The Drumright Derrick (Drumright, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 13, Ed. 1 Friday, May 14, 1915 Page: 4 of 12
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THE DERRICK. DRUMRIGHT. OKLA
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Who Pays?
THE LOVE LIARS
By EDWI* BllSt
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2
FOURTH STORY
i.
Tins door of No. <>2 trembled vio-
lently. then lur-ged from it* hinge t and
\hb two policemen leaped into the
off)':*. The clod that had been Char ts
I^etod, Investment broker, sprawled :n
a swivel chair, bis head and tfce rignt
hand, still gripping the revolver,
reaching nervelessly out upon the lit-
tered desk.
The desk blotter was still a bit,
damp. A newspaper scare bead there
had been heavily marked b>' a SB lead
pencil:
"TITAN SHIP COMPANY FORCED
TO WALL."
"War smashes Gigantic Enterprise—
Mysterious Unknown Financier
Behind T. 8. Co. l>/ses Entire
Investment."
A tiny memorandum slip, torn hur-
riedly from a book, with the names
of the city's twelve principal banks
and trust companies lay upon the
floor. And that was all.
The Mirror's police reporter slipped
Into their puzzled conference.
"Sergeant told me a man phoned
In be was going to kill himself here,'
he explained. "What do you boys
make of It?"
"Well, you've got to hand It to the
guy—he made good," Officer Carney
answered "Ought to make a big
•story, Harvey. Leed was dirty with
money—wasn't he?"
The reporter smiled at the infer-
ence that a suicide never takes the
biggest jump until bis money is gone.
Inwardly, be was laughing at their be-
wilderment. A good story? Why, It
was a whale, a triple-decker of a
story! And a story plainly written!
Charles Iv;<-d, the eminently wealthy
Investment broker, had been the Mys-
terious Unknown who shoveled mil-
lions so carelessly Into the smashed
ship company. With the last glim-
mering of hope he bad written the
wealthy heiress, Miss Selma Asbton,
that her millions had been a part of
those swept away. Hut why Selrna
Ashton, unless she had made a recent
demand for money that hastened the
climax? The blotter, turned upside
down against the mirror, had Hpelled
out the substance of the broker's last
note. He consulted again the mem-
orandmn slip. Undoubtedly, he had
It correctly.
I>;ed was the mysterious backer of
the Titan company. The Titan com-
pany smashed. 8elina Asbton Incon-
veniently required money. Leed
tackled the batiks and trust companies
mentioned on the slip for aid but with-
out success. Then a subject for the
coroner.
at th* tost3er enured with
a i ot* for bit mutrets.
Tie com pa l itre gased will increas-
ing woadenneat at the young heiress.
A ? * smsecu iMffore «be bad waUse"d
down the stairs with the radiant crea-
ture. the happy, care-free girt. Ail
no*. In the tpiuce of time it took for
her eyes U> travel across the lines
of a brieSy scrawled note, all the girl-
ishne*t had Jaded away, leaving the
hard speculative expression there of a
cold, calculating, scheming woman.
Mr* Preatley took the note from
the outstretched hand. It was brief,
cruelly brief and arrogant, the Bote
of the nlcide broker who seemed to
think tit atonement made by the
mere snuffing out of his own exist-
ence. Everything the girl possessed
wiped out by the smash of the Titan
Ship company!
The door bell pealed and she
started violently. Her eyes fastened
appeallngly, half afraid, upon the girl.
But Seima Ashton did not see her,
Immersed In her own thoughts. At
the sound of the bell, her shoulders
had straightened.
She turned slowly toward the door,
half rising as the butler announced
David Dwigbt. Her eyes met those of
her companion, and there was a de-
fiant expression In them, defiant yet
triumphant
David Dwlght had not gained his
millions through procrastination. He
bad come decisively to the point. And
yet there was something Eplendld
about him that made the older wom-
an's heart go out to him. She re-
pressed a little cry of pain as she
caught the tremolo that all uncon-
sciously crept into his voice.
"I do not want you to marry me,
Selma, unless you love me. I want
you more than anything In the world
—but not that much. Not without
love, Selma, for I—I know what love
means—now."
