PHOTO PLAY EDITION THE BEAUTIFUL ^LOAK MODEL \ A NOVEL FOUNDED ON OWEN DAVIS' FAMOUS MELODRAMA AND MOTION PICTURE. NOVELIZED BY Grace Miller [White A GOLDWYN PICTURE f J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY, 67 ROSE STREET. NEW YC*K CO O NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL A THRILIING STORY Pounded Upon Owen Da^is' Famous Me,lo$r,ama and Motion Picture of; tl\ei Swe Name NOVELIZED BY GRACE MILLER WHITE Novelize* of "Driven From Home," "Human Hearts," "From Hags to Biches," "Queen of the White Slaves," "When Women Love," "How Hearts Are Broken," "The House of Mystery," Ruled Off the Turf," "Secrets of the Police," "A Marked Woman," "A Eaee Across the Continent," "The Great Express Robbery," "Deadwood Dick's Last Shot," "Since Nellie Went Away,* "Convict 999," etc. A GOLDWYN PICTURE ' COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY fj. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK: S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY 57 ROSE STREET Keep Them Clean* Healthy and Beautiful:. Use tKis Hygienic and Convenient Method Night and Morning MURINE s delightfully Refreshing after Reading, Sewing, Motoring and all out* door activities* It's good for the Eyes does not contain any harmful ingredients* T-L CD L 1? r 1/115 DOOR free! Ourattractivelyillustratedbook/'Beauty Lies Within the Eyes," tells how to prop- care * r ? our Eyes, Brows, Lashes ^^ enhance their beauty* Send for a copy of this helpful book. It's free. The Murine Co* Dcpt.85 9 E. Ohio Street, Chicago Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model CHAPTER I. IT was the night beforeM^hfistmas/ and the stores were filled with 'alhthingsljo make: ; ihe lit- tle hearts of small children beat the faster, when two little figures could be seen trudging through the snow toward their home. The girl was the taller of the two, and she clung to the hand of the boy, who worked his little legs vigorously to keep up with the rapid gait of the girl. The wind tossed the curls which rested upon the broad white brow of Nellie Grey, and once in a while she lifted her mitted fingers and brushed them away impatiently. Suddenly the boy spoke : "Nellie, do you think really and truly that Santa Glaus will come to-night. " "3 05' 16 4 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. "Yes, I think he. will really and truly come,** was the response. After another block was traversed he spoke again : "Who is Santa Glaus, Nellie?" "He is God," replied Nellie, reverently, "and He only loves good little boys and girls." "And ain't I good, Nellie?" ventured the boy, looking longingly into the white face above him. "Ve^good." r ,if j "Then. God, .will climb down our chimney^ wori'l 'He, 'fo-taglit ? ' ; " The girl nodded, with a sickening throb at her heart. She had always believed devoutly in the goodness of God, and that some day they would have the necessaries of life. For years she had watched this little cousin, whom she loved as a brother, grow up beside her. She had denied herself everything to give to him, and her small salary had gone to keep the bread of life not only in her own mouth and the small boy's, but in that of her uncle, father of little Tom. She could not remember the time that the man had not been full of liquor, nor could she bring to her young mind any day she had not * NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEU 5 ^worried for fear the drunken brute would harm the child. She did not fear for herself, for ste had a manner with which she quelled her uncle's drunken moods, especially when he threatened her ; but all through the day she had to be from home, and then her thought dwelt with the child she loved. He was all she had to love in the world, all that had been given to her starving little heart. How much she would have given to be able to fill the small stocking with goodies for Christmas, but her wee bit of money dwin- dled down to almost nothing each week before she dared to take out even five cents for Christ- mas purchases. But hidden away in her small drawer she had an orange, some candy animals, and a horse that fiercely turned its head if a string was pulled. This she knew would give Tom delight, and the throb at her heart lessened when she .thought of it. She had also gotten him a pair * of bright red mittens like those of another boy Tom knew and had envied. As they hurried along Nellie Grey's thoughts flew on before her to the boarding-house which lad been their shelter for two years. She had g NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL, grown accustomed to it and to calling it home,, but to-night, somehow, it seemed less so than ever before. She was growing into a young lady, and other girls with their merry chatter about home and friends sent her mind in search of the mother she had never seen nor heard much about. Her uncle had always told her that he did not even know her mother; that she had been deserted when a mere baby, and he had cared for her since her birth. He had told her that it was now her turn to care for him. Bit- terly the girl turned her eyes from a small lad dragging at his mother's hand, insisting that lie should look into the window. "But, son," argued the mother, "it is getting dark, and father will be waiting; and then, too, 75 " she finished with a final argument, " Santa Glaus- cannot come down the chimney if you are awake, you must remember. " Tighter than before the girl held the boy's hand. She did not want him to notice, as she had, how beautifully the other little boy was dressed. The tiny red leggins and the fur cap caught Tom's eye . i "fl-ee, but that boy is a dandy!" he said a5 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL, CLOAK MODS!,. 7 miringly. "Why, Nellie, lie's got a real eat* skin on his cap. ' ' "Not catskin, dear/' replied the girl; "some other kind. But, there, Tommy must keep his little lips closed, or he will have croup to-night. " There was no more said after this until they turned off from Third avenue, and into the shabby house they called home. Nellie's heart swelled with youth and almost happiness as she sniffed the warm air and smelled the biscuits. At any rate, Tommy would have enough to eat, if Christmas should be scan- ty. And to the girl used to hard work and little to eat this brought comfort. She washed Tommy's face and made herself rea we have to bear in this world when we have laved ones ! My little boy has been here in this bed for weeks, but if God is willing he will be home by the New Year. What happened to your brother?" "He fell downstairs," replied Nell, with tightened lips. "He is worse than I thought he was." Her eyes were still on Tom's face, the tears raining down her cheeks. "He has not been able to say one word to me," she sobbed. "I fear his brain is injured." "Let us hope not," was the answer, and Nell turned away. She stood over Tom but a moment longer, and with a breaking heart started for home. In the office below she saw the young physician who had been sx> kind to her the night before. "You saw him?" asked the official, keeping his eyes away from the white, drawn face. "Yes, but he is so ill. He will never get well, for he did not say one word to me." NBLJJE, THE BEAUTIFUL. CLOAK MODEL. 3J_ 4 * That's no sign that he won't get better," was the reply. "You see, my dear young lady, the boy has had a severe accident, and you must remember that his brain is affected. ' ' Nell could hear no more. She walked with filling eyes to the car, and when she reached the boarding-house her brain was filled with a de- sire to make the brute who had caused the mis- ery suffer as that tiny child was. The first one she accosted was her uncle. "You've seen him?" he asked. Nell nodded. She could not trust herself to :speak. "Is he sick, or just playing up?" This was too much for the girl's harassed heart to bear. She turned like an animal upon him. ' * Playing up ! " she said. ' ' Playing up ! Poor little man ! If you had any heart you would go and see him, and if you do I hope th#t you will be so filled with remorse that you will never get over it. Do you hear? I hope you will go to your grave with that sick little face so im- pressed upon your brain that you will think of nothing else. If he dies you and I will part for- 32 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. ever. I shall never give you another penny as long as you live, with the exception of paying your board in this house as long as the child is ' alive. I shall keep the threat over you that you killed him, and if you ever mistreat me or him I shall lodge the complaint against you, remem- ber that." "Such grand language," muttered Bedford, as the girl ceased speaking. "One would think that you brought yourself up." "I did," replied Nell, stolidly; "and little Tom also. I have at last had my eyes opened to the manner in which you have treated us. Never speak of the benefits I have derived from you again." She was at the foot of the stairs now as these words were spoken, and if Mrs. McTish could have heard and seen the majesty of Nellie Grey at that moment she would have thought the girl was more of an empress. Bedford turned away in disgust. His niece had never acted that way to him before. But he hoped that Tom would grow better and that Nell would come down from her high horse. Nell spent the day alone, thinking of the fu- w u Q o o - w u w H a h NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. 33 ture. Never had she been so alone as now, and never had the thought of a mother so enthralled her. She wanted to be with a woman, that she might pour out her tired heart upon a friendly breast But where to find out anything about her parents was more than she could tell. She had no money to advertise with and none to pay detectives. And then a dreadful thought flashed into her mind. What if her mother should not want her? What if she should be rich, with lets of money and a beautiful home. Then, of course, she, Nellie Grey, the cloak model, would sot be tolerated in such a place. She walked to the looking-glass and looked at the mirrored face. Every girl where she worked was jealous f her. Not one of all her companions was will- ing to tell her she was beautiful, but Nellie Grey knew that, comparing herself with the others, she was more beautiful. Then, too, all the men, even to the proprietor of the store, thought her lovely, and how many tknes, when she walked through the place, she had noted that all eyes were turned upon her. Would not her mother be glad if she were pretty end well-formed? 34 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. But this thought of her beauty faded from her mind, and again she lived over the hospital scene. Little Tom seemed to her to be doomed to the grave. If he should die, Nell had deter- mined what her future course should be. She had never been permitted to go to school. If left alone she would apply to some good per- son to give her a chance to study, and she would look her last upon her uncle and his kind. Life would give her something besides that awfal grind ; but if Tom lived well, then she would have to stay just as she was, for she would not dare to leave the feeble little cripple to his fath- er, for now Nell knew that Tom would always be bent in his little back and would never use Ms legs rightly again. She did not go down to dinner, feeling too ill, but the kindly landlady sent her up some turkey and a cup of tea. Nell dragged, through a miser- able night, and was glad when the daylight peeped in at the window, for she would, at t feast, soon hear the chatter of the girls at the store, and that would take her mind from the Christmas tragedy. 