn't fight with you, Bob you're like my own son. But you're been sold out, and and it looks as if I'd been sold out, too. Now go home and sleep. I didn't come here to quar rel with you; I have a matter of my own to settle." He laid a hand 00 Bob's shoulder in an effort to pacifj him, but the young man's indignation flared Into life with drunken persist ence. It was Lorelei who at last pre vailed upon her husband to leave peaceably, and she was about to ac company him when Lilas Lynn checked her. Do you feel that a more fright ful experience still is Impending for Lcrelei? And does she, In your opinion, feel it too? (TO UK CONTINUED J
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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