19 th INSTALLMENT
Her lips were dry. "Stealing?”
"No!” he snapped, then his
hands clenched on the edge of the
bed and he choked back a sob.
"She took that naoney—the money
1 stole to save her old father from
jail—and bought a trousseau—and
-—got married—and went to Eu
rope!” He staggered to his feet,
shaking his fist at space. "Went
to Europe!” he shouted, "her old
father was all a blooming lie—she
went to Europe with the man she’d
been engaged to for two years!”
Nancy, sitting alone on the edge
of the bed now, gasped with re
lief. "I’m so glad,” she cried, "so
glad!”
Roddy stopped in his furious out-1
burst to glare at her. j
"Money! She wanted money!”;
he raved, "a woman who uses a
man’s love for her—to get money
—” he stopped, choking, '"there’s
BOthing bad enough for a woman
like that!” he cried, nothing!”
"I’ve got nothing to live for,”
Roddy went on, "the world’s rot
ten—I’m twenty-three and I’ve
drained life to the dregs! I’ve
thrown up my job, sis, I couldn’t
face it any longer—I’d lied enough
for her. I resigned.”
"Rod, you didn’t—you didn’t
owe anything, did you?”
"No! Not a dam’ cent—what do
I want with money? The whole
world’s like a rotten apple, the in
side’s ready to come out! I went on ;
a spree, Nance, the biggest spree I <
ever had. I—” he sank down in aj
•
chair opposite and rested his heac
on his clenched fists—"I’m a darnec
loafer. I ought to be shot. I’v<
disgraced you all. I’ve stolen. I’rr
out of work. Why don’t yot
shoot me, Nance?”
His sister did not answer him; she
was choked with her own misery
It had been n(o use, nb use in tht
world; she had not saved Roddy,
she had only made him worse!
"Oh, Roddy she gasped, “oh;
Roddy, I wish I were dead!”
Roddy stared at her, his jaw
dropping; suddenly the selfishness
of his own anguish was penetrated.
Nancy’s forlorn cry went to his
heart.
INancy, 1 m a rotter! he groan
ed, "I’m no good on earth!”
"Neither am I!” Nancy’s voice
was smothered, "I’m—I’m just as
bad! It’s my fault—I—I’ve made
verything worse!—I—it’s all gone
for nothing!” she cried.
"It hasn’t—listen!” he came over
and seized her by the shoulder,
ilmost shaking her, "it hasn’t gone
for nothing—if you mean that con
founded money? I paid it all in—
they never said a word about it;
I’ve thought, sometime, that old
Beaver knew—but he’s only watch
ed me, that’s all. And now—well,
they don’t need to worry about me
iny more—I quit.”
"Roddy, we thought you’d try to
nake good!”
He crimsoned with shame. It
;eemed to take the high tragedy out
>f it.
Nancy, watching him, saw how
le felt. She got up slowly from
ler seat onl his bed and went to
aim. "Come home soon, Roddy,”
he whispered, "please come home
—we all love you—-all of us!
Don’t hurt us any more!”
Nancy shut .the door softly and
vent downstairs.
Richard was standing with his
back to’ his own door when she
came down.
"Thank you for Roddy,” she said
with stiff.lips, "please send him
home.”
"Nancy,” said Richard hoarsely,
"you’re unhappy, I see it. I won’t
hold you against your will. You
'an get a divorce. I—you want it.
don’t you?”
She turned her face away, refus
ing to look at him.
'The sooner the better!” she cried,
and ran past him out of the house.
The task of telling Mr. Gordon
about Roddy fell to Nancy; her
mother would not face it.
Mr. Gordon’s face worked.
"Give him another chance, Papa!
Poor Rod.’’
Mr. Gordon passed his other hand
over his face, then he let it fall
heavily on his daughter’s shoulder.
"My poor girl! You ruined your
life for that—that young scala
wag!”
She did not trust herself to look
up
"Nancy Virginia,” her fathe
said at last, slowly, " I won’t hav
this secret kept any longer—you’v
got to get a divorce. I’ll—mak
that fellow give it to you!”
Nancy rose slowly to her feet
"He says I can have it,’ she tol<
him, moving away from him. "H
doesn’t want me, that’s all,” sh
added with a little gasp.
She ran upstairs and shut hersel:
in her own rom. Dropping on th
edge of the bed, she stared out o
the window with unseeing eyes. Ii
her pocket, was a letter from Pagi
Roemer; in it he sued for forgiven
ess—pleading his love.
"Forgive me, trust me, I onli
want to serve you.”
Nancy tore it in little pieces, jusi
as Page Roemer had torn her lovi
for him in little pieces and tramplec
it in the mire—when he asked hei
to run away with him.