2SEIJUE, THE BBAUTIPUL CLOAK MODEL* 35 'CHAPTER HI. .for another room, on Christmas Day, a seene directly opposite to thai of little Tom's fall and Nell's grief was being enacted. An elderly woman, although looking more so than her years warranted, was seated in a Fifth avenue man- sion. The outside blizzard seemed not to affect her at all, for she sat looking into the grate fire with a studied expres-sion, as if her mind was far away from her world, somewhere back in the past. {^e was evidently waiting for some one, for one in a while she would start up as a cab rolled by, then she would sink again into her reverie. * At last she roused herself and greeted a young man who came breezily in, bringing with him the smell of outside air and flakes of snow upon his coat. "Well, aunt, isn*t this a typical Christmas gg NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. Day!" he asked, as the servant came forward to take his overgarment and hat. He stooped and kissed the faded cheek, some- ;what wrinkled and devoid of powder or rouge. "I was not thinking of the day," was the re- ply, as the woman waved her hand in the direc- tion of a chair for him to seat himself. "I was wondering what you would think if I should tell you the story of my life. It is not such a pleas- ant one, but I thought you were fond enough of me to aid in a search I am determined to begin." Walter Hilton eyed his aunt critically. He had never heard her speak just like that before never. To what was she alluding? He leaned forward and took her hand in his. "My dear aunt, you know that I am always willing to help you. Have I ever failed in my duty to you ! I would be a hound were I to do go, for you have always been so kindly generous tome!" "But would you feel like helping me if you knew that my money would not go to you upon my death!" For a moment the young fellow hesitated, and then stuttered : NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. 37, "You have no one you love like me, have you, that would be as grateful to receive from you as I!" He said this with a catch in his voice. For a moment the woman was silent Then she spoke: "I am not so sure." * ' Then why have you not told me of it before 1 I have been taught the habits of luxury, and you certainly have not misled me purposely, have you?" "God forbid that I should do such a thing," said the woman. "As it is, I am working blindly." "Then tell me what you mean," insisted Wal- ter, in an agitated manner. "I will surely help you if lean." "Before I married your uncle," began Mrs. Horton, looking into the fire with an expression of pain at a memory, "my father and I lived alone together. I was a beautiful girl, and my father insisted that I should make. my future by marrying a rich man. But alas ! I fell deeply in love with a poor young man and he with me, and we were secretly married. When my father 38 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL, heard of it he tore me from my husband's arms- and took me far away. When my child was bom (here Walter Hilton started violently) that, too, was taken from me, and then I was told that my husband was dead and that my child had been given into the care of a brother of its father's, He was a disreputable fellow, and I have never been able to locate him. If my child is alive and that is what I must ascertain then she is my natural heir, as you know. If she is dead., which I pray not, then, of course, your prospects are the same as before. The uncertainty of my daughter's fate is killing me, and I ask you, for the sake of my peace of mind, that you will help me find her." Inside the breast of the nephew there was a storm raging. He had never known poverty. His slightest wish had been gratified. But if this girl were to be found, then he would haye to go to work, the same as if he had never known the rese of money. He had never had such a predicament staring him in the face. And yet ke was being asked to put himself in the shoes of a pauper for a girl who really had no right to the money. NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL GLQAK MODEL. 39 His aunt was waiting for his reply, and was also looking keenly at him. "You know, aunt," he said at last, "that I am only too willing to aid in this search ; but it is a hard one, after all these years are gone by. The child may be dead." 1 ' And may not be, ' ' was the laconic reply. * ' I at least intend to find out, and if you will put forward every effort, then your allowance wilt be the same as ever " "And if not?" broke in Walter. "Then I shall cut you off. I am decided to find that child if it is possible." * ' Then count upon me, J ' said Walter, ' ' to help you all I can. I do not say that I shall be able to locate her, but I will promise to give you such aid as I can and put able men upon her trail. ' ' "Then I am happier now," replied the wom- an; "and to-morrow I shall give you a check to start with, and you are to call for more if you need it." During the sumptuous dinner there was little said, for neither aunt nor nephew wanted to talk. But after the young man had gone the again took up her position before the 40 NELLJE, THE BEAUTIFUL, CLOAK MODEL. grate. She could go back in her mind to those days when she had been happy for a few short months with her child's father. Then came the specter of her parting from him, and the birth of her baby. Her father had made her marry Mr. Horton because he was a millionaire. She had not known the little child long enough to care for it as a mother should, and, being a little weak, had acquiesced to her father's decision that she should never search. It had only been during the last few years that she had raised from her lethargic spirit enough to long for the little girl. But how to proceed with it she did not know. She was startled by the sound of the door opening again and her nephew's footstep upon the hall floor. "I came back, aunt," said he, standing with ILIS hat in his hand, "to ask if you knew the name of the man who took charge of the child after she was taken from you?" "Yes," replied Mrs. Horton; "his name is [William Bedford, and they said at that time that he was bad. My father hated the child, and made it impossible for me to*ever get her." "I wondered, after I was gone, how I was to NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. 4J proceed. Maybe if the man still knows of the ,-child and her whereabouts he will for a good sum of money give up his information. That is \ the way to proceed, don't you think so?" J Mrs. Horton nodded and drew her nephew down to kiss his face, which he bore with bad inward grace. He loathed the task she had given him to do, and all that was bad in his na- ture cried out against the unknown girl who might come into the wealth he had so long thought of as his. He went out again, and dowa the street, forgetting to call a cab. His aunt's horses were always at his disposal, but his fa- vorite had received a blow on one leg from a stone, and he had ordered the coachman to keep the animal in the stable. As he stumbled along he was thinking deeply. "That such a thing should come up just at this time. That she should have overlooked this girl all through these years, and when she is on the verge of the grave then bring her forward to disinherit me. What shaft I do if she does find her ? I might marry the girl, but that would naise a row with Hoxtense. But I simply eamnot . without money, and I wiH not give up 42 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. Hortense. But there, the girl may be dead, for all I know. I'll go and see the only girl in all the world for me and tell her all about it. She has more brains than half the men." So, saying this, he called a cab, and, giving the driver /the number, sank back in the corner to think. He was ushered into a small but elegant little flat by a beautiful woman, who gave him a hear- ty kiss and took his coat. "I thought you were never coming," said she, as she followed him into the parlor. "I have waited and looked out of the window so long that I am tired and cold." "My aunt kept me, Hortense," he said, draw- ing her to his knee, "I have something to tell you that will be a surprise." "What is it! Is she dead?" The dark eyes brightened and the color raB red in the smooth cheeks. "No, worse luck! She has a finicky mind, that woman has. What story do you think she told me to-day?" "I haven't the slightest idea." "That before she married my uncle she was NJSLLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. 43 married to another man, and that she had a child, which was taken from her at its birth, and she is determined to find it." 6 ' What rot ! ' ' ejaculated Hortense. * * Yon can \certainly turn her from any such an idea. Be- Asides, perhaps the child is dead. No telling." "I said that to her this afternoon, but she was as stubborn as a mule, and said she would never be satisfied until she knew, and in polite words insisted that I should help her find the girl, or give up my allowance, which I never could do." "Of course not," replied Hortense, and then there was silence for a few moments. At last the woman spoke : "Have you no way or plans to find her?" "Yes. I know the name of the man she was given to. It is William Bedford." "What!" screamed Hortense. She had risen to her feet with wide, staring eyes. Her hands trembled and she sank back in her seat. \ ' ( Hortense, what is the matter ? Do you know himt" "Do I know him? Well, I should think I do, and I know also that the girl he is passing off as 44 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL, CLOAK MODEL. his niece is the lost daughter of your aunt. I have never thought her any relation to that man." Walter Hilton rose to his feet. Here before him was the woman the one being he loved who was to unravel the mystery of the lost girl who would take from him his right to his aunt's wealth. "Tell me," he said hesitatingly, "have you seen the girl?" "Have I seen her?" muttered Hortense. "I ^work with her every day. Her name is Nellie Grey, and I have always hated her since the day she came into the store, and now I know why." "Do you mean, Hortense, that this girl is with a man of that name William Bedford?" Hortense nodded and leaned expectantly upon: her hand. "If that old woman finds out that this girl is her daughter you may kiss that fortune good- bye, for she is a beauty. Even I hate her !" "Which, I am very sure, is foolish, my dear Hortense," soothed Walter; "for she could not, if she were as beautiful as an angel, hold a can- dle to you. There, now, tell me all about her." NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. ^ "She is one of the cloak models there at Fish- er's. I tried to keep her down in the packing- room, but old Fisher, before he died, insisted that she be brought to the model department, and I have hated her every moment since. She is beautiful, and that is why I hate her. ' ' Walter Hilton eyed her strangely, for he had never seen her so affected before. "And another thing," she went on petulantly, "if you should see her you would in all proba- bility fall in love with her, and that would be worse than losing the fortune. ' ' Her eheeks were so red, and the love-light so strong in her eyes, that the man leaned over and kissed her passionately. "Hortense, I, too, would rather lose that money than your love. I see many beautiful women, but none like you. We are facing the first tragedy in our lives. If I am cut off with a shilling I don't know what will come of me. I only know that I love you." "What are you going to do about that girl give her over to her mother?" "I suppose so," he replied moodily. 