The Lehigh News. (Lehigh, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 26, 1917 Page: 3 of 8
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9
THE LEHIGH NEWS
A WVEL OF NEW"’ YQRIC LITE
Y' y
TCLUSTROTONS
SYNOPSIS
—6— -
Ptr Knight defeated for political of
flee la bla town decldea 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 Bergman's Revue
for a special article Her coin-hunting
mother outlines Lorelei’s ambitions but
Blosson 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
6nd Lorelei have an auto wreck The
lackmallers besmirch her good name
Do yon believe that a young
girl Just out of her teens Is
Justified In leaving home and
j casting off her parents If they
Intrigue to get her married to
any man no matter how much
of a rounder he Is If only he has
wealth to support them?
CHAPTER VIII— Continued
Looking back upon last Bight’s home-
jward ride she was wholly at a loss
In view of Jim’s words and of what
ebe had gathered "at the theater she
bad felt sure of Lilas’ complete knowl-
edge of the blackmail plot but Ham-
(non'a unwavering faith in the girl and
Lilas’ own story of her relations with
Mai Melcher bad awakened a doubt
What concerned her far more than the
moral complexion of the liaison was
tier brother’s connection with the un-
lawful scheme of extortion Jim she
eayv had gone wrong with a ven-
geance and the consequences to him
troubled her! for In spite of all that he
might be or do she cherished a sisterly
affection for him Family ties were
very real and Very strong to her—
strong enough to keep her loyal to her
fdn even after the demoralizing change
In her whole mode of life The flrm-
est In fact the only bond that she had
ever known was that of blood obedi-
ence faithfulness and affection had
been borp In her and she never
thought to question their sacredness
Idling down Fifth avenue she found
berself In front of a fashionable de-
partment store A knot of curious
people were gaping at a unique auto-
mobile which stood In the line if ve-
hicles along the curb and she paused
to look The equipage was snow white
In color the chauffeur and a stiff-
backed footman were In blood red with
Whlto facings on their livery A "tiny
mop of a lapdog Imprisoned within
the closed body of the car was barking
frenzledly at the throng Across the
doors In gold letters an Inch high was
the name "Adoree Demorest’’
As she entered the store Lorelei re-
fleeted with some disgust that no vis-
iting rajah no barbaric potentate-
mo one In fact except a self-advertised
musical comedy queen — would so fla-
grantly defy good taste as to ride In
such a vehicle
She was engaged In her final pur-
chase when a dazzling creature In red
nd white descended upon her with ex-
clamations of surprise and delight It
was Mademoiselle Demorest herself
and her greeting was so effusive that
the stream of shoppers halted In the
aisle She carried the mate to the ex-
citable poodle that defied the curiosity
seekers outside
"Miss Knight! I’m so glad to see
you again” she burbled "How sweet
von look I I hoped we’d meet again
but where have you been? Have you
finished your shopping? Then do come
and help me match some rose du
Barry”
Lorelei felt herself flushing uncom-
fortably under the stares of the on-
lookers and glad to escape" she
moved away beside the undisturbed
cause of all the furore
Miss Demorest seemed genuinely de-
lighted at this encounter She clung
to her companion chattering vivacious-
ly then when the rose du Barry had
been matched she suggested tea
“Well run right over to the Wal-
dorf— my car Is outside” But Lorelei
declined explaining lamely that she
' flld not care for public places
The dancer’s expression and tone
changed abruptly “I supposed you
Wbre like all the others”
“Well I’m not When I’m away
from the theater I try to forget It
t — hate the business”
The reply which came with sincere
feeling widened Lorelei’s eyes with
uncontrollable surprise
"Here too” said Adoree Demorest