Roddy, tramping in the wet mea
dow grass, had gotten'to the botton
of his misery. "Pretty white t<
treat a poor devil like me so well!’
he mused bitterly, with that rust
of friendship for Richard thai
comes to a man at the end of hi:
tether. No one had told him thai
he owed his freedom to Richard.
Roddy, in the rush of his friend
II
"Roddy, uc thought you would fry
to make good.”
hip and gratitude to Richard, did
not know how he owed. He was
tramping up and down the ‘river
meadow in the dusk when he came
suddenly upon old Major Lomax.
"Eh, there!” he shouted. '
Roddy stumbled. He knew the
voice and it brought a rush of mem
ory.
"It’s only Rod Gordon, Major,’
he said in a choked voice.
The old man set down his lantern
nd held out his hand.
"Come and shake hands then,
sir,” he said sharply, "drat it, 1
thought I'd caught my chicken
hief!”
Red in the face, Roddy came up
nd shook hands. The old man
wung the lantern in his face.
"Been drinking,” he asked
grimly. "You look fishy, but come
in—Angie hears your voice.” ■
Roddy wanted to escape. Then
he looked up and saw the girl in
the lighted doorway. Before he
knew it, he was holding her soft
cool hands in his.
"Come in, come in,” said the
major testily, "I’m playing chess
tonight with Haddon, but you and
Angie can talk if you’ve a mind to.’:
The major, hanging his lantern
on a hook by the door, surveyed
•him. "Beaver says you’ve given
up,” he remarked sharply, "going
to turn into a foot-paid, young
man, or a toe-dancer—which?”
"Uncle Robert!” gasped Angie.
Roddy swallcfwed hard, ifm
going to work here,” he answered
thickly. "I’m looking for a jot
near home this time—I’m dont
with New York.”
New York s done with you,
corrected the major grimly. "I’ll
give you a job,” he said flatly, "got
one in the insurance office now—
twenty dollars a week to start—and
no fooling. Take it, Rod?”
Roddy gasped. "I’d—-I’d like tc
think about it, sir.”
The major laughed shortly. Ther
he heard their maid-of-all-work ad
mitting a victor.
"There’s Haddon! Did you set out
the chess table. Angie? All right,
then, you take this young firebrand
in hand down the hall to meet Had
don, but threw a word back over
his shoulder, "Better take it, Rod,
unless—you want to jockey fot
Polestar.”
Roddy said nothing.
"Won’t you sit down, Rod?”
He swung around and found her.
sitting in her corner, just as sht
used to sit.
"Angie, I’m not fit to lace youi
boots!” he cried impetuously.
She was startled. "I’m so sorrj
uncle was rude—” she flatered
"please don’t mind it, Roddy. He—
he means to be kind.”
"No one could be dreadful en
*
ough to me,’’ said Roddy flinging
himself on a low stool at her feet.
She was shocked, but her heart
began to beat in her throat. He
was always impetuous. He had
come back to tell her—he was sorry
then!
"I’ve done awful things,” he
went on, in a passion of self abne
gation, "do you remember—when I
was here last? I didn’t come to see
you.”
"Yes, I know. I saw you go by
—I thought you’d forgotten.”
"I had,” said Roddy, "f was ash
amed to remember.. I’m a rotter,
Angie. I’d been stealing to help a
bad woman out of trouble.” -
The girf shrank back into her
corner. It was a long while before
he could speak. "I—can’t believe
it, Roddy, you’re—why, you’re a
Gordon!”
He turned crimson. She had
touched the tenderest spot about
him.
"I stole fifteen thousand dollars
from the trust company, Angie. I
ought to be in jail,” he went on,
pouring it all out in a molten
stream of passionate regret and re
pentance. "My sister helped me.
Nancy borrowed the money and
kept me out of jail! A girl, Angie!
I’m a lout—I let her do it.”
Angie's quick gasp escaped him.
He was too much wrapped up in
himself to perceive that he had
given a key to a mystery. Richard
had money—could Nancy have
gone to him?
| I—t m so glad you aian t go—
|to jail!” she gasped, and then: "Rod
you ought to have gone .We ought
to pay for what we do—ourseleves.”
He caught her hand and held it
feverishly; he had forgotten his
hatred of the sex.
You don’t despise me for it?” he
asked huskily.
She shook her head. Then, sudden
ly, without warning, she burst into
tears.' Her tears melted Roddy he
felt a rush af self pity as great as
her pity for him.
"Oh, Roddy-’1 sighed the girl
meltingly, and before she knew it
her Jbft fingers touched his brown
hair with shy fondness. "Oh, Rod,
there was ft woman, you said—”
"I hate her!” he vowed, "I was
a fool, Angie. She fooled me. Sjic
begged for help for her old father—
oh, a touching story—and she said
she’d return it, I—I thought I could
myself. Then found out she was
married,” he blazed.