46 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL, CLOAK MODEL,. "Then you are a greater fool than I took you for." Again he leaned over and looked into her face. Of what was she thinking? He could not tell. *He was not yet old in the ways of the world, and his love for this one beautiful creature had kept him from searching experience. But he had not dared to tell his aunt that he loved the head- woman in a department store, however beauti- ful she might be, for he knew that his relative had great thought of blue blood and wanted him to make a good match. The two were only waiting for the aunt to die, when Hortense had been promised that she should reign on Fifth avenue. "You do not mean that I should " "I mean just this," put in Hortense. "If you give that Nellie into my position, the one I should rightly hold, and give her a chance to spend the money you have always expected to have, then you are, as I said, a greater fool than ~L thought you to be." "But I promised her " ' < Well, what if you dMt Does that mean that you should keep your word'? Are you expected NELLJE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. 47 to find her in twenty minutes, the girl you thought, and she thought, might be dead! ' ' Just keep still, unless you think it better to put the girl out of the way." .Walter rose to his feet, and his face whitened. ^ * ' t What do you mean, Hortense ? " he breathed. 6 'Only this," and the dark eyes flashed with spirit, "Nellie Grey would not be the first girl to be gotten rid of " "Yon do not mean to murder her?" broke in Hilton. "No; but there are more ways than one to foar her from her mother's arms. Do you think your aunt would take an outcast from the street?" "No." ; "Not even if she were her own daughter?" ; "No." "Then make her an outcast, with my help. She is only a girl, who loves that little cousin of hers to distraction. I saw him at the store yes- terday. With my help she can be made to wish! she were dead, and I hare an idea that stoe would kill herself rather than Kve in foe path we might start her ooa." 48 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL (3LOAK MODEL. The man shuddered. He was receiving his first lessens in cruelty from the woman he loved far beyond anything in the world. ' i She might not be so easily led as you think, ' * he said in a hoarse voice. "She is beautiful, you say, and yet earns an honest living in a store?" "Yes; but, like all girls, if she lost that posi- tion, she would seek help from some one. ' ' "Is it in your power to send her away?" "Yes." "And you will do it?" "Yes; because, as I said before, I hate her worse than any living creature. ' ' "And this will not increase your liking for her," said the man, with a coarse laugh. "I should think not; and I can safely say to you that you need not worry about your arcnt finding out about that girl, for she shall be sent far from her, both in distance and in position." For a long time they sat talking and planning over the future of Nellie Grey. Hortense had G&mceived in her heart such a bitter hatred for the girl that she could not think of a plot bad enough to vent fier anger upon her almost help- ^ NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. 4C> less v victim, for poor Nellie Grey was helpless just at that time. The blizzard at that moment was raging louder and louder, and the rnuch- talked-of girl, the beautiful cloak model, was making her way home from the hospital in which lay the child of her heart, the little boy idel that her loneliness had enshrined in her soul for the past few years. NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. CHAPTER IV. SOME four weeks after this, during whicH time Nellie Grey had become the persecuted of Hortense Drake, little Tom was brought home frvm the hospital, but a wreck of his former self. He had lost the bright red cheeks, the luster of the eye, and the youth which is ever on one of Ms age. Nell thought he resembled a little old 3nan as she took him in her arms and allowed iis head to rest upon her shoulder. "Tom is glad to be back home, isn't he?" she asked, softly smoothing back the damp hair from the fair brow. "Very glad, cousin," replied Tom; "but sorry for one reason. I kuow I shall be such a dreadful burden to you. And then, too, father will try to mate you give him money through me, and you will, Nell." The girl shook her head. KEL&IE, THE BEAWIPUi- CSjOAK MODEL. 5 **I don't think he will bobber me much," said she^ looking out of the window and not into the konest eyes of little Tom. "You see, he is rather afraid of me, and I hold over him the threat that if he is bad to you and me, then I will inform 'the police just how wicked he is." "And tell them that he threw me down- stairs?" inquired Tom. " Yes, " nodded Nell. "Then you can keep your money, can't you, Nell!" went on Tom, delightedly, "if he does not dare ask for it?" "I sha'n't have much to keep, darling," said the girl, moodily, "for you know that to pay the board of three people is not a light thing. But I can work better now that you are home, and you will walk a little every day upon your she said that the girl was beautiful, and the heart of Walter Hilton almost stopped beating when he thought how near his aunt was to dis-^ covering her own. But no word of his should! open the secret, for he knew that he would not only lose his independence, but Hortense would be lost to him forever. "I am satisfied that you should look for my little girl," replied the aunt; and then she turned to Nellie Gray, and Walter went to seat himself within speaking distance of Hortense. ' ' She is beautiful, ' ' he said in an undertone, "very beautiful. If my aunt should for a mo- meaat think that that girl was her own she would make a new will to-morrow." They were behind one of the small cloak clos- ets whfle they were thus speaking. "I told you that at first," replied Horten&e, sulkily; "and I will tell you right now that 1 am not stuck upon hearing you call her beauti- ful. That she is, is well enough, but from your lips well, it drives me crazy, that is all." A cEsturbance in the model room brought Hortense to view, followed by Walter. 66 What's the matter?" asked the forewoman NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL, CLOAK MODEL. 57 of a man bringing an armful of lothes down upon tlie floor with a bang. "I thought I told you to-day that if you were careless any more I would discharge you. ' ' i ' So you did, ma'am, ' ' replied the man. ' ' But I've found out that you ain't got everything here your own way, or Miss Nellie and I wouldn't be here now, and you know it." With this he turned and was about to pick up his burden again, when the forewoman, with a terrible expression in her eyes, said: "See here, don't you sass me* I'm going to the superintendent this very night. Why, ma'am" and Hortense turned to Mrs. Horton, glad of a chance to say something detrimental to Nellie "this man is without common sense. He has been spoiled by Miss Grey there, the young lady waiting upon you. * If she had been a true lady at heart she would not have noticed such a fellow." The cloak dropped from Nellie's fingers. She lifted her head proudly. " I do not deny that I tried to be good to Ike, ' ' she said simply, "for he needed a friend, and I Jjg NBL&IE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. !kaow bow it seems to be friendless," and the tears gathered slowly in lier eyes. "Mrs. Horton does not wish to hear ynr troubles/' replied Hortense, "so please beep silent." "You began the discussion, my dear young lady," replied the rich woman reprovingly. 4 ' This young model was paying strict attention to her business when you attacked her, and she had a perfect right to speak up in her own de- fense." These kind words swept over Nellie's heart like sun over a snow-frozen mountain, waiming and bringing light into a poor little tortured heart. She sank down upon the floor and sobbed out her weariness, while no one seemed inclined to try and stop hei*. Little Tom slipped from his place behind a pile of clothing and sat down be- side her. He tenderly placed his lips upon the fingers covering the weeping eyes. Nell peeped out at him through her tears and clasped him to A her heart. "If it were not for you, Tom," she cried, "I ;would want to die. You have picked upon me NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. 59. every day for five weeks," she said, looking at Hartense, "and I cannot see the reason. I try to do my work well, and you know 1 cannot stop work long enough to find another position." "Well not discuss the matter before the cus- tomer, Miss Grey," said Hortense, "but I will have it out with you to-morrow, or before you go away to-night. Finish your sale, for the lady is' waiting." Walter had seen this, and for a moment, as he aw Nellie weeping upon the floor, a touch of 'Sympathy went through his heart for her. But frhen he thought what she would do against his prospects it vanished, and he followed Horten.se lo the back of the store, irrespective of the fact /hat his aunt's eyes were upon him. He would eH her, if she questioned him afterward, that lie had followed the woman to argue against her Mistreatment of the young model, to whom he ^ouW see tlrat Ms aunt had taken a strong liking. "You want to be careful, Hortense," he said \raraingiy. "Ton went a little too far with that thing that time. You know yon must Bot do anything to arouse in my aunt a sympa&y for this girl," $0 NELLIE, THE BEAimFUL CLOAK MODEL. "Do you want to undertake the matter, then?" she asked insolently, looking into his face with a glitter in her eyes. * ' You may think it an easy thing to get along here with that girl. Every one in the whole store loves her, even to the porter ; he would give his life for her. And that stupid little Polly actually waits upon the girl morning, noon and night." "That's because she is beautiful," replied Walter, meditatively. "I told you not to say that to me again," re- plied the girl. "I cannot bear such words from your lips. Are you sickening of your bargain to get rid of her?" "No, indeed not," answered Walter Hilton, looking upon his sweetheart in a new light. He had not imagined that she could be so lacking in womanly spirit. He