Came a scuffle at the door, follow-
ing the bell. She could hear the but-
ler's voice raised In protest against
some intrusion, then the awkward
scraping of feet Immediately preced-
ing an Intruder's rush toward the
room where the pair were. Mrs
Pressley peered through the portieres
curiously. The newcomer was very
young and very breathless and very
dishevelled Irom his encounter with
the butler, who was hurriedly pursu-
ing, hl« hand outstretched as though
to grasp the Intruder by the arm.
Dwlght rose angrily.
"Mirror reporter, Miss Ashton!
Charles Leed Is a BUlcide after misap-
propriating your fortune to prop up
the Titan Ship company. Anything
to say—"
With superb art, the girl half rose
from the divan. She reached out her
hands as though to support herself,
then sank gently back, staring In-
credulously at the reporter. The but-
ler had his hand upon the fellow's
Hhoulder and David Dwlght Belzed the
other, hustling him toward the door.
II.
Mrs. Pressley'h lips compressed as
she read David Dwlght's note. The
thought of his marriage to the beau-
tiful creature Just across the tea
things was repugnant to her.
Helma Ashton checked the laugh
upon her lips, a roguish gleam light-
ing her eyes. Under lowered lashes
she mused aloud.
"lie's a dear, old man," sho mur-
mured as though to herself, studying
the shades of disgust upon Mrs. Press-
ley's countenance with Infinite relish.
"He's got simply millions and his wlfo
would get It all, and they say a private
physician devotes all his time to keep-
ing him alive from hour to hour."
Mrs. Pressley's nose upturned.
"He's so sweet and kindly," Selma
sighed. "And even though he Is old
and feeble you can Bee for yourself
the flame of love burns strong In his
heart. Itlght on the heels of his note
h announces he will come to put his
Important questlou. A perfect Loch-
Invar, my dear!"
She threw back her head, bursting
Into peal after peal of ringing laugh
ter. Mrs Pressley drew herself erect,
uncertain whether to assume an air
of Injured dignity or to Join In the
inlrth.
' "You dear old thing!" Selma gasped.
"Of course, 1 haven't any Idea of mar-
rying him. In the first place he's old,
and In the second place he's not the
man I want.-and In the third place he
Isn't the man I want to marry and
never could be. Hut you were so fun
ny when you thought me In earnest.
Just for that I'll forgive your scolding
about my asking Mr. L<Md to send me
a hundred thousand dollars Now, we
must be ready to receive the eager
wooer."
■ Her companion ordered the butler
to clear the tea table, then slowly fol-
lowed the beautiful girl up the stairs.
Hhe could hear Selma dismissing
her maid and moved Into the hall, ac-
companying her to the drawing room.
She huriiedly started to withdraw at
a flutlei of the door bell but haltod
III.
There Is no poison more subtle nor
effective than self-indulgence. Like
a narcotic It grips the moral sense
and submerges completely every feel-
ing of obligation. But, as with all
drugs, there are moments when the
effect Is bound to wear off and then
all the spectral horrors that gape and
grin at the addict have their hour.
Times there were when this hour
visited Selma, driving her Into de-
ceptions for which she hated herself
but which caused an Intense, unrea
soning loathing to rise within her
against the price she had paid where-
by to drug herself.
There was that terrible time when
David Dwlght asked her to drink to
their future happiness. Clear as
deep-toned bell, two words only of the
marriage ritual dinned at her ears,
throbbed at her stupefied brain. Until
death—Until death—Until death—
At her new home she bore herself
regally as she met the servants, and
was Introduced to Doctor Holland, the
young man who was In constant at
tendance on her husband. Aa his
hand touched hers she felt an Instant,
unexplained sympathy for him.
Week trod upon the heels of week
until Selma became conscious that
she was keeping track of time, was
counting days. She knew In her heart,
yet would not admit to herself that
time could never begin for her until
she was freed from David Dwlght.
It was the third month that she
caine upon him In the library, came
updn him and paused swiftly to re-
treat If her entrance had not been
observed. She caught the rustle of
skirts and, looking up, saw Mrs.
Preasley and Doctor Holland In a cor
ner of the room. The expression upon
the companion's face was peculiarly
accusing and yet triumphant, while
that upon the countenance of Doctor
Holland, as their eyes met, was half-
pity, half—she trembled violently as
she tried to analyze exactly what the
remainder of that expression told.
