Aura
EX BEA
. SYNOPSIS.
6
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. A well
known critic Interviews Lorelei Knight,
now stage beauty with Hergman's Revue,
for a special article. Her coin-hunting
mother outlines Lorelei's ambitions, but
Slosson, the press agent, later adds his
Information. Lorelei "attends Millionaire
Kammon's gorgeous entertainment. She
meets Merkle. a wealthy dyspeptic. Hob
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 supects her mother is an unscru
pulous plotter. She finds In Adoree Dem
orest a real friend.
most mothers deserve an the
love and kindness their children
can bestow on them, but occa
sionally a mother is a heartless
beast. Would a young woman
be justified in seeing her moth
er go to the poorhouse if she
discovered that the mother had
plotted literally to sell her to
iil. . -j . . I . : a
7 a wcanny, urunr.cn pruinydic i
CHAPTER IX Continued.
"Maybe Mr. Merkle"
"We'll leave lilm out of this," de
clared Lorelei; "he's too decent to have
a person like me foisted upon him
and there's no reason whatever why he
should be held responsible for my
notoriety." She turned away from
the dining room with a shudder of dis
taste. "I don't want any breakfast, I
think I'll get some air."
As soon as she was out in the street
she' turned southward involuntarily,
and set off toward the establishment of
Adoree Demorest.
Mrs. Knight dried her eyes and be
gan to dress herself carefully, prepara
tory to a journey into the Wall street
section of the city, for the hour was
drawing on toward three o'clock.
Meanwhile Jim, having transacted
his business at Goldberg's office, sought
a more familiar haunt on one of the
side streets among the forties. Here,
just off Rroadway, was a famous bar
ter e)i rm n snntlsa nlnpp with whlfp
Interior and tiled walls. Six Italians
in stiff duck coats practiced their arts
at a row of well-equipped chairs. A
wasp-waisted girl sat at the manicure
table next the front windows. As Jim
entered she was holding the hand of
a jaded person in a light-gray suit, and
murmuring over it with an occasional
upward glance from a pair of bold,
dark eyes. "Tony the Barber," en
gaged in administering a shampoo,
nodded at Jim, and from force of
habit murmured politely: "Next!"
Then, with a meaning glance, he indi
cated a door at the rear of the shop.
In the third chair Jim recognized Max
Melcher, although the face of the sport
ing man was swathed In steaming
cloths.
Jim passed on and into a rear room,
where he found three men seated at a
felt-covered table. They were well
dressed, quiet persons one a book
maker whom the racing laws had re
duced from affluence to comparative
penury; another, a tall, pallid youth
with bulging eyes. The third occupant
of the room was an ex-lightweight
champion of the ring, Young Sullivan
by name. Ills trim waist and power-
llushl It's Csmpfceli Pope, the Critic."
shoulders betokened his trade. Hi-
v was firm, and a cauliflower ear
lining his collar like a fungus.
lim drew up a chair and chatted idly
il tlx1 bookmaker yawned, rose, and
l it out. Then Jim and the others re-
.Hi.
1' ;. he's n sticker!" exclaimed the
J lit. "I thought he'd broke hU
1 '
Mux is hefting his map greased,"
ON fM
,7 jpAH u L
the pop-eyed youth explained. Taking
a pasteboard box from his pocket, he
removed a heroin tablet therefrom and
crushed it: the powder he held in the
indentation between the base of his
closed thumb and first finger, known
as "the thimble;" then, with a quick
inhalation, he drew the drug up his
nostrils. "Have an angel?" he in
quired, offering the box.
Jim accepted, but Young Sullivan
declined.
"What's the news?" the latter in
quired. "I've seen Goldy," replied Jim.
"Mother and I will call on Merkle at
three. I finally got her to consent."
Sullivan shook his head. "He might
fall, but I doubt it. How does your
sister feel?"
"That's the trouble. She's square,
and we can't use her," Jim explained.
"Some doll!" admiringly commented
Armistead, the third member of the
group. Armistead had once been
famed in vaudeville for dancing, but
the drug habit had destroyed his en
durance, and with it his career. "She's
a perfect thirty-six, all right. She
could rip a lot of coin loose if she
tried."