would have liked a little less of the desire in Hortense to see Nellie Grey suffer. There was something about the beauti- ful young cloak model that drew the man's wick- ed heart toward her, and if it had not been for his love for Hortense he would have gone to his aunt and made a full confession and taken NelKe Orey into her rightful home. He almost felt k NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL. CLOAK MODEL. g^ that such a woman would make a great change in the life of a man like him. Hortense had made in him only a desire to see the sporting side of life. This girl, Nellie Grey, had made him wish that he were a better man when he had looked upon her dejected little body upon the floor and had seen the small boy kiss away the tears from between her fingers. Then he remembered his love for Hortense. Of course, there was no other woman in all the world for him. He would destroy Nellie Grey, if it were in his power, and Hortense would live to reign in the Fifth avenue home. "I was only thinking," he went on, as he lift- ed his eyes to the dark ones resting upon him, "that if my aunt should take a liking to the girl she might be induced to even take her home. So don't persecute the child before my aunt, Whatever you do." "It is almost time for you to take hold of the matter. I am going to give you a chance. I have nearly driven her crazy this last five weeks ; now you show her what it means to be an outcast." ^2 NELLIE, THB BEAUTIFUL, CLOAK MODEL. Walter's eyes never left tfae beauttMul face as he spoke : "Horte&se, I am completely in your power. But somehow I feel that we neither of us will mate anything out of this attempt upon a good girl's life and name. I know that I must do it, but with all my soul I abhor the task. She may not be willing to drink, eve& !" "That is since you have seen her/' said the woman, threateningly. "Yesterday you could not get her out of the way fast enough. " "Maybe that is the reason, " he replied sober- ly. "I only know that I would almost rather give up the money than to turn my own cousin into the streets/' "Do as you please about it," replied Hor- tense; and then, when the young man saw the tears in tlie eyes of the woman he loved, he drew her to him and brushed them away. Hortense had led him to her little private office. "Don't be foolish," be said, softly kissing her BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. Walter looked at her doubtfully. "I don't know about that," said he. "She seems to have a lot of friends that are always bobbing up to aid her. At any rate, trump up some story that won't be laid at your door and have her sent away." As he rose to go, Hortense laid her hand on his arm. "Promise me you won't marry her. Some- how I fear that you will be driven to that to save the money." ' * Not if I can help it, ' ' replied Hilton. ' ' But you know that if she is discovered, then I would have to get hold of the money for us. I'd make her about the most unhappy wife that lives in New York if I were driven to it." This comforted Hortense. "If she were in any way disgraced," went on Walter, thoughtfully, "it would answer almost as well as her death, for her mother would not leave her money to a girl who had disgraced her." "Then you go over to her uncle, if you can find him, and warn him of her threat. |We will bring her to terms." NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. Acting upon this advice, Hilton went to Bed- ford's home, and was fortunate enough to find him in his room. Hilton took from his pocket a cigar and handed it to Bedford. 4 ' The girl has threatened to send us into the hands of the police," said the rich man, as he sank down upon the chair offered him, "and there is one thing certain : if she does that, we 're ail lost. " "Did you put her on the tracks, Hilton? " asked Nell's uncle, looking keenly at the man. "I did not come here to discuss that," replied Hilton. "If you want money, and lots of it, thea I must in some way get that girl into my hands." "I am of the opinion, Mr. Hilton," went on Bedford, iu his suave manner, "that my niece stands in your light somewhat. I thought at first that it might be you really loved her. I have, since that track incident, changed my mine!." "Never mind your changes," replied Hilton. "As I said before, if you want money, it is with- in your hand by saying the word. ' ' i "A man hates to put his own flesh and blood NE1AJE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. the jaws of death/' remarked Bedford, flicking a few ashes from his cigar. ""Bah I I'm not going to hurt her, and, be- sides, what do you care ? She is really nothing to ycu, and you know it ; for, whatever you say, you do not know the mother of that child or her parents. ? ' Bedford raised hds eyes and shrugged his shoulders. "I see, then, that you do," said he, loftily. "Well, Mr. Hilton, this matter has taken on a different aspect. To give my niece into your hands I want more than five hundred dollar, and if you do not promise me five thousand, then I shall lodge a complaint against you." "You scamp!" cried Hilton, but Bedford wav/ed him to his seat again. "You see, my dear sir, you are relying upon me to help you in a matter blindly. I do not ask you what it is about, but neither do I promise you that I will not hunt out Ore reason, if I can. nay mother." Polly dropped her hands from the boyfe shoulders, and a tear was wiped furtively away by a dirty little sleeve. "Don't talk that way, Tom," said she, "for if anything should happen to you it would put tt& all on the bum." They were just here when Polly looked up ancl saw Bedford sauntering along and looking; about for Nell. Then he spied his son. "So you've come to see our darling NeT. too?" asked the man, gnawing at the end of Ms; cigar. "How do you feel, Tom?" "How do you think I feel?" answered crossly. ' 'The world is all very pleasant i but what do you think it is for me ? " i "Well, little Tom," mocked Bedford,, NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. xeally don't think that I have thought of it much. But what made you think of that ? ' ' " Because Nellie has gone into the storeroom to work again. And I am heaut-broken because she's sick and gettin' pale and thin every day. Father, why don't you go to work?" "You must remember, my son," returned Bedford, evidently unruffled by his son's tone, **that you are speaking to your father." ^I*m not forgetting that, sir," answered the Boy. "Any fellow ain't got so much to remem- t>er their father by ae I have. I wouldn't have Hiis broken bone and bent back if it hadn't been for you." "Hush!" put in Bedford; "some one will Ihear. And then, my son, you need not feel badly ;about your cousin, for, if she is a good girl, bet- ter times will come to us all. You know that this Mr. Hilton is a very rich man, and he is in love with Nellie." * ' Does he want to marry Nell ? ' ' asked the boy suspiciously. "He is fond of her," was the evasive reply. "But does he want to marry her?" persisted the child. NELLIE, THE BEAWIFUL OLOAK MODEL. here, 95om, w said his fatter, going up lo him fiercely, having lost all Ms suavity, *^f you are going to set yowself against me and Nell ? s best good, 111 give yon more to remember me by. Do yon hear!* 7 * "I hear, father/' answered Tom ; "but I ain't going to promise to make Nell have anything to do with that man, for she hates him that's what she does." Bedford lifted his fist and, with a Irasty looK about, brought i down upon Tom's slender back, and the child dropped to the floor a if he were dead, while his father went cm his way looking Bar Nell. NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL* CLOAK MODEL., CHAPTER VIIL TOM had not lost his senses, but the fall hacl disabled him so that he could not move. Then y too, he could not walk without his crutches, and they had been flung far from him as he fell. Hortense came in and saw him lying upon the floor, Polly having gone out during Tom's con- versation with his father. "What are you doing there on the floor?' 5 asked Hortense. "I fell and hurt myself. Will you help me up?" sobbed Tom. In an instant there came into the mind of Hor- tense the thought that she could get even with ; Nell for all the girl had done to her. So she touched the boy with her feet, and cried : ' ' Help you ? I help you ? Get up from ther e 3 do you hear?" NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL 6LOAK MODEL, I can't, I really can't without my crutches. 't you please give them to me f ' ' Just as the woman was about to put her foot upon him again, Nell stepped into the apartment with a bundle of cloaks upon her arm. She caught at a glance what was going on, and feried' out, as she dropped her burden : " Touch that child if you dare!" Nell had the boy in her arms and was sobbing over him. He was always to be the one thing through which her tender heart would suffer. As she brushed off his clothing and kissed his tear-stained face, she heard Hortense say : "Then keep the beggar in his place. He has no business here. He belongs to a dime mu- Beuin ]this is no place for freaks/' With her arms still about the child, Nell looked her fully in the face. "I have never realized that a woman could be as bad as you are," said she. "I believe any one who would treat a little child as you have this one would commit any crime." 4 i Your opinion is nothing to me, Miiss Grey, and I might as well tell you that you have al- NELL.EB, THE BEAUTIFUL, CLOAK MODEL. ready tost enough time from your work. 60 back to it." ' * When I have put my little cousin in a safe place I will come back/' and Nell raised her eyes to Hortense defiantly. <4 I can go alone, Nell," said the lame boy. "Now don't get in trouble with the old cat," he whispered in a low tone. " Just you let me hob- ble along alone," And as Nellie saw him, with his brave, pale little face, limping away, her eyes filled with tears and her heart sank within her. Tom was growing more sick and thinner every day, and his small, white ears were quite transparent, Nellie could see this, and her heart burned with- in her. But for one thing she had to be thankful. She dared not go with Tom, as she knew that Hor- tense would complain of her. And when she saw Polly good, noble little Polly come to Tom's reseue, she felt like taking the girl in her i arms and kissing her homely face. "I'll take yon, Tom," Nellie heard her say; and, as she expected, Hoi-tense tried to stop this g&&& deed. NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. "You'll stay at your work/' put in the fere- Tvoman to Polly. "I have never seen sueh a set-: of people as you are ready to cheat your em- ployer out of his time which he honestly pay^ you for. Shame, shame, I say ! 