Angie dried her tears angrily.
"She ought to have gone to jail!”
"That’s what Nance thinks,” he
admitted a little sheepishly, then,
abruptly, he kissed Angie’s hand.
“Roddy you’re going to work
here? You’ll—” she hesitated—
'you’ll take Uncle Robert’s offer?”
He rose slowly and began to walk
up and down, with the same pictur
esque melancholy. “I think I—I’ll
ask Richard, you see Richard took
me in—drunk—and took care of
me,” Roddy’s voice •hoked, "pretty
white, wasn’t it? I’m grateful to
Richard.” ,
"Grateful?” Angie sprang up,
her face crimson, "you’ve no rea
sontoi be grateful to Richard Mor
gan!” she cried impetuously, "no
reason in the world!”
Roddy caught the change in her
tone, and he saw the anger in her
face. He stood still, with a shock of
'N?w York’s done with you” cor
ected the Major grimly.
urprise.
"What do you mean, Angie?”
"Don’t be grateful to that man!’’
she answered furiously, "that’s all—
I can’t tell you why, but—let him
alone, Rod!”
"Richard Morgan? Why? I don’t
jnderstand—tell me, Angie.”
She drew back at that, she saw
the look on his face and suddenly
remembered. If she told Nancy’s
brother the story that was going the
rounds, the story that linked Nan
cy’s name with Morgan’s, Roddy
would go to Richard and demand
satisfaction. He would have to go
!—and it would mean death! The
girl began to tremble; she had been
a fool, what could she say?
CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
Mrs. Wallace Active
-iT'"' -
• WASHINGTON .... Mrs. Henry
A. , Wallace (above), wife of the
Secretary of Agriculture, was host
ess with Mrs. Otto Veenoff, presi
dent1 of the National Harm and'
Garden Association at the annual
convention held here. Mrs. Wallace
is qtiite active in the Association
program for the coming year.
The fellow who ''didn’t; know it
was loaded” is often heard from,
but he is not often the one who
intercepts the bullets.
The people are told to cultivate
their taste for beauty, and the boys
comply with this lofty ideal by
spending much time in discussing
who is the prettiest girl.
Playing cards for money is con
sidered a very demoralizing prac
tice by those who always lose.
"BIG MONEY”—Thrilling new
detective story .starts May 20 in
the American Weekly, the big
magazine which comes with the
Baltimore Sunday American. Be
sure to read it! On sale bjy your
favorite newsdealer or newsboy.
QOOR CHILD
/and ihc school
^ By Dr. ALLEN a IRELAND
I Director, Physical and Health Education
New Jersey State Department of Public Instruction
Worth Passing On
The nature of my work brings
me in almost daily contact witl
schools and school work, and sc
naturally I pick up many ideas
which seem worthj
of passing #n.
One high school is
collecting old lawn
and beach lounging
chairs in the com
munity. The boys
repair the frames
and the girls mend
the canvas. The chairs are then
placed on the playground during
the warm, sunny days of autumn
and spring. At first, they were
issigned to students selected by
;he school physician as under
nourished, fatigue cases, and others
nxcused from physical activity.
3ut now other students take daily
on baths while studying or pass
ng a social hour.
Many school nurses hold regular
lonthly meetings for parents when
he health needs of children are
liscussed.
Tuberci.lin testing is on the in
rease; likewise immunization for
liphtheria.
The old-fashioned final written
■ xstmination is gradually passing !
>ut of the picture.
The selling of candy at school
> being frowned upon.
■The tide of protest against home
lork is . rising.
■ ‘Dr. Ireland will discuss the af
■r-school luncheon in his next
rticle. , ■ ' '
“Now I'm the Picture
of Health,” Say* Lady
After Taking CARDUI
Here is how Cardui helped an
Alabama lady. ... “I suffered
from pains in my back and sides,”
writes Mrs. A. G. Gray, of Cusseta,
Ala. “I was so thin and weak, I
read of Cardui and decided to take
it. I noticed at once it was help
ing me. I kept taking Cardui un
til I had finished five bottles. X
gained. My health was much bet
ter. Now I am the picture of health.
My color is good and my weight
increased.” . . . Thousands of
women testify Cardui benefited
them. If it does not benefit YOU,
consult a physician.
__
The: people who want to fight
wars for better trade relations, can
have the profits of such trade, if
they will bear the cost of the wars
Government expenses are said to
need the pruning knife, but a lum
berman’s axe would seem to be
needed before they get through.