At this moment Mr. Melcher, freshly
perfumed and talcumed, entered the
room. His white hair was arranged
with scrupulous nicety; his pink face,
as unwrinkled as his immaculate at
tire, was beaming with good-humor.
"Well, boys, I'm the pay-car," he
smiled.
"Hammon came through, eh?" Sulli
van inquired eagerly,
"Not exactly; we compromised. Quick
sales and small profits; that's busi
ness." "How strong did he go?" queried Ar
mistead. "Now, what's the difference, so long
as you get yours? Photography is a
paying business." Melcher laughed
agreeably.
"Sure! I'll bet Sarony is rich."
Young Sullivan carelessly accepted the
roll of currency which Melcher tossed
him, and the others did likewise.
i suppose mats curtain tor us,
Jim said, regretfully.
"It is. The rest is Lilas' affair."
"Say, will the old man fall again?"
queried Armistead.
"He's going to marry her!" The
three others stared at him in amaze
ment. "Right!" confirmed Melcher.
"She's got a strangle hold on him."
"Ilm-m! Maybe we haven't lost the
last car yet," Sullivan ventured.
Jim seconded . the thought. "She's
got an ace buried somewhere. There's
a lot more in her head than hairpins.
I wish Merkle would marry my sister."
"Not a chance," Melcher declared.
"You'll be lucky to shake him down for
a few thousand. How about Wharton?
Will she stand for him?"
Jim frowned, and his voice was
rough as he replied: '
"I'll make her stand for him if it's
a marry,"
"He's a lush; if you got him stewed
he might go that far. It has been done;
but, of course, it's all up to the girl.
Anyhow, if he balks at the altar we
might get him for something else."
"I'm not sure I'll need any help in
this." Jim looked up coldly. "If he
marries her, that ends it; if we have
to frame him, of course I'll split."
"How are you going to frame him,
with a square dame like Lorelei?"
asked Armistead.
"Frame both of them," Melcher said,
shortly. "By the way, he's a gambler,
too, isn't he? Bring him in some
night, Jim, and I'll turn for him my
self." "Save his cuff buttons for me,"
laughed Young Sullivan, idly riffling
the cards. "Gee! Money comes easy
to some folks. Don't you guys never
expect to do any honest work?"
CHAPTER X.
Jim's appearance when he entered
the dressing room that night was a sur
prise; he was clad in faultless evening
attire.
"Why the barbaric splendor?" in
quired Lorelei. "Do you want me to
dress, too?"
"Sure thing. Look your best, and
make me think I'm a regular John."
"Bergman dropped in to see me to
night," she told him, after they had
gossiped for a moment. "I don't like
the way he talked. He thinks he owns
the girls who work for him."
Jim replied, carelessly: "Blow him
and his job. You can get on at the
Pai.'uo Garden."
"There's my contract-: he can dis
charge mo. you know, but I can't
quit that's one of the peculiarities of
a theatrical contract. Well he insist
ed on taking me to supper."
"A brother is a handy thing, once
in a while, but for every-day use you
nee.l u 'steady' with a kick in each
mitt," suggested Jim.
"I wish you would punch him."
"Who: Me? And go joy-riding with
a square-toe? Nix. I'm too refined.
Did you see tonight's papers?"
"There wasn't much in them."
Jim smiled wisely. "There would
have been if things hadn't gone right.
I'm glad for your sake,"
"Oh, the harm's done, I suppose.
But there's one good thing about It
Bob Wharton hasn't bothered me this
evening."
Jim, with an expressionless face,
tried to speak to Lilas Lynn, who had
just come in. When his sister came
down after the last act, he was wait
ing at the door and helped her into a
cab, despite her protestations that she
would much prefer to walk.
"What are you going to do with all
the coin you save? Slip it to the shoe
makers?" he laughed. "I don't go out
often: you'd better spring me good."
As they seated themselves in the
main room at Proctor's, he appraised
hpr with admiring eyes. "You're the
candy, sis. There's class to that lay
out." "It's part of the game to look well
in public, but I'd have enjoyed myself
more 'if we had gone to Billy the
Oysterman's and dressed the part."