9 ' 4 ' And I say shame to you, you awful woman, J * replied Nell. "And I know that if Mr. Nelson knew, he would be glad for us all to be kind to that poor little child. "Better go and ask him," sneered Hortensei. Tom having disappeared, Nell turned upon the woman, her eyes speaking a volume, but her lips remained sealed. "You might as well tell me what you are thinking of," said Hortense, for now she felt free to nag the girl, for had not Walter prom- ised to make Nell keep her mouth shut tbrovgfc the aid of her uncle ? ' *It might be well for you if I were to tell you,, and warn you," said Nell. "Out with it, then," and Hortense went a little closer. "I was wondering" and Nell lowered heir voice into intensity " ju&t how long I KEELLfcE, TBE BEAWTrFUL OLOAK MODEL. fefc you go in this thing. I was also wondering" Ib0w muah of it I could stand. ' ' **As much as I wish you to stand," said Hor- fensa, viciously. "So I thought at first," said Nell, "but I have changed my mind. I will stand no more." *' You r ll go back to your work at once ; " cried Ufaztense, afraid of the expression in NelPs Ifaee. But Nell seemed not to hear the order, for licr eyes were fixed upon the door through which *fm. had passed. "To provide food and comfort for him," said >sfae, with a break in her voice, "I would do al- anything in the shape of honest work; but w>t be your slave, nor will I stand insults. Ton k&ow that I am the best saleswoman you %ftve in this place, and yet you degrade me to ifeat work there/ 5 and Nell waved her hand to- the pile of cloaks upon the floor. " Every some of my good customers request that I wait upon them, and yet you will not my place. If I stay a moment behind for coming you take a dollar from my ry. J.have stood it all for him, but 1*11 tell NBLUB, THE BEAUTIFUL (XLOAK MODEL*. you now" and Nell went close up to Hortense and looked her in the eyes "I'll tell you now that I won't stand it any longer. Your abuse of that poor little crippled boy has decided me, and I will work for you no more." Her voice was so vibrant with deep emotion, her eyes so brilliant with passing passions, that Hortense was frightened. She had never seen the beautiful cloak model just like this before, and it alarmed her. What if Nell should go without her uncle seeing her aad complain to the poHcel "I say, A said Nell, still in a rage, "that I shall work for you no more." Saying this, she tore with desperate effort the apron from her waist and threw it upon the floor. "Where are you going?" said Hortense, put- ting herself in the girl's path. There was a tone in Hortense 's voice that < Nell had never heard before. It contained al- most an appeal, a complaint of fear, that roused the cloak model to her position, and Nell knew that she had frightened her enemy. "I am going to look for another position, first 11HB BE&OTfFTJL GLOAK MODEL* teffing Mr. Nelson why I am going, and after that" and here Nell went close to fee forewoman " after that I am going to get oat a warrant for your arrest." This was a stinging sentence Nell would never have believed she could have slung with s?eh passion. And the action of iier companion showed her even more that she*held the vantage ground. "I shall not let you go," said Horteaase, standing with her hand upon the sliding door through which Nell must pass if she ascended the stairs. "I tell you I will go," replied Nell; "and don't you dare to f lock that door. My wraps are there in the hall. Do you hear? Give me that key." Hortense, with a very white face, had suc- ceeded in turning the key in the lock and taking it out. Nell, seeing the action, made a pass for it, but the forewoman dealt her hand a blow. ' ' Wait a moment, ' ' said Hortense. ' ' You can- mot take things into your own hands this way. Do you understand that? I insist that you go back to your work. You may even go into the NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. sales department; but you shall not do as yen have threatened/' t As if help had descended from some friendly quarter, Hortense heard Walter speaking on the outside, and almost before Nell knew what the forewoman was doing she had opened the door and drawn him inside. "Are you women at it again?" was the first query Walter gave. "Sbe is going to the police about you and me," replied Hortense. "I think not," answered Walter, looking at Nell, whose face had gone deadly white. It seemed to the girl that she was ever to be in the haanfe of her enemy. As much as she hated Hor- tense, she hated the man twice as much. She could hear Walter and Hortense whisper- ing together, and she knew they were plotting something against her. She looked about. The Eoom was empty, as far as help was concerned for her. She knew that the freight elevator would not descend until the ropes were pulled from below. There would be no escape for her, she also knew, if these two people could have their way. 124 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MOOBU She saw Walter turn from Hortense toward her, saw the wicked light flaming in his eyes, and then she parried the blow he struck at her. "So you think to get the best of us, do you?" he muttered, winding his arms about her waist and crushing her to him. "Well, get that from your mind. This time you die. Do you know what we are going to do to you? Just put you, bound and gagged, under that elevator, and let it crush you to death. The job will be so well done that even the fact that you had a cloth in your mouth will be passed over as a collar you tad worn about your neck. With hundreds of pounds upon your slender body, you realize now if you think at all, which I very much doubt that we, Hortense and I, have got the best of this little game we have been playing." Nell could utter no word. Her breath was coming in short gasps. Never had she felt so n^ar the end not even when she was upon the track and realized that a great train was bear- ing down upon her. Somehow she was so helpless, so pathetically without friends. Suddenly there came into her NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. mind a thought : why should she be persecuted by this man and woman thus? They wanted to remove her from their paths. It was not love on the part of Walter, as he had tried to make her believe, but some deeper and more wicked mo- tive than that. Into her mind came a thought of a sweet face, and when she analyzed it, as she lay half -fainting, she knew that it was the face of Walter's aunt. It gave her strength to speak. "What if your aunt could see you?" asked she. "She loves me, for she said she did." With a muffled oath, Walter quickly bound a cloth, which Hortense had given him, about the girPs mouth, and Nell felt that her end had come. "Quick!" gasped Hortense; "put her under, and then pull the rope." It took but a moment for the man to carry out flie command of his sweetheart, and Nell, with fcer senses thickened by the thought of coming death, and then quickened by a dread of what would come to Tom when she was gone, sud- denly found strength to tear away the bind- ings and lift the cloth as Walter pulled the rope. Her voice, sounding unlike her own to her 3.26 NELUE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. called pitifully for heip, and it reached a eer- tain littte lame boy, who was patiently waiting for his beloved. If it had not been for the God who is ewr wateMng over his own, Nellie's life would have ended then and there, Something had happened to the elevator and Walter could not make it work He pulled and tugged, and as he spent his strength,, so did little Tom trying te break: opea the door, through which came his darling's voice, begging for help. When he had made enough room for his small body to crawl through, and he was standing with frightened eyes, he saw that the great moving machine had commenced slowly to descend, and that Nell, his beautiful Nell, was bound mnd^r it. Hortense, hardly knowing what she did, and on tire impulse of the moment, pulled the small erutohes from the lad, and he lay without strength upon the floor. No human being was more helpless than this child without his sticks. Walter touched him scornfully with his pat- ent-leather boot as he passed, and said, a-s he unlocked the door and allowed Hortense to go before him : NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. 127 "Lie there, little scum of the Bowery, and watch your beautiful cousin meet her death. And elie yourself, if you wish to, for there is no place on earth for a cripple. ' ' They were alone, Nellie bound tightly under the car and little Tom many feet away from her, helpless. "Help! "cried Nell, through the thick cloth that Walter had fastened again over her mouth. And Tom did help. He could do greater things than he had ever imagined. "I'm coming, Nell/ 7 he cried stoutly, and then began to wriggle his small body quietly, -even though it was agony to him, over the smooth, polished floor. For a space of three seconds a life hung irf the balance ; but Nell's God, to whom she prayed every day, heard her silent petition and the sob- bing voice of the little lame boy. As he passed the heavy cases Nell had been told to fill he saw before him a huge knife used to cut the ropes . that bound the packages. Slowly he could see the car coming, and that hastened his misshapen body to do its full duty. He severed the cords that were cutting into the NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. tender flesh of Nell, and with a for which he could never afterward account, he helped the fainting girl to lift her body from the danger that imperiled it. "You're all right, Nell," he breathed in her ear, as the freight car came to the ground with a clap. And verily she believed that she was all right. Tom wfts weeping close to her, his tears falling upon her upturned face. "You've saved my life, darling/' sobbed the girl, * ' and I shall give you what is left of it. Oh, Tom, how good God is to even wicked me. I wanted to be revenged upon those people, and if it had not been for you they would have surely had their revenge upon me." Nell did not wait to give in her request to de- part from the store. She helped her little cousin to his feet and together they went away, but not before giving a certain young man and his helper, Hortense Drake, a great scare. * # * * * * # In the office of the forewoman Walter waited. He knew that when the word had gone out that Nell had been killed and her mangled body had NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. "beea found that he would have to be near Hor- tense, who was in a very nervous state. The woman's absolute devotion to the man in the last few weeks had only made his affection more and deeper for her. He had never before realized what a woman 's love for a man could do. He would take his place at the head of his set in the fashionable world and elevate Hortense to the position that she deserved. He would cast be- hind him all the crimes that he had committed and begin life over again. The weight of crime upon his heart was great, feut that he would forget. As he sat there alone, waiting for the return of the partner in all his wickedness, he dropped his head upon his hands. "What would his aunt say if she could know that he was persecuting and even more plotting to murder her own beautiful daughter? There arose in his heart a great respect for Nell for ,the fortitude with which she had borne all he had done to her. Just then Hortense opened the door, and her face was so pale that the man thought she was going to faint. 3.30 NELLI!^ THE BEAUTIFUL, CLOAK MODEL. 