quietly "Bflt I’m not allowed to for-
get It Our first meeting made me
think you were— out with banners I
was hired on that occasion to be
naughty What do you say to some
real tea at my house? Just you and
i r
Lorelei’s heart sank at the thought
of that gaudy machine outside but
there was an honest appeal In the
speaker’s eyes and moreover the
memory of her obligation rose to pre-
vent her from appearing ungfateful
“I’d be delighted” she falsified and
gurgling with appreciation Miss Dem-
orest hurried her toward the nearest
exit In the street however Adoree
paused and her next words showed
that she was not wanting In womanly
Intuition
“I shan’t Inflict you with a ride In
that circus wagon It’s all right for
me but— you’re one of the decent kind
If you have a reputation It won’t do
to parade It In a show case We’ll take
a taxi” Lorelei’s relief must have
been obvious for Adoree sped swiftly
to the corner then was back agtun
without the dog “If there’s anything
more conspicuous than a blonde with
a white poodle” Bhe explained “It's
two blondes with two poodles” Then
she flung herself Into the cab and
slammed the door -
"You must think I’m very rude” her
guest ventured
"Nothing of the sort I know Just
how you feel” Miss Demorest’s smile
was a trifle strained "Only— I’m aw-
fully lonesome and— I’ll take care that
nobody sees us” — ’
"Now I know I’ve been nasty” Lo-
relei felt her embarrassment growing
for this woman differed entirely from
what she had expected Underneath
the dancer’s extravagant tbeatricallsm
she appeared natural and unaffected
Adoree changed the current of the
conversation by saying: -
"I hope those bloodhounds get to
fighting”
“How— funny!” Lorelei was eying
the speaker with undisguised curiosity
“You’re not a Frenchwoman?”
"Agnes Smith Is the name Decent
by descent but an actress by adver-
tising What’s your game?”
“Um-m — My nose Is straight I don’t
limp so I’m an actress by force of fea-
ture” Both girls laughed unaffectedly
‘‘I like you” said the dancer “Do
you mind if I get out of this cast-iron
corset and Into a kimono when we get
home?”
“Have you a spare one?”
"Dozens but they’re not very clean”
"That’s lovhly And let’s make the
tea weak”
"Oh I can’t drink anything strong!
I’m an awful counterfeit”
“I’m beginning to think so I—
wonder If I’m dreaming”
The girls had much in common they
chattered continuously through the
short ride and when they alighted
from the taxicab they disputed over
the right to pay for It When the
guest was ushered Into Adoree’s apart-
ment she received another surprise
for the place was neither elaborate nor
showy It consisted merely of two
large comfortable rooms overlooking
a side street lined with monotonous
brownstone boarding houses
A battered teakettle was set to boll
over an absurd alcohol stove that re-
quired expert assistance to maintain
its equilibrium Adoree flung out of
her finery and donned a Japanese robe
offering another to Lorelei A plate
of limber crackers was unearthed
from somewhere also the disreputable
remains of a "box of marshmallows
“You Never Really Believed That King
Stuff Did You?”
and these latter Mademoiselle Demo-
rest toasted on a hatpin
“You’re the most extraordinary per-
son” her guest at length remarked
"Aren’t you going to show me your
Jewels or— anything like that?”
“You probably have better Jewels of
your own” carelessly replied Adoree
then she voiced a very tame and wom-
anly oath as a marshmallow dripped
Into the flames “Pickles! I spoiled
that one” ‘
“But'the cabochon rubles are real”
"Sure So la the ‘square toe’ who
brings ’em and takes ’em away so Is
the bond tjiat covers ’em Lordy but
they are pretty I”
“Then the king didn’t give them to
you?”
“My dear' I never saw a king— out-
side of a pinochle deck If I lost one
of those rubles the Malden Lane Shy-
lock who owns them would tear
enough curled hair out ef his beard to
fill a mattress You never really be-
lieved that king stuff did you?”