She surveyed the gaudy dining room,
with its towering marble columns, its
tremendous crystal festoons, shower
ing a brilliant but becoming light upon
the throngs below, then nodded here
and there to casual greetings.
Proctor's was a show place, built
upon the site of a former resort the
fame of which had been nation-wide;
but the crowds that frequented it now
were of a different type to those that
had gathered in "the old Proctor's."
Prices were higher here than else
where; the coatrooms were robbers'
dens, infested by Italian mafiosi; tips
were extravagant and amounted in ef
fect to ransom. But New York dearly
loves to be pillaged. Nothing speeds
the Manhattan sleep hater more swift
ly to a change of scene than the knowl
edge that he is getting his money's
worth.
"Speaking of clothes," Jim contin
ued, staring past his sister to another
table, "there seems to be a strike
breaker in the room. ripe the gink
with the nightshirt under his coat and
the shoestring tie. There must be a
masquerade Say! He's bowing to
you."
"Hush! It's Campbell Tope, the
critic."
Mr. Tope had risen and was slouch
ing toward them. lie took Lorelei s
hand, then shot a sharp glance at her
escort as the girl introduced them. Ac
cepting Jim's mumbled invitation, he
seated himself and instructed a waiter
to bring his coffee. Jim watched the
nearest entrance with some anxiety,
for the reviewer's presence did not fit
well with his plans. As he finished
ordering he heard Pope say:
"I was sorry the story got out, Miss
Knight; but it was pretty well smoth
ered in this evening's papers. Of
course you were dragged in by the
hair to afford a Roman spectacle; we
ill saw what it meant when it came
to us."
"What did it mean?" queried Jim,
with brotherly interest.
"Blackmail. The word was written
all over it. Melcher's connection with
the affair was proof of that; then the
way it was handled! Nobody touched
it except the Dispatch, and, of course,
it got its price."
"I thought newspapers paid for
copy," innocently commented Jim.
"Yes. real newspapers; but the gang
bad to publish the stuff somewhere. It
is reported that Hammon paid fifty
thousand dollars to prevent Melcher
from filing suit. I dare say things will
be quiet around Tony the Barber's
now."
"You press people certainly have got
a lot up your sleeves." James' invol
untary start of dismay did not pass
unnoticed. He did not relish the gleam
in Pope's eyes, and he hastily sought
refuge in a goblet of water, notwith
standing his distaste for the liquid.
"We sometimes know as much as
the police, and we invariably tell
more," continued Tope. "Yes, a busi
ness man can get a haircut in Tony's
without fear of family complications
now. I suppose Armistead is smoking
hop; Young Sullivan is probably laying
an alcoholic foundation for a wife
beating, and- the others are spending
Hammon's money in the cafes."
Jimmy Knight paled, for behind
Pope's genial smile were both mockery
and contempt; a panic swept him lest
this fellow should acquaint Lorelei
with the truth. Jim lost interest in
his clams and thereafter avoided con
versation with the wariness of a fox.
He was still glowing with resent
ment when Robert Wharton paused at
the table and greeted its occupants
cheerily. In response to Jim's invita
tion Bob drew up a fourth chair, seat
ed himself, and began to beam upon
Lorelei. Noting the faint line of an
noyance between her brows, he
laughed.
"Retreat is cut off," he announced,
complacently. "Escape is hopeless.
I've left orders to have the windows
barred and the doors walled up."
"Eh? What's the idea?" inquired
Pope.
Wharton answered sadly: "My van
ity has suffered the rudest jolt of its
young career; I mourn the death of a
perfectly normal and healthy self-conceit,
age twenty-nine. Services at
noon; friends and relatives only."
"Oho! You've heard the seductive
song of the Rhine maiden?" Pope's
eyes were twinkling.
"Eh? I'm tangled up like a basket
of ticker tape. You see, Campbell, I
drink: candor compels me to acknowl
edge that much. In a moment of folly
I was indiscreet, and ever since I have
been trying to apologize. In short, I'm
in Dutch, and there sits the adorable
cause of my sorrows."
In. spite of Wharton's reprouthful
tone, the gaze he bent upon Lorelei
was good-humored, and she saw that
be was in a mood different to any .she
had ever seen him in. Strange to say, he I
was sober, or nearly so, and he was
plainly determined to make bfcr. like
him.