; Traveling Around America
Photo Grace Line
FISH—PANAMA STYLE
THIS sailhsh, when encountered,
was speeding across Panama Bay
with the pep of an old-time full-rig
ger. But it was finally captured by
a passenger on one of the weekly
cruises between California and New
York who stopped off iri Panama be
tween Ships for a week or two of fish
ing. His method was to troll a
“teaser” behind the launch and a cut
bait back of it. The largest sailfish
ever taken from these waters weighed
174 pounds
Panama Bay and the Gulf are fast
becoming a popular rendezvous of the
“big-time” fishermen. In addition to
sailfish these waters shelter many of
the best fighters in the game. Marlin
swordfish, one weighing 353% pounds,
have been taken by local sportsmen.
There are skipjacks which are excel
lent sport with light tackle: amber
jacks which are very game and found
usually in me vicinity oi i-eari is
lands ; rooster fish which give a great
battle, leaping from the water like
tarpons; the hard-fighting yellow
jack-crevalles, which stay down deep
and require a great deal of patience
ere they are brought to gaff: and the
wahoo kingfish which puts up a long
hard fight.
Spanish mackerel are very plenti
ful and run in large schools. Tuna
are prevalent off-shore and must be
trolled for at a fast clip. Dolphin
rainbow's found in driftwood about 15
miles offshore, are great sport for
anglers, and are caught with cut bait,
spoons and feather baits. Red snap
pers are found at their best in this
Bay and caught by deep slow-trolling.
Fish like these in waters so compara
tively near home are luring an ever
increasing number of laymen into the
sport.
STAR LAUNDRY
"The Good One”
Launderers and Dry Cleaners
Phone 24 114 West Bank St.
ONE DAY SERVICE
E. CARR CHOATE
DENTIST
Office in Mocksville first three
days of week; in Salisbury last
three days of week, over Pur
cell’s Drug Store, "On the
Square.” PHONE 141
DR. N. C. LITTLE
Optometrist
Eyes examined and glasses fitted
Telepjtaflp. J571W.
107% ^P^fain Street
Next to Ketchie Barber Shop.
Newsom & Co.
104% S. Main Street
Salisbury, N. C.
Expert Watch and Jewelry
Repairing
—
____________________________________
Shoes rebuilt the better way. |
All kinds of harness, trunk and
suitcase repairing.
FAYSSOUX’S PLACE
Phone 43 3 120 E. Innes St.
Radiator Repairing
CLEANING AND RECOR
ING ALL MAKES
We Sell or
Trade New and
Second - Hand.
We Are The
Oldest and Most
Reliable.
SEE US
EAST SPENCER MOTOR CO.
E. Spencer, N. C. Phone 1198-J
___ J
1
Why the Sudden
Change to liquid.
Laxatives?
Doctors have always recognized the
value Of the laxative whose dose can
be measured, and whose action can
be controlled.
The public, too, is fast returning
to the use of liquid laxatives. People
have learned that a properly pre
pared liquid laxative brings a perfect
movement without any discomfort
at the time, or after.
The dose of a liquid laxative can
be varied to suit the needs of the
individual. The action can thus be
regulated. It forms no habit; you
need not take a “double dose” a day
or two later. Nor will a mild liquid
laxative irritate the kidneys.
The wrong cathartic may keep you
constipated as long as you keep on
using it.
Dr. Caldwell’s Syrup Pepsin is a
prescription, and is perfectly safe.
Its laxative action is based on senna
—a natural laxative. The bowels will
not become dependent on this form
of help. Dr. Caldwell’s Syrup Pepsin
is at all druggists. Member N. R. A.
Lovrne
Face Powder
Enhances Every Skin
A million women every day prove in
imitable Lov’me delicately emphasizes
every natural beauty—conceals every de
fect. It gives petal-smooth perfection to every
type of skin. A finer, clinging powder which
stays on all day.
Flesh — White — Rachel
Have you tried the new Melba
Cold Cream? It sells at only 25c
itl€LBA
Lov’me Powder
If your dealer cannot supply you,
send us his name
PARFUMERIE MELBA • 580 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.
Tri^llin^hereT^any day "
SOUTHERN
t ~
»
* ■» ^
f>er mile
Sava by using the Southern at tha
lowest fares ever offered :
lie per mile—in Coaches
* °n« way tickets—sold dallr'
to any point on the Southern
2* PermileTachlayin §
sleeping and parlor cars ■,
Return limit IS days j
St?* 1
sleeping and parlor cart j
Return limit SO days J'
per mile one way in
sleeping and parlor cars '
SUR CHAR OKI
Your trip on the Southern will be
quicker, safer—and more economi
cal! No tires to change; no trucks to
_ dodge; none of the hazards, bother
FRANK L JENKINS a"d expense of driving your own car.
Passenger Traffic "e comfortable in the safety 4
Manager " of train travel, > '
WASH>NCTON,D. c.
R. H. GRAHAM
Division Passenger Agent
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
“SOUTHERN RAILWAY SYSTEM”