6 'It has been discovered?" he said in a low tone. " Worse than that," replied the woman slow- ly. "I met the girl and the boy going out. She has either escaped our plot, or I have lost my senses. I shall never be the same woman again. I believe that I am going out of my mind." "Don't be foolish, Hortense." said "Walter, shaking her fiercely by the arm. "You thought you saw her. It's only a trick of your imagina- tion." "Then it was a ghastly trick," replied Hor- tense. looking about her in fear. "You go out and see if there is anything said about her. Go down to my room, where she works you know, the packing place and listen, and come back tome." Y7s.lt er was up and off in a moment. He vvended his way rapidly among the clerks and floorwalkers to the basement, where he supposed he would hear of the disaster. But no one was there save Polly and Ike. The girl was putting cloaks in a box, while the Jew; was looking down upon her admiringly* NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. * ' Can you tell me, ' ' began Walter, faintly, ' * if I can find Miss Grey about here?" "If she was anywhere 'round here," replied Polly, insolently, "I wouldn't tell you; but long's she's gone home, it don't do no hurt to say so, for she won't see the likes of you when you go there." WaMer looked helplessly at the great freight elevator. It was locked in its place on the floor, but he saw (no evidences of a tragedy. Where had the girl gone, and how had she escaped her doom? The lame child must have gotten to her and cut the cords, for these two before him cer- tainly did not know of his effort. He went back to Hortense with his heart beat- ing. He must do something, because the girl would now surely tell the police. Hortense looked up eagerly when he camet in, "Ts she dead?" her lips framed. "She has escaped in some way, but just how I do not know. It is' up to me to go to her uncle and, through that lame brat, have her lips sealed. Cheer up, Hortense; every dog has his day. She is having hers now, but we will have urs later." 132 NBUJB, TPHE BEABP1SFVL CLOAK MOOBfe CHAPTEE IX. i WHEN Nellie came into the house, leading lit- tle Tom, she met her uncle coming from the room in which she slept. "Did you want anything in my bedroom?'* asked the girl freezingly. "Yes; it was cold in mine," explained Bed- ford. "And colder in here," answered Nellie, as she threw open the door. * ' If you wanted anything, why did you not ask me? Oh, I am so tired of this awful mystery that is surrounding me I Now tell me, uncle for you surely know why do these people that man and woman keep persecuting me? I will know, or I shall put them where they cannot trade upon my feelings any more." "The man loves you honestly," purred Bed- ford, soothingly. "Is there any reason a good man should not love a good woman?" THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. ^33 "A good man/' broke in NelHe, her voice growing husky with emotion. "How can you eafl him a good man?" "He is very rich, my love." "Are all rich men good?" demanded the girl, with flashing eyes. "And is a man good who ^will lay a girl on the railroad tracks to get her oat of his way?" "That was not proven against him," replied Bedford. "And would a good man," went on Nellie, passionately, "bind a girl and put her under an elevator that she might be crushed to death by its weight?" Bedford turned sharply upon her. "He did not do that," he answered with spirit. "He did," returned Nell; "and, what is more, if it had not been for little Tom I should have been killed. ' ' Then, turning upon her uncle, she said sarcastically : "There is something of a mystery about all this, and I think that I must amount to something more than we have ever thought of, or they would not want me from their path. I think I shall give the case into the NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL, hands of a good detective, and that will end it." "You have no money to hire one," sneered Bedford. "No; but the county has," put in Nell, know- ingly. "And I shall so plead my case that I not only will be free from persecution, but the peo- ple who have imperiled my life twice will be plaeed where they won't do it again." "You speak like a fool," threatened Bedford^, "and I bid you be silent." Just then a bell rang through the house, and Nellie, looking from the window, saw a cab standing in front, and, leaning farther over, she could discern the figure of a man waiting for some one to answer his ring. "I think that is your friend below," she said to Bedford, sneeringly; "and I might as well warn you that if he should ask for me I will not be in." Bedford went hastily downstairs. He drew Hilton, whose face was pale and twitching, into the little, bare parlor in the front of the house. "fa she here?" asked Walter, and Bedford nodded his head. NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MCTDEL. " What were you trying to do to the girl over there?" asked Nell's uncle, seeing in his mind another hundred dollars coming from the pocket of Hilton to him. "Nothing," ejaculated the man. "Did she tell you any fairy tale?" "Fairy tale or not," put in Bedford,, "you have endangered her life, and I think it is worth another hundred dollars right now." Hilton staggered back. Then the girl had told it, and her 'uncle believed the tale, and he would have to put up more funds now, when they were especially low. "I don't see how you can believe that girl's lies," he said at last, with a sort of gasp. "You know that she is a liar." "I know no such a thing," broke in Bedford. "On the contrary, that is the one good trait that my niece possesses. She always tells the truth. "What is more, my little son, who has inherited from his mother the love of truth, is willing to swear that you tried not more than an hour ago to kill my niece. Now, then, my dear sir, hand over the money." 136 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. Walter fumbled feebly in his pocket, and said slowly, without taking the money from it : "If I give you to-day one hundred dollars, 'will you fix it so that girl won't peach? You have got to square it somehow. If you don't, then I'll have to leave town before the police get me, and then you'll have no good chance of getting the five thousand." "We are friends," said Bedford, holding out his hand, "are we not? I know that I can ar- range the matter. ' ' "And I know it, too," put in Hilton, "be- cause she is fond of the boy. You can work her through him." Bedford was folding the bills carefully. "That is true," he went on in an affable voice. "She does love the boy, and we are friends." "Then you will find the girl and make it all right, so that Miss Drake and I will not have to worry about her lies?" "I will find the girl," put in Bedford, smil- ingly, "and make it all right with her about the truth that she might tell about you. You under- stand, Mr. Hilton, that you cannot draw the l over my eyes. I do not know why you are NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. 13J trying to harm my girl, but I promise you this : that I will find out, if it is in the power of mor- tal man unless she finds out before me, as isj her threat." "For heaven's sake, don't let her interfere in this matter, I beg of you, Bedford, and if you want more money, then keep her fingers f rom the pie." "I shall do my best," said Bedford; "and I assure you that it is all right before I begin. ' ? * * Then let me get out of here," answered Hil- ton, in a low tone. "The air stifles me.' ; Bedford went slowly upstairs. He was medi- tating in just what manner he should approach his niece. Nellie met him at the door with a white, drawn face, and said: "Tom has been taken suddenly worse. Go t for help, quick ! Oh, I am so worried ! ' ' "If you will promise not to leave this house until I return I will go." "I promise," said Nell. And when the surgeon was closeted wMi little Tom, Nell said to her uncle : "He would not have been ifl if he had not 138 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. tried to save me from that elevator. Let me as- sure you, uncle, that these people shall never escape s this time." She was walking up and down the room, her heart aching wildly, and the tears falling from her eyes. "You are to forget that little incident about the elevator," slowly said Tom's father, looking at his niece sharply. Just then the surgeon came in with his report* "The child has wrenched his back in some way," said he, "and it will be necessary to per- form a serious operation, which is most diffi- cult." "And is that the only thing that will save his- life?" demanded Nell, holding out her hands pleadingly. The doctor nodded his head. "He ought to be taken immediately to a pri- vate room in a hospital," replied he; "and I might say that after it is over he will be able to walk." "Do you mean without crutches?" demanded the half-crazed girl. NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. The man nodded again, and this time waited for the girl to go on. 4 ' Uncle, we must get money; do you hear? Sir, I promise yon, if you will send for him, that I will in some way return your kindness/' "Then I will send for him immediately," re- plied the surgeon. When he had gone the girl turned upon the waiting man. ' ' Uncle Bedford, let us make a compact. You know that I love Tom, and if you will just help me to get him well I promise that I will work for you always, as long as you want me. You shall Jiave half of my salary every week, and I will be your slave. Will you help me, uncle -V 9 "I cannot help you, my love," suavely replied Bedford. "But I will tell you what I will do. If you will give up this idea you have about ar- resting Hilton and Miss Drake I will help you get the money." "How!" ! " Yoti are to ask Mr. Hilton for it. He could refuse you nothing." Her trade was near her, very near, so she could look directly into his eyes. There was a 140 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. determination in them that was strange to Nell. "Do you mean," she faltered, "that if I re- fuse to make friends with this man that you wiH not let them perform that operation V 9 Bedford nodded his head. "But, uncle, it would be so much like selling myself to him. If he is as kind-hearted as you .say, and I have misjudged him, then he will let you have the money for little Tom. Oh, 'I beg of you to ask him for it. You say that you are such friends." "Yes, we are friends," deliberately replied Bedford. "But this much for you: You cannot see Tom again unless you do as I say. You can- not stay in the same house with us, do you hear? And Tom can crawl about on his knees, if he is able, for the rest of his life. I refuse to allow him to go to the hospital." "You are going to separate Tom and me?" shrieked the girl. "There is no room in this House for a girl who would allow her cousin to die when by hold- ing tip her hand she could save him. Poor little Tom, he has no friend left but me." NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. And then, as he was about to leave the room, te added : "Benaember that I shall make you the sor- riest girl in all New York if you dare to carry , out your threats against my friends." And then, coining closer to her, he finished: "Others don't know