"Has he annoyed you, Miss Knight?"
a sited Tope.
"Dreadfully."
Wharton explained further. "The
first time we .met. I deserved to be
slapped, and I was. You see, I was
ruder than usual. But I have sobered
up purposely to apologize; I have re
pented, and well, here we are, thanks
to brother James."
"Thanks to Jim?" Lorelei raised
her brows.
Pope turned to young Knight and
said, politely, "That is my foot you are
stamping on."
Ignoring Jim's mute appeal, Whar
ton ran on. smilingly: "He promised to
shackle you to a table until I could
stammer out my halting apologies, and
now that I've done so in the presence
of press and public won't you forgive
me and help me to bury the hatchet in
a Welsh rabbit?" He was speaking
directly to her with a genuine appeal
"Are You Stuck on the Boob?"
in his handsome eyes. Now that she
saw him in his right mind, it was un
expectedly hard to resist him. for he
was very boyish and friendly quite
unlike the person who had so grievous
ly offended her.
When she and Jim had first entered
the restaurant they had received a po
lite but casual recognition from the
head waiter, but there attentions had
ceased. With Wharton as a member
of the party, however, there came
change. Mr. Proctor himself paused
momentarily at the table and rested a
hand upon Wharton's shoulder while
be voiced a few platitudes. Then in
some inexplicable manner Robert
found himself not only ordering for
himself but supplementing Jim's menu
with rare and expensive viands. As a
great favor, he was advised of a newly
imported vintage wine which the pro
prietor had secured for his own use.
Of course Mr. Wharton wished to
sample such a vintage, any vintage, in
fact, since a thousand fires were con
suming him, and his nerves were on
edge from the night before. The first
draft electrified him, his spirits rose,
and he swept his companions along
with his enthusiasm. From surround
ing tables people accosted him; men
paused in passing to exchange a word
about stocks, polo, scandal, Newport,
tennis, Tuxedo; none were in the least
stiff or formal, and all expressed in
one way or another their admiration
for Lorelei. Women who she knew
were not of her world beamed and
smiled at the young millionaire. It
was a new experience for the girl, who
felt herself, as the supper progressed,
becoming conspicuous without the
usual disagreeable accompaniments.
Men no longer openly ogled her; wom
en did not nudge each other and whis
per; her presence in company with a
member of the idolized rich was caus
ing gossip, but gossip of a flattering
kind.
All this attention, however, had quite
the contrary effect upon Campbell
Tope. Much to Jim's relief, he ex
cused himself shortly, whereupon the
former, after allowing Wharton to pay
the score, suggested a dance, breezily
sweeping aside his sister's mild objec
tion. Of course Bob was delighted,
and soon the trio had set out upon a.
round of the dancing cafes.
Bob Wharton had drunk heavily, but
up to this time he had shown little ef
fect from his potations beyond a grow
ing exhilaration; now, however, the
wine was taking toll, and Lorelei felt
a certain pity for him. With Robert
Wharton liquor intensified a natural
agreeableness until it cloyed. His
amenities were monstrously magnified:
he became convivial to the point of of
fensiveness. In the course of this
metamorphosis he was many things,
and through such a cycle he worked to
night while the girl looked on.
Overcoming his niggardly instincts,
Jimmy Knight, as the evening pro
gressed, assumed the burden of enter
tainment. He, too, adopted a spend
thrift gayety and encouraged Whar
ton's libations, although he drank little
himself.
There came a time when Bob could
no longer dance? when, in fact, he
could barely walk and then it was
that Jim proposed leaving. Bob read
ily agreed having reached a condition
of mellowness where he agreed enthu
siastically to anything and Lorelei
was only too glad to depart. She had
witnessed the pitiful breaking down of
Bob's faculties with a curious blending
of concern and dismay, but her pro
tests had gone unheeded. Having had
a glimpse of his real self earlier in the
evening, and being wise in the ways of
intemperance, uhe fe't only pity for
him now as the ihree made their way
downstairs.