Dwlght turned In his chair and she
moved toward him. There was the
light of a great happiness In his eyes
an expression which seemed to glorify
the man. There was something ao
tremendously splendid about ber hus
band and something so delicately One
and sensitive is: teemed eon tic n-
ajjr assorting itself in his face, caus-
ing such hot self-recriminstion to
arise within bers-elf that she hated
him for the torture he innocently
caused.
There was something electrical in
the very air of the room, something
that caused her to he afraid. Dwigbt
took her hand, resting it upon his
chest, fondling It tenderly. The phy-
tician and Mrs. Pressley moved soft-
ly from the room She looked at the
miliionalre's face more intently, her
heart fluttering as she saw some great
change there. And now, with a great
wave of self-hatred at the criminality
of the thought, she read It for what it
was.
David Dwlght, her husband, this
rr.an to whom she was bound for life,
was a well man. David Dwlght had
regained his health.
Muttering an excuse she lunged
blindly up the Btairs to ber own room.
Snatching a scarf she groped her
way to the garden, fighting down the
bitterness within her heart. She seat-
ed herself on a bench In the little
summer house, staring sightlessly be-
fore her. fighting desperately.
She looked up quickly at slow foot-
steps. her eyes lighting as Doctor Hol-
land strolled down the walk, a book
in his hand. For Just a second she
thought him about to pass on, after
bowing to her, then, with a little
shrug he seated himself beside her
She did not wish him there and still
she was glad of his presence.
In the flurry of the moment she
reached out to take the book from his
bands. It rested beside her, but her
nerves seemed stunned, anesthetized.
Something had seemed to break
ritbin the very soul of her at the con-
tact of his fingers. She could not
move from that magnetic touch.
Slowly, gently, so slightly as to be
almost Imperceptible, his fingers
closed upon her own—Just enough so
she was aware the man knew what he
was doing. She lifted her eyes, des-
perately, pleadingly.
Some power from outside herself
caught and held her, breathless and
afraid. Doctor Holland rose swiftly,
his face wearing the expression of
one who has looked upon deadly dan-
ger and wishes, yet Is afraid, to em-
brace it. Without a word he turned
upon his heel and strode toward the
house. •
With Hps parted, Selma stared be-
fore her. She knew now that the
great doctor had come to her with his
demand for payment In full. And
she knew that evasion of the debt
was—
The rustle of a petticoat caused her
to look up In quick anger. Mrs. Press-
ley stood before her, an accusing,
righteous expression on her face that
told the young wife Instantly the scene
that had Just transpired was no secret
to the companion. In a fit of anger,
Selma dismissed her from her service
and she went straight to the husband,
with her story.
He slipped quickly behind a stone pil-
lar.
He caught the uncertainty, the sur-
prise of the doctor as he caught sight
of the woman. He caught the impulse
of the man to comfort her, saw the
fighting down of that Impulse. Then
Doctor Hollond placed bin hand upon
her shoulder, his voice but the gen-
tlest whisper of a sound as he called
her name. She turned and looked
up at him, then swiftly, some Iron
band of self-restraint within her
snapped, and she flung her arms about
his neck.
With her head resting upon his
chest he murmured words which thun-
dered back to the millionaire behind
the pillar, killing something inside the
very soul of the man, even as it quick-
ened the life in his body.
Suddenly Selma drew away, crouch-
ing, fearful as she regarded the man
toward whom she had gone in her
hour of weakness. Dwlght leaned for-
ward the better to listen. Her voice
was broken, wild witj z passionate
despair as it rang in his ears.
"No—No—You must not. You must
go. I will—I must be true to him
while he lives. You must go—you
must—"
David Dwlght turned quickly and
groped his way back to the house. In
the hall he paused uncertainly, his
hand upon the knob of the library
door as though he had Just come from
there. Selma entered and he called
softly, tenderly to her, putting his arm
about her, kissing her tenderly, even
as he reached out and clasped the
hand of Dr. Holland, who came in im-
mediately after her.
Slowly the pair moved up the stairs
and David Dwlght watched them from
beside the library door. He was cold
now. Something had died within him.
He frowned, a bit puzzled at the ef-
fort at identification. He had It—It
was his soul that had been killed.
looked hurriedly about her as though
seeking some means of escape.
That note from Leed—He knew
that she had married him for his
money. But what else did he know,
this man of superlative cruelty? Did
! > know of Holland?
VI.
IV.