“Why yes” '
"I had no idea It worked so well”
Again Miss Demorest smiled crookedly
“No wonder you didn’t want to go to
the Waldorf with me I wonder you
consented to come here”
‘Your advance work Is great — ”
"I knew the public swallowed It but
I supposed the profession knew press
stuff when "they saw It I sang and
danced for ten years In this country
and never got better time than the
schuetzen parks and airdomes I was
Agnes Smith then Somehow I got the
price of a ticket to England and I
pulled the alrdome stuff that had
scored In Little Rock and Michigan
City and it got by somehow My
mother was a Canuck so I knew some
French and eventually I reached the
continent There I met the Old Nick
You may think the devil Is what he
looks like on the ham cans but in
reality he’s a little fat bald man with
a tenor voice and he eats cloves His
name Is Aubrey Lane He was In
Paris selling patent garters at the time
He saw me work at a cabaret and told
me I was good but not good enough
I’d known that for years sp he didn’t
hurt my feelings He confessed that
he was tired of working and intended
to have me make a lot of money for
him but warned me that he bad ex-
pensive tastes nnd I’d have to pay well
for the privilege He was right I did
But here I am In electric lights on
Broadway while he Is exercising a
wheeled chair at Atlantic City”
“He’s your manager?”
“He’s that very little thing He of-
fered to make me a star If- I’d allow him
to hitch his chariot to me— -on a share
of the gross There was one trifling sac-
rifice I had to make in the nature ot
my personal reputation — so he told me
He began by tying a can to the ‘Agnes
Smith and banded me ‘Adoree Demo-
rest’ Instead then he went to work
He really did work too although It
nearly killed him and he’s never done
anything since The king fable Is a
Joke on the other side but New York
swallowed It clear up to the sinker
and Aubrey gaffed the Palace Garden
management for a three years’ con-
tract Of course my advertised sal-
ary Is phony Just like the rubles and
the wrecked throne and that gilded
bandwagon with the poodles and the
stuffed supers on the box Aubrey
owns them all except the rubles which
he rents I’m billed as the most no-
torious woman In America and the
shred of reputation ' I nave left
wouldn’t make a necktie for a gnat
whereas In reality I love marshmal-
lows and tea much more than men
But I’m a star at the bead of my own
company and playing to sidewalk
prices Do you think It was a good
bargain?”
Lorelei had listened with breathless
Interest Now she burst out impul-
sively: ‘You poor dear”
Miss Smith smiled but her eyes
were tragic
“Sometimes I cry when I think
about It I— cry a good deal” said
she "I didn’t realize until too late
what It meant but you see I was
tired of working tired of ambition
and 1 wanted to come home Thank
God I have no people! I save all the
money I can and when I get enough
I’m going to take Agnes Smith out
of the moth-balls dust her off tenderly
and go to raising ducks”
“Ducks? What do you mean?”
"What I say That has always been
my ambition”
"Why not quit now?"
"What’s the use? I’m half way
through the Bwamp the mud Is as deep
behind as It is In front But I’m
deathly afraid all the time I’ll be
found out — I’d — rather be notorious
than ridiculous Of course Aubrey
sees to that"
"Are you fond of him?”
Adoree turned up her nose "He’s
a little pink rabbit I don’t like any
man and I never have There’s only
one I’d really care to meet his name
la Campbell Pope"
“The critic He la nice”
“The beast Did you read what he
said about me? - I’ll never rest until I
have a lock of his hair that I’ve
plucked myself I’d love to have his
whole scalp — with say one ear at-
tached — hanging on my bureau where
I could see It every morning when I
wake up Somehow I don’t seem to
mind the press stuff that Aubrey puts
out but Pope — actually believes what
he wrote And other people will be-
lieve it too I— I— Gosh! I’m going
to cry again"
Lorelei nodded In perfect sympathy
she did not laugh “I haven’t any girl
chum let’s be friends” said she
Adoree had been nibbling at marsh-
mallows as she talked as she wiped
her eyes now she left a smear of pow-
dered sugar on her cheek
“Pd love to — I’m Blmply bursting to
confide In somebody — but we couldn’t
go around together”
“Why? I don’t care what people
think”
‘You can’t afford to be reckless
We’re each playing our own game and
chasing the dollar in our own way
The men you met would make life un
Author of
'“The Iron Trail