, While Jim went in search of their
belongings. Bob propped himself
against the wall and regarded her ad
miringly through eyes that were filmed
and unfocusable.
"Fairy princess, you are more ador
able every .ninute," he snid, thickly
"Yes! A thousand yeses. And I'm
your little friend, eh? No more slaps,
no more mysterious exits, what?"
"That depends upon you."
"I'm behaving finely," he vaunted.
"I usually act much worse than I have
tonight, but I like you. I like you dif
ferently understand? Not like the
other girls. You're so beautiful: Makes
me dizzy. You forgive my little joke
eh?"
"What joke?" .
"Meeting you the way I-dld tonight.
Jim's nice boy obliged to him,"
"I see. Then it was all planned?"
He nodded vehemently and nearly
lost his balance.
"How muchs did you pay him?" Lo
relei queried, with difficulty.
Mr. harton waved his nana in a
magnificent gesture. "What's money.
anyhow? Somebody's bound to get it."
"Fifty dollars?"
He looked at her reproachfully
"That's an insult to Jim he's a busi
ness man, he Is. More than that Oh,
yes, and I'll take care of him again
this very night. I'll stake him. He
knows a place."
"Will you do me a favor?" she asked.
after a pause.
Wharton assured her with abnormal
emphasis that her lightest wish was
law.
"Then go straight home from here."
she pleaded.
"I say, that's not fair." Bob looked
ludicrously shocked. "I promised Jim
Wouldn't have me break a sacred
promise, would you? We're expected
a little game all arranged where we
can bust it quick. If you hear a loud
noise that'll be Melcher going broke."
"Melcher!" Lorelei looked sharply
at her brother, who was approaching
with her wraps, and noted that he was
perfectly sober. A moment later she
checked Bob in the act of giving di
rections to the cab driver:
"Wait. Where do you live, Mr.
Wharton?"
"The Charlevoix." It was the most
expensive bachelor apartment building
In the city.
"Drive to the Charlevoix," she told
the chauffeur.
"Hold on, sis," cried Jim. "We're
going to take you home first."
"No."
"But " Jim saw in his sister's face
something that brought a smothered
oath to his lips. Drawing her out of
hearing, he muttered, angrily, "Mind
your own business; I've got something
on."
"I know you have." She met his
eyes unflinchingly. "But you shan't
rob him."
Jim thrust his thin face close to hers,
and she saw that it was distorted with
rage. "If you don't want to go home,
stay here. He's going with me."
"We'll see."
She turned, but he seized her rough
ly. "What are you going to do?" he
demanded.
"I'm going to tell him he's being
taken to a crooked gambling house,
and that you're working for Max Mel
cher. He isn't too drunk to under
stand that."
Her brother clenched his fist menac
ingly, but she did not recoil, and he
thought better of his impulse.
"Are you grand-standing?" he quer
ied, brutally. "Are you stuck on the
boob? or do you want your bit?"
Without reply she walked back to
the cab, redirected the driver to the
Charlevoix, then seated herself beside
Wharton, who was already sinking
into a stupor. Jim slunk in behind her,
and they were whirled southward.
It was a silent ride, for the besot
ted young millionaire slept, and Jim
dared not trust himself to speak. Lo
relei closed her eyes, nauseated, disil
lusioned, miserable, seeing more clear
ly than ever the depths into which she
had unwittingly sunk, and the infamy
to which Jim had descended.
At his hotel Wharton roused himself,
and Lorelei sent him reeling into the
vestibule. Then she and Jim turned
homeward through the deserted streets.
CHAPTER XI.
During the last act of the matinee on
the day following Lorelei was sur
prised to receive a call from John
Merkle. "The Judge" led him to her
dressing room, then shuffled away.
leaving him alone with her and Mrs.
Croft.
"I hope I haven't broken any rules
by dropping in during your office
hours," he began.
"Theatrical rules are made to be
broken; but I do think that you are In
discreet. Don't you?"
The banker had been using his eyes
with an Interest that betrayed his un
familiarity with those surroundings.
I was on my way uptown and pre
ferred not to telephone." He looked
meaningly at Croft; and Lorelei, inter
preting his glance, sent the dresser
from the room on some errand. "Well,
the game worked," said Merkle. "Mrs.