Dwlght looked up from the note
Mrs. Pressley had Just thrust Into his
hands, a little puzzled. He had not
known before that the suicide broker
had notified Selma of the embezzle-
ment of her fortune. Still, what of
It now? And why was the unusually
good-natured lady In such a towering
rage?
"But, my d ar Mrs. Pre3iley, why
do you give this to me?" he queried.
"It merely states what you and 1 and
all the world know—that Mrs.
Dwight's fortune was embezzled. Oh,
I see," he cried, a great glow on un-
derstanding coming upon him, "the
note reached your hands and you kept
It from Selma, fearing the shock—"
"The note, Mr. Dwlght, came be-
fore you asked Mrs. Dwlght to marry
you," the companion Interrupted
sharply. "You had written a trifle
earlier that you intended proposing
that evening. Miss Ashton told me
that she Intended refusing you. Then
came this word from Leed—and she
married you."
Dwlght Bmiled Incredulously, though
grim lines had formed about the cor-
ners of his mouth.
You — had — better — go — imme-
diately—" He clipped off the words
like steel particles.
For a lrng time the millionaire
stood there, his arm rigidly out-
Sc etched as though he would drive
from the mom the evil thoughts the
desperate woman had left behind.
it was a month after the discharge
of Mrs. Pressley that he stealthily
moved from his chair in the library
as Selma slipped out Into the night
air, followed shortly by Doctor Hol-
land. He had tried to convince him-
self that the change In manner toward
him on his wife's part was due to
some Intuitional reading of his
thoughts. Even now he fought against
the impulse which caused him to spy
on the pair.
Clearly sl.houetted against the
i.ight he made out her figure. Her
face was covered with her hands and
be could see ihe was sobbing silently
to herself. Doctor Holland was stroll-
ing toward her, yet Dwlght was aware
that the physician had not seen hat
V.
As Dwight looked about the labora-
tory and in the bedroom for Doctor
Holland he was a bit disappointed to
find the young man out.
Lately his Jealous hatred had grown
to such an abnormal extent that he
dreaded losing sight of either of the
guilty pair for one moment, lest they
had fled the agony they were endur-
ing. And today he proposed finally
showing his hand, on this first anni-
versary of his marriage.
He h^l not quite decided what hu-
miliation he would heap upon Holland,
Selma's was already arranged, a hu-
miliation that lacked nothing of re-
finement and dignified, courteous
cruelty. He smiled as he tapped his
coat pocket where a Jeweler's little
box lodged which was to be his pres-
ent to her.
As he started to leave the room, the
title, Toxicology, seemed fairly to
leap from the cover of the opened
book lying amid the table litter and
strike him between the eyes. He
picked it up curiously, turning It
over In his hands, reading fragments
here and there at the place where it
had been opened. Then he examined
the little vial with the red skull and
cross-bones on Its label that had
rested beside the book.
A grayish shadow turned his
Ijealthy color to a dull leaden com-
promise of hue, as he slowly replaced
the little bottle. For a moment he
stood there undecided, then, with a
shrug of his shoulders, turned and
closed the door softly behind him.
Dwlght resumed his library chair,
pondering this new phase of the sit-
uation In his household.
Slowly he rose, pausing a moment
to compose his expression into the
one of tender solicitude he had used
as a mask for a long time now. He
moved up the stairs, light as a boy,
tapping softly at his wife's door and
dismissing the maid with a nod. She
submitted to his caresses wearily, the
fresh beauty of her a trifle drooping.
He had Intended speaking a few
commonplaces first, but as his eyes
took in the drooping corners to her
mouth, the haggard lines about the
eyes and realized what had put them
there, he could not trust his self-con-
trol. She opened the box wearily, try-
ing to simulate a delight at the pres-
ent which she knew she could not feel.
Once she looked «p and caught his
eyes upon her eager, cruel, gloating.
Her fingers trembled as, Instead of
a bit of Jewelry, she found a crumpled
note, opening It slowly. She did not
tremble, did not cry out as again she
lifted her eyes to Dwlght's, after read-
ing the letter from Charles I^eed, tell-
ing her that her fortune had been
wiped away. Her dulled brain re-
fused to work, her aching heart re-
fused to regard the question of where
he obtained possession of that note as
of any importance.