- “The Spoilers
“The Silver Horde Etc
'
Ctffriiht Bj Hmrftr 0 Brukm '
bearable for you If they knew we were
pals Aubrey was right: a girl must
either be mighty good or mighty bad
In this business— or make people think
she Is which amounts to the same
thing You fiave had easy going be-
cause you’re known to be straight but
If you ever get into the papers watch
what will happen You'll have to light
You wouldn’t like that kind of fighting
either and— I’m not sure you could
stand it”
As Lorelei walked homeward that
afternoon Bhe felt an unaccustomed
warmth In her breast and realized that
she too bad been very lonely In the
city The certainty that she had made
a friend gladdened her heart She
looked forward with a thrill to the
morrow when she could see Adoree
again
During her absence Jim had returned
and departed but -a note was waiting
for her It had been brought by a mes-
senger and read:
“Things look bad I’m afraid we’ll
be Implicated too Better see your
brother quickly M”
CHAPTER IX
Lorelei was not a little mystified by
Merkle’s cryptic message for she
could imagine no possible way In
which she or the writer himself could
be connected discreditably with Jar-
vis Hammon's affair She gained some
light however when that evening she
read the note to Lilas
"Why they’re going to blackmail
Merkle too” Lilas exclaimed "Well
they’d be foolish to let him off
wouldn’t they?”
"So they think he’ll pay to keep his
name 'out of the papers?"
"Exactly And he will— for your
8ftk6i
“I won’t let him”
Lilas was surprised “WhyJ He’s
rich He wouldn’t miss a few thou-
sand” “You wouldn’t allow Mr Hammon
to be robbed would you?”
"Oh wouldn’t I? If he didn’t care
enough for me to protect me from
scandal I’d want to know it" -
“Lilas you puzzle me” confessed
Lorelei doubtfully ‘You say things
that make me think you don’t care
for him at all then again you seem
to be crazy about him How do you
feel? How far would you go with
him?”
Lilas laughed airily “Perhaps I’d
go farther with him than for him He
asked me to marry him If his wife
gets a divorce and I agreed Now that
he has come to the pqlnt Pm sorry
things happened Just as they did A
woman must look out for herself — no
man will ever help her It’s worth
some notoriety to become Mrs Jarvis
Hammon”
Something In the speaker’s words
rang false but Just what that some-
thing was Lorelei could not decide
"Then you’d like to see the story
made public?” she queried
“Naturally”
"I dare say If I loved a man I’d
want him at any price but I— hope I’m
not going to be dragged Into this mat-
ter" "My dear you have a family they
can make Merkle do the right thing
by yoa He could be made to pay at
least and you'll be Borry If you don’t
get something out of him Just wait
and see what ft difference the story
makes with your other men friends”
During the ensuing performance Lo-
relei pondered her friend’s disquieting
prophecy yet she could see no reason
for grave apprehension Publicity of
the kind threatened would of course
be disagreeable but how It could seri-
ously affect her was not apparent
Later In the evening Robert Whar-
ton appeared as usual and bo resent-
ful was he at the deceptions previously
practiced upon him that Lorelei with
difficulty escaped a scene At last he
planted himself in the hallway wtiere
he remained throughout the perform-
ance — a gloomy watchful figure Lo-
relei came down boldly dressed for
the street and since she could not pass
the besieger crossed under the stage
made her way Into the orchestra pit
and managed to leave the theater by
the front door
She was waiting when Jim came
home and followed him Into bis room
where they could talk without disturb-
ing their father Lorelei made her ac-
cusation boldly prepared for the usual
burst of anger but Jim listened pa-
tiently until she paused
“I knew you bad to spill this so I
let you rave” said he "But It’s too
late somebody has been after Ham-
mon for a long time and he’s been
got — yes and got good Take a flash
at the ‘Chorus Girl’s Bible” He
tossed his sister a copy of a prominent
theatrical paper “I waited until It
came out”
Lorelei gasped for on the front page
glared black-typed headlines of the
Hammon scandal John Merkle’s name
was there too and linked with It her
own
“What Is— this?” She ran her eye
swiftly down the column
"Sure Melcher commenced suit
against Hammon tills afternoon Fifty'
thousand dollars for alienation of Li-
las’ affections Joke eh? He claims
there was -a common-law marriage and
he’ll get the coin”
“But Mrs Hammon?”