nae as well as you do, but if you go away from here with that fatal stubbornness in your heart, and leave Tom with me, he shall suf- fer until the day of his death for your action, So take your choice." Nell, alone, was not so dignified as when her uncle was with her. She sank down beside the chair and tried to pray. But her heart was to& full to petition any set prayer. The only words that would come was a tearful begging that Tom might die and so escape all the torture that would come to him, for the girl had no idea that she would submit to her uncle's wishes. She was still weeping out her sorrow alone when the door suddenly opened, and she saw the cheery face of Jack Carroll, who always eame just when she wanted him most. "I came, Miss Nellie," said he, coming up NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. close to her, "because I heard that Tom was suddenly taken ill. Is it true ! ' ' Nellie could not trust herself to speak. "What does the doctor say?" asked Jack, see- ing the commotion going on in the girl's heart. "He says," replied Nell, in a voice that her hearer did not recognize as hers, "that if he has care, an operation, and good food, he will get well, but otherwise*he will die." "Oh, dear," replied Jack, impetuously, "if I oould only give you money. Nellie Grey, I love you ! Will you let me bear your burdens ? ' ' "How can you bear my burdens?" cried Nel- lie, bitterly, "if you have not money? Do you know that I don't care that much for any man's love without money for him ! What good does love do me, when I know that he is tortured and in pain?" "Nellie, he shall not die," cried Jack. "I will work for you both. Do you hear? You shall have money, if that is what you want," Nellie regarded him with somber eyes. There had been a time, and only a few short hours be- fore, lhat a declaration of love from Jack Car- roll would have made her the happiest girl in NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. -[43 all the world; but now, when it seemed to her that this same love stood in the light of her darl- ing's life, she would not listen. She had been given her uncle's final ultimatum that it was only through the friendship of Walter Hilton * that she would be at rest, and that she could be sure that her little lame cousin was safe. "I cannot speak of love in a time like this," she said hoarsely. " Yesterday I would have been flushed with pride, but to-day I I well, my heart is dead." Jack was leaning over the bowed figure. ' ' It is not dead," cried the boy; "not dead to me, Nellie. It will awaken under nay love as the flowers awaken in the spring. There, little love, let Jack tell you what he will do." The girl rose to her feet and looked about has- tily. All the excitement of the day seemed to have turned her mind. Her eyes were staring, and in her brain was but one thought: Tom would die of want and torture if she did not ap- ply to Hilton. Of course she would. Had there * -ever been a time since the little cripple was bora that she would not have sacrificed her life for the child? 144 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. "It's all too much," she stammered weakly f "too much ! I cannot get above the fact that he is ill, that he needs me more now than ever. I cannot think of love I cannot ! I do not want anything but money do you hear? nothing but money ! Not for myself, but for him. ' ? "Could you wait a few weeks for it?" asked Jack, a thought in his mind as to his ability to raise the amount she needed. " No ; I must have it to-day. And there is but ee condition that I can use, whatever I raise upon him, and you are not the instrument chosen. " "Nellie, what are you going to do?" asked tte boy, as he watched her, terror-stricken. 4 ' Going to the doctor, ' ' now calmly replied the girl; "and if he says that money will save his life, then I am going to get it." With this she was gone, leaving the lad stand- ing in the middle of the room, his eyes upon the door through which she had passed. "I wonder what she meant?" he soliloquized. "Sha said she was going to get money. I won- der where? I wonder if she could be tempted with that scoundrel's money, or if there is a plot NffifclE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. to get her into life hands. I will not follow her, but no harm can reach her save through him, and so I will follow him. ' ' * * * # * # ' # That night Walter Hilton was again at the boarding-house, called there by a telephone mes- sage from Bedford. Hilton had been told by the girl's uncle that the iron was hot and to strike ;wfaHe h$ could. Nell was in despair when she was confronted with Walter. Her uncle was not there, and when she turned upon Hilton and begged him, for the love of humanity, to do something for the boy, he thought he had never in all his life seen a girl as beautiful. If it had not been for the thought of Hortense he would have placed his arms about Nell, told her the truth, and have taken her home to her mother, trusting to time to make her forgive him and accept the place in his heart that she was fast taking there. "Will you lend me the money?" the girl begged. "Only fifty dollars, and that will pay the first installment. I will surely work and pay it back to you." NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. "I would not want it back if you would be my friend, ' ' replied Walter. And never had lie in all his life before wanted anything quite as much as this girl who stood wide-eyed before him, begging that, for the life of her little cousin, he should let her have a lit- tle money. For Tom was more than a brother to her, so Nell said. Walter took a roll of bills from his pocket and handed them to her. Nell put forth her hand tremblingly and took the money between her fingers. "You know, I only want fifty dollars," she explained slowly, "and I will surely return it to you. ' 9 "I do not want it back," said Walter, coming nearer to her. ' ' You are more than welcome to all I have." ' ' I can 't do that, ' ' answered Nell, holding out the bills to him. "You see that I cannot do that." Hilton saw that she hesitated that her own life was of no value beside that of the child. He could read it in the girl's face. He had never felt so like a wretch in all his life. But then the NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. thought of his aunt's money eame into his mind, and he said : "Nellie Grey, why do you drive me to desper- ation? You know that I am only too willing to be your friend. You have heard of men who so loved women that they were more than willing to have them die than to live for some one else? I am like that. I hate every one who comes in contact with you. You may have all the money that you want for the boy, for yourself, and for your uncle if you will promise that you will be my friend that you will come with me to- night." "I do not know where you want me to go/' said the girl, fearfully. "I am going to have a party on board my yacht," explained Walter, "and if you will eome, then I know that you trust me. After that you can ask me anything you wish and I will grant it" "I will be there," replied poor little NelL "You can give me the name of your boat. Will you?" "Will If" asked Walter, slowly. "You do not know me, Mttfe gM. I ain coming for you NELLIE, Tim BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. myself in a cab. You will be ready at sews* And from this day forward your troubles little Tom's axe at an end." NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL, CLOAK MODEL. CHAPTER X. night, and the bay looked resplendent from the high-sailing moon and the electric lights in the water. A small private yacht stood steaming, ready for departure, and two people were talking on the gangplank. "Perhaps the message will tell us some- thing/' said the man, slowly taking a delight- fully aromatic cigar from Ms lips and looking at the woman. "Perhaps," she replied, tearing open the yel- low envelope. * ' Yes, it tells us that he is coining ^with her for a midnight sail. I have -hated her, but I always thought she was a good girl. I am glad I was mistaken. ' ' She tore the telegram into many fragments" and threw them into the bay. "Poverty is a hard master," said Bedford, again puffing out the smoke, "and the girl has 150 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. had masny trials. Then she loves tlrat brat of mine as she would am. own brother aye, even more, as her own child, mayhap." There was silence for a few moments, and then the woman said: "Well, what's the use of speculating upon human virtue? We must go inside. It's too cold to be moon-gazing." "That's true," answered Bedford, medita- tively. "Let us descend and partake of our host's hospitality." And then, just as the two went below, another pair came into the rays of the moonlight, and Polly, Nell's little friend, said lightly: "They went too late. We saw them, didn't we, Ike? You know that they ain't one of them ihere for any good, and I'm glad that Mr. Jack put us wise what was going to happen. He is a smart one don*t you think? to follow that man about as he has and get his secret from the cabby. Maybe we will be in the way, Ikey, ' ' and she laughed. "Not much," replied the Jew; "that we won't. I have a sneakin* notion that Miss Nel- lie ia bein' brought here against her will, and if NELLIE, . THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. ]_5 J not that, then much worse, bein' paid to come. We'll give her a chance to change her mind, won't we, Poll?" "You just bet we will, Ike/' said the girl. "And, Ikey, I want to say this, that you remem- ber that time when you said that I would feel sorry 'bout what I said of your face. "Well, I feel it now. It's the finest face in New York, and I wants my chance to love it, Ikey. What does you say!" "That no other woman but you, Poll, shall ever love that face. And I promise you that I'll save Miss Nell to-night, and to-morrow I will ask you to say that over about my face. Come on, now, and duck into the lower cabin." "I didn't tell you, did I, Ike," asked Poll, when they were safely ensconced in their hide- away place, "that I loses me job Saturday?" "Aw, go on! Maybe they won't give you the lemon, ' J said Ike, in a low tone. ' ' Never can tell what them big places is going to do." "Well, I won't stay, anyhow," replied the girl. * ' I just made up my mind to that. ' ' "What be you going to do?" asked Ike, sus- piciously. , THE BEAUTIFUL <3IX>&K MOI>EL. "If you won't tell Nell," answered Poll, " tell you. I'm going on the stage." "Is there a good livin' made at that busi- ness?" questioned Ike, interestedly. "You bet there is," was Polly's answer. "Why, Ike, I've heard of girls no better 'n I that is a-makin' more'n ten dollars a week." Ike opened his mouth and licked his lips with n very red tongue. "I wish I was makin' enough money for you not to do nothin'," said he slowly, placing a large arm about the tiny waist of Poll. "A fel- low don't like to have the girl he loves makin' her own livin'." "Well, if he can't make it for her," said the practical Polly, "then she must make it for her- self." Then Ikey was silent for a few moments, see- ing the wisdom of