He motioned her to pick up the card
that remained in the box and she
turned It over and over In her hand:
"A reminder from your husband
that you lied to him and that you have
only served the first year of a long
sentence." She read it aloud the sec-
ond time. Then her lips parroted the
words slowly, as would a child learn-
ing his lesson. And gradually the
threat dawned upon her and she
Dwlght peered over the balustrade
into the dining room, then drew back,
even though his eyes looked thfl
more keenly Into the place. He saw
his wife touch the physician on the
arm, saw her lips move, caught the
nervous start of the man, then the
light laugh with which he answered
as he replaced a vial in his pocket.
But David Dwlght laughed-also. For
he had seen the sinister red of the
skull and cross bones—the same vial
he had seen In the doctor's laboratory
earlier In the day. Charmingly courte-
ous was his manner as he received
the guests already arriving.
"—and the man to whom I intrust
my health and happiness will propose
the first toast."
Even as their friends applauded rap-
turously at this tribute from the mil-
lionaire, Selma turned sharply toward
him.
The maternal instinct within her
told her the man proposed another
revenge. Her eyes met his and she
shrank away before the cruel glint
there. He bowed gracefully for si-
lence then extended his glass slightly
as he continued:
"And as a further token of my es-
teem, Doctor Holland shall drink from
my glass."
And then she understood, under-
stood even as the man she loved re-
ceived the wine glass from the man
to whom she was bound.
And suddenly she realized that she
loathed this man too. Revenge—re-
venge—was that all man thought of,
lived for, died for? The man sffe
loved had been caught In his own trap
and was merely showing himself a
thoroughbred. And when he fell dead,
who did they think was to pay for the
scandal—who was to pay?
She half rose from her chair, even
as the doctor's elbow crooked to sip
at the wine. A second she remained
there, then slumped heavily against
the arm holding the glass, her eyes
closing in feigned swoon. David
Dwight's arms were about her, lifting
her, carrying her to the library and
placing her upon the couch. When he
left the room, after turning her over
to the maid, she listened to the excited
chatter, the murmur of suppressed
anxiety from the departing guests,
lulled by her husband's soothing tones.
David Dwlght stood In the hallway,
shaking hands with the last of the
guests when she Baw the doctor com-
ing down the stairs, a suit case in his
hand. She half rose upon the couch,
then moved out into the room, her
breath coming in a little hissing
sound. She could hear the voices of
the men, then, for the first time in
their married life, was aware from the
shrill note In the millionaire's voice
that he was losing his temper. A sec-
ond later came the scuffle of feet and
Dwight and Holland burst into the
room. At sight of her the husband re-
gained control of himself, dropping
his hold upon the younger man and
laughing.
"And so you thought you would
leave my house, doctor? You thought
you would dodge the collector, eh?
You thought you would take what you
wished and then evade the payment,
my young friend?"
"Well, leave the house, doctor, If
you wish. Leave the house and I
shall brand you everywhere as the
man who tried to kill his patient so he
could steal his wife—or rather take
the wife he already had stolen. You
are at liberty to leave the house, Doc-
tor Holland."
Suddenly the laughter died out of
his voice and his face grew grim and
terrible, deadly, implacable.
"Of course, you cannot leave the
house. Neither of you can leave the
house. I am a millionaire and I did
not get those millions by leaving things
undone, by permitting bills to go un-
collected. I gained my money—by
buying It; I gained my wife—by pur-
chase; I bought my health."
"Health—that I bought; Life—that
I bought from you, Holland. Woman
—of purchase—when I bought you,
Selma. And In my vaults you shall
stay—both of you. Here In this house
you shall remain with me until death,
by natural means, comes to release
you. Here In this house you shall live,
both of you, and you shall look upon
each other, you shall long for one an-
other—but the Jailer will be here In
this debtor's prison also."
"A nun and a monk—and a Jailer.
An unwilling nun, an unwilling monk
—and a Jailer. And there shall be no
whisper of that love; there shall be
no caress that shows that love. For I
shall be a good Jailer. And you shall
see to It that I live long, Doctor Hol-
land. And you shall see to It that
your husband Is made comfortable,
Selma. For you are paying the price."
WHO PAYS?
(End of the Fourth Story.)
The title of the next story Is "Un-
to Herself Alone."
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The Drumright Derrick (Drumright, Okla.), Vol. 3, No. 13, Ed. 1 Friday, May 14, 1915, newspaper, May 14, 1915; Drumright, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc147824/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.