“The evidence is in her hands al-
ready— dates places photographs ev-
erything She’ll win her suit too”
“Were you by any chance working
for Mrs Hammon?”
Divining his sister’s prejudice Jim
lied promptly and convincingly “Why
Mrs Hammon of course I had a
chance to turn a few dollars and I
took It”
“But why did you drag me In?
Couldn’t you keep me put of It? This
Is dreadful” As she ran her eye over
the" article she saw that it was quite
In harmony with the general tone and
policy of the paper which catered to
the jaded throngs of the Tenderloin
Truth had been cunningly distorted
flippancy sensationalism and a sala-
cious double meaning ran through It
all
“What’s dreadful about it?” inquired
her brother “That sort of advertising
does a show-girl good You’ve got to
make people talk about you sis and
this’ll bring a gang of high rollers your
way You’ve been so blamed proper
that nobody's Interested in you any
more”
For a moment Lorelei scrutinized
her brother in Bllence taken aback at
his outrageous philosophy Jim had
changed greatly she mused not until
very lately had she observed the full
measure of the change in him He was
no longer the country boy the play-
mate and confidant of her youth but a
man sophisticated hard secretive He
bad been thoroughly Manhattanlzed
she perceived and he was as foreign
to her as a stranger She shook her
head hopelessly
“You’re a strange brother” she said
“I hardly know what to make of you
Has the city killed every decent in-
stinct in you Jim?"
“Now don’t begin on the Old Hqme
stuff” he replied testily' “Do you
really Intend to marry a bunch of
coin?”
“That’s the program Isn't it? I’ve
been raised for that and nothing else”
“Well ma can’t put It over so I
gues& It’s up to me” After a moment
he added “Would you accept Merkle?”
Lorelei shivered “Oh — nol Not Mr
Merkle”
“Humph 1 You ought to consider the
rest of us a little bit Pa could be
cured ma’d be happy I could get on
my feet How about Bob Wharton?'
“Let’s not talk about It please Mr
Wharton is getting nasty and— I’m be-
ginning to be afraid of him”
“I’ll bet you could land him—”
"Please I— don’t want to think
about It I dare say I’ll bring myself
to marry some rich man some day
but — Merkle — Wharton—” She shud-
dered for a second time “If Mr
Wharton Is serious this scandal will
scare him off or else he’ll become —
just like the others I could cry He
threatened me tonight I don’t know
how I’ll manage to avoid him tomor-
row night”
“Hm-ml He’s coming that strong
eh?” was Jim’s Interested query but
on hearing his sister’s account of the
young millionaire’s determined pursuit
he volunteered in his offhand way to
assist her
“I’ll come for you myself and we’ll
whip over to a cafe for supper”
“You’ll save me from him” said Lo-
relei with a wan smile "and I’ll know
that you are In good company for one
evening at least”
“Don’t lose any sleep over my hab-
its” he told her lightly
As Jim and his mother breakfasted
together on the following morning he
broached the subject of his recent con-
versation with Lorelei
"She’s sore about the story" he
Bald “We had a long talk last night”
"I knew she would be and I’m not
sure It was a good thing”
“We’il drag something out of It if
you do your part Merkle will pay
Don’t mention money — nothing but
marriage — understand? Outraged
motherhood ruined daughter blasted
career — that’s yours I’ll be the broth-
er who's lq the position of a father to
her I can threaten but you mustn’t
Goldberg will close for us”
“I don’t see why we have to divide
with a lawyer when It’s our affair and
we can handle It ourselves” his mother
complained
“I tell you It’s got to go through the
regular channels- This was Melcher’s
idea and since I’m In on the Ham-
mon money Max Is entitled to his bit
of this Gee! If she'd only told us
he was going oat with MerUf w$
might have framed something worth
while — I don't mind telling you this la
a pretty weak case”
“Wouldn’t he marry her?”