the girl's words and knowing Ms own inability. "You see, I won't get much money for the first few weeks," explained Poll, feeling that Ikey wanted her to speak; "but after that 111 get well, more, maybe, than the President gets." NEL&1K, THE BEAUTIFUL, CL.OAK MODEL. "What president ?" demanded Ikey, Into a question. "Why, the President of the country," replied 'Poll, boastingly. I " Go on!" scoffed Ike. "What's the matter with you? Why, he gets fifteen a week, and when he works nights he gets more." " Don't believe it," answered Poll, angrily, * ' laughed Walter. ' ' That is not much <*f a risk to take," and here he bent over Nell. "Why, I shall be so good to you, so charming and kind, that you won't be sorry you have been good to me. I will make your life the happiest of any one's on earth." The only thing that Ike could not hear was the rapping of the man's conscience as he made this promise, nor could he realize that there was in Walter Hilton's breast a cfesire to carry out his promise. The girl, the beautiful cloak model, looked so helpless and sweet in the moonlight I Below in the cabin, an hour later, four people were sitting drinking at the table. Walter Hil- ton and Hortense Drake were seated side by; NELLIE, THE BS&tJTJFm GfcOAIC MOI>Bk. side; opposite feem was BedloBd, who bad be- side him his beautiful niece. " Money is a fine thing," Bedford was saying, draining his champagne glass to the bottom. "I have often felt that I was intended for a man of wealth. But, heavens, what a mistake nature made!" There was silence for a moment, and then Hortense whispered something in Walter's ear. " You are not very sociable, Miss Grey," said Hilton, after a while, obeying the forewoman's injunction. "I have not seen you taste your wing." "I was thinking," replied the girl. " Of what ? ' ' asked her host "Oh, of my mother! Of the mother I newer knew and constantly longed for." "You have never seen her?" asbed Walter, obeying a look from Hortense. "No," replied Nell. "My uncle adopted me when I was but a baby. Didn't you, uncle!" * ' Yes, and have taken care of you ever since, ' ' replied Bedford. "You would certainly be am ungrateful girl if you did not appreciate what I have done for you." LOAK MODEL. Kefl (fid mot utter the words that flitted through her mind that her uncle might be proud of her ; for had she not worked for years - and he says be brought me here to make jtne forget about my life. I am free to go as soon as I am strong enough, and I shall." Jack sneered visibly. "He is a villain," he responded, "the great- est villain in all New York, and you are trusting him, after he has tried to take your life and honor at least fifiree times. I say you are glamored by his attentions, and the Nellie I NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. knew and loved once will never be anything to me again as long as I live.' 1 Nellie was watching him moodily. Had she not the promise of Walter to have her little cousin operated upon and cured of his lameness, and was she not to" see Tom the next day? What more could she ask? True, she hated with the bitterest feeling the place she was in, but it was in the truce she had made with Walter that she should stay there for two weeks, at the end of which time she should be with Tom. The girl was too weak to reason out the mo- tive Hilton had for demanding all this of her, but she had acquiesced to escape her uncle and to save little Tom. As she told all this to Jack Oarroll he softened under her misery. "Jack," she cried, "if it were not for Tom I would go with you now. I hate all this glitter, and these hateful things I wear." Jack leaned over her and took her hands in Ms just as Walter Hilton came in with his usuai dress suit and swagger. His eye lighted up with rage as he saw who was with Nell. There en- sued then one of the worst scenes that had ever happened to asty girl on Broadway. She insisted 17S NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. upon going with her lover, tearing off her jewels and throwing them in Walter's face. Walter entered a complaint against poor Jack and paid the policeman well, and the lad was. rushed off to jail, leaving the girl to her fate. Nell's head whirled in great excitement, and, as her mind was not clear upon the past happen- ings of the day, she readily gave her consent to go with Walter anywhere he should take her, for Jack was gone, and she was so tired. But merciful Heaven had a hand in her move- ments. Just as she had wrapped her beautiful head in the rich mantle Walter had prepared for her she saw standing before her, leaning on his crutches, and with infinite love shining from his eyes, little Tom, her darling, her more than brother. "I have come for you, Nell," he said slowly, >and opened his arms, and even the policemen turned away with tears in their eyes as the giri clung passionately to the cripple. She turned upon the officers. * l The man that one of your number took away to-night was the best friend I have in all tibe world. After him, this child is next to me. NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. mand from you protection from these people*, wiit) have constantly persecuted me for months^ Game, Tom, I want to go home with you." And go with him she did. The distraction by Walter and Hortense was shown upoaa faees as they watched the girl and lame boy go out together. They dared not make trouble for fear Nell would have them arrested, and they- could not just then put their hands upon Bed- ford, for he was drunk somewhere, no doubt. If Bedford had been there the tables would have> been turned upon Nell, for she would only come- to terms when she saw the lame boy After that Hilton sought out Bedford, finding; Mm in one of his usual resorts, and said to him, a thing that forever afterward he was sorry for,. "You drunken dog, don't you know that youVe gotten us into a terrible mess? If you. had been thore I wouldn't have lost my hold trp#n that girl. I told you to hang around, and threaten the boy cme in a while, but all yom care for is drink, drink, cursed drink !" "Afl there is in life," hiccoughed Bedford,, "178 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. grinning. * ' Come, old pal, have the goodness to buy me a drink. ' ' "Look here," shouted Hilton, "I want to tell you something. "I don't believe that you half know what I mean when I say we are in a mix- up. The girl's gone with your brat, after I had told her that he was in the Jiospital getting care. Now, what are you going to do! " "Take another drink," replied Bedford, hold- ing out his finger to a waiter. "Another kick," snapped Walter, giving Bed- ford a vicious thrust. "Haven't you the com* man sense to know that if that girl gives us away we are gone? The only hold we have oa her is the brat. What are you going to do?" "Ask you for another hundred," replied Bed- ford, insultingly; "just one more hundred, to have a good time on. And right now, too, if you desire me to help you with that girl." "I want that, all right," put in Hilton. "But when will you go to Nell?" "As soon as you tell me why you are so anx- ious to have that girl out of your way. I can say right here that I am not so much in love witU tfELLXE, THE BEAUTIFUL GLOAK MOGEL,. iier tKat I wouldn't do anj^tfeing against her for motiey. But I work no longer in the dark.* 7 Walter took in the bulky figure from head to foot. He wondered if the man wouldn't be a better support if he did know the need of having 'Nell out of the way. "I'll tell you," replied he, uttering the words for which afterward he could have bitten out 'his tongue. "I'll tell you if you swear that you will not tell about it. Your niece is the only daughter of my aunt, Mrs. Horton, and they mnst not know of the relationship," 180 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFd* CJLOAf&I MODE&, CHAPTER XIL BEDFORD was never more sober in his life thanr just when he heard those words. Then Nell was worth something, after all, and there flashed into his inind that a mother would give more money for a newly found, beautiful daughter than this man sitting before him. "I'll not tell," he muttered, after a swift mo- ment of thinking. "But why don't you want them to know each other?" Thoughtlessly Walter told the whole story. Then Bedford said : "My dear fellow, don't you think it is worth more money than a paltry few thousands for me to help you into millions?" Hilton's jaw dropped suddenly. He saw his mistake ; but he had always dealt with this fel- low in hundreds, and he would not now raise his price. He would, however, allow Bedford to NELLIE, THE BEAU^FUL LOAK MODEL. think that he was going to accede to all of his demands. "You know you've simply got to get hold of that girl, Bedford, and that darn quick. If you don't, she'll squeeze the whole bunch, and if she does, I guess you and I will both go without money. ? ' This roused Bedford and he went out with his companion. ******* In the meantime Nell was hurrying along the street as fast as little Tom could go. She was going after Jack, to have him liberated. When she reached the station-house she was told by the magistrate that Jack would be held for trial the next day ; but when the girl told the simple truth, her lover was released, to come of his own accord the following morning. How happy these three young people now were no pen or words can describe. "I am ashamed to look you in the face, dear Jack, ' ' exclaimed Nell, as Jack placed her in a cab and took a seat beside her and Tom. "I liave been mad. You see, I thought that Tom was being cared for. Oh, poor little man, if you 182 NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MOIXEJL. were only ray very own brother, I would take you away from him." "I will be your brother, Nell," replied the small chap. " I ? m going to run away from fath- er and live with you and Jack when you get mar- ried may I!" "Of course you may," was Jack's reply. "There, now, we are going to have this thing out with those people. Your life shall not be placed in jeopardy any longer. Nell, can you think of any reason why Hilton should bear you a grudge!" "Yes," replied Nell. "He said to me, when he thought I was going to die, that he knew my mother, and it was to keep me from her that he was trying to put me out of the way." "The dirty scoundrel!" muttered Jack. "I ought to horsewhip him that's what I ought to do." "But you won't do that," pleaded Nellie; "for don't you know that he would take you 'from me, and you might be put in prison? We'll be happy, and in the meantime find out who nay mother is." NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. If Nellie had only known it then, the fact that lier uncle had decided to tell Mrs. Horton of her daughter would have made her happier. But for the beautiful cloak model there were yet many happenings. Walter and Hortense used every means to tear her from the grasp of Jack. Bedford had not yet decided to give the girl over to her mother, as he was getting much money from Hilton. But fate had a surer way of bringing Nellie into her own. She had been staying with Jack's mother, who had come to the city with her young daughter to keep house for her son, who was now