Hammon has left home and com
menced suit for divorce. If our friend
Miss Lynn had set out to ruin Jarvis
socially and perhaps financially she
couldn't have played her cards better."
Is that what you came to tell me?" ! :l
Merkle hesitated. "No," he admit
ut-' n
ted, "it Isn't; but I'm a bit embar- j?
rassed now that I'm here. I suppose t A
your mother told about seeing me?" !
"My mother?" Lorelei's amazement ' j'j
was convincing, and his keen eves ;
softened. "When did you see mother". ;'
Where?"
"Yesterday, at my office. THdu't y,ou I
know that she and your brother haffl
called?"
Lorelei shook her head; sne felt sick,
with dread of his next words.
"It was very unpleasant, I fear, for
all of us."
"What did they want?" The girl
was still smiling, but her lips beneath
the paint were dry.
"They felt that I had er Involved
you in a great deal of notoriety. From
what they, said I judged that yott
shared their feelings." He paused awk
wardly once more, and she motioned
him to continue. "We didn't get on
very well, especially your brother and'
I; for he presumed to criticize my re
lations with you and er my motive
in taking you to ride the other night.
I believe I was quite rude to him; in?
fact, I had the watchman eject him,
not daring to trust myself."-
"They asked for money?" Lorelei
averted her face, for she could not
bear to meet his frank eyes.
"Yes what I considered a great deal
of money. I understood they repre
sented you. They didn't Insist, how
ever; they offered me a choice."
"Choice! Of what?"
"Well I inferred that marriage
would undo the wrong I had "
"Oh-h!" Lorelei rose with a gasp.
Bravely she stilled the tremor of her
lips. "Tell me the rest."
"There isn't much more. Your moth
er was quite hysterical and noisy. To
day a lawyer came to see me. He
offers to settle the whole matter, but
I prefer dealing directly with you."
"Do you think I knew anything;
about it?" she cried, indignantly.
"No, I do not think so now. Yester
day I was too much surprised and too
angry to know Just what I did think.
It's perfectly true, however, that I was
to blame for the unfortunate outcome
of the ride, and I want to make
amends for any Injury "
"Weren't you injured, too, by the
publicity?" Merkle showed his- teeth in a mirth
less smile.
"That's neither here nor there."
"Please leave me, and let toe-
think this over. I must do something
quickly, or I'll smother."
"I'm glad I came," said he, rising.
I'm glad I made sure."
"So am I. What you have told me
has made a great difference in every
thing. Don't allow them to" She
hesitated and her voice broke. "I
can't say it. You must think I'm
unspeakable."
He shook his head gravely. "No, I
merely think you are very unfortu
nate. I think you need help more than
any girl I ever knew."
"I do. I do."
"But I am not the one to give it
at least not the kind of help you need."
"I'll need help more than ever after
tonight."
"A'es? Why?"
"Because I'm going to leave home."
Lorelei's head was up, and she spoke
with a note of defiance.
"Then perhaps I can do something."
lie seated himself again. "You will
need money."
"Oh, no. I have my salary and the
other revenues you know about. I
have kept my family for two years."
"Work won't hurt you, but why
force yourself to go on with those
other things? They're not to your
liking, I'm sure."
"My mother and ' father must live.
There Isn't enough don't you see?
"Make an End of It. IH Finance You."
There just Isn't enough for all of us
unless I graft like the other girls."
Merkle broke out impatiently: "Make
an end of it. I'll finance you." She
laughed a little harshly. "Don't think
for an instant that I'd venture to ex
pect anything in return. I won't
trouble you; I won't even see you.
Nobody will ever know. I wouldn't
miss the money, and I'd really love to
do it. Y'ou tried to do me a favor
"There's no use arguing."
"Well, don't be stubborn or hasty.
You could use say, ten thousand dol
lars. It would keep you going very
uicely, and really it's only the price
-if a new auto."
I'o you believe that tyler
:rkle ft
erectly truthful and decen
in his offer to give Lore.'ef
financial aid? Is she doing thr
r:ht thing in deserting hp
' -r.n!e. even fnuoh they a
I'i.vUfclD.
"" " 1 i 'j