"Not a chance In the first place
she wouldn’t have him Bob Whartoa
Is the whltl hope”
“She hates him too Goodness
knows what we're going to do with
her”
“I think she’ll stand for Wharton If
we work her right it’s him or nobody
She’s getting harder to handle every
day though and one of these times
she’ll fall for Borne rummy If she
ever does lose her bead She'll skid for
the ditch and we can kiss ourselves
goodby She’ll be as easy to steer as
a wild boar by the tall I guess you’re
sorry now that you didn’t listen to me
and let Max handle her before she got
wise”
“I wouldn’t feel safe with any of
that crowd Pd be terribly afraid”
Mrs Knight shook her head dubiously
“Say I She’B got yog doing It too
Why they don’t take a chance Gold-
berg handles the legal end and his
brother Is In the legislature But that’s
not all: Melcher's partner In his gam-
bling house Is Inspector Snell You
can’t beat that”
“Just the same I’m frightened — and
this Isn’t honest I wish she would
listen to Robert Wharton”
James winked meaningly “Leave
that to me She’s going to Proctor’s
with' me tonight Maybe he’ll Join us
But meanwhile we’ve got Merkle for
some quick money if we work him
right I’m off for Goldy’s office now
I’ll meet you at three”
When Jim appeared dressed for the
street be gave a bit of parting advice:
“Better lay on the hysterics when
she wakes up It’ll make It easier for
me tonight”
Lorelei found her mother visibly up-
set -by the story In the morning’s
newspaper
“You told me you only went to sup- '
per with that man” Mrs Knight cried
trhglcally “Instead of that you two
were off in the country together all
night Here's the whole thing” She
brandished the paper dramatically
"Well I told you a fib But there's
no harm done”
“Harm indeed? You’re ruined I
never read anything more disgraceful
I daren’t show It to Peter— it would
kill him! What ever possessed you
after the way we’ve watched over you
after the care we’ve taken of you?
It’s terrible"
“Why mother! You’re more Insult-
ing than that newspaper The career
of a show-girl is something of a Joke”
Lorelei undertook to laugh but the at-
tempt failed rather dismally
"Indeed What will the other men
say? You had a ‘character nobody
could Bay a word against you until
now Do you think any decent man
would marry a girl who did a thing
like this? Of course I know you’re a
good girl but they don’t and they'll
believe absolutely the worst You’re
spoiled everything my dear Pm com-'
pletely discouraged" Mrs Knight be-
gan to weep In a weak heart-broken
manner expecting Lorelei to melt as
usual but seeing something In her
daughter’s expression that warned her
not to carry her reproaches too far she
broke out: ‘You’re so hard so unrea-
sonable Don’t you see Pm frantla
with worry? You’re all we have and
— and the thought of an Injury to your
prospects nearly kills me You ml
understand everything I say I— wish
you were safely married and out of
danger I think I could die happy then
“I Wish I Were Married and Out of
the Way”
It means so much to all of us to have
you settled right away Peter Is fall-
ing every day Jim Is going to the dogs
and — I’m sick over it all"
“I wish I were married and out ot
the way You would all be fixed at
least I— don’t much care about my-
self” Lorelei sighed in hopeless wear-
iness of spirit for variations of this
scene had been common of late and
they always filled her with the black-
est pessimism
Does It occur to you that Ado-
ree “the moat vicious woman on
the stage” will show what a
really fine character she Is by
getting Lorelei out of the
clutches of her greedy cold-
blooded mother snd away front
the rottenness of the young girl’s
present life?
CTO BK CONTI NUSUi
ft
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Whitmore, W. H. & Whitmore, Ernest L. The Lehigh News. (Lehigh, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 26, 1917, newspaper, April 26, 1917; Lehigh, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc1745376/m1/3/?q=virtual+music+rare+book: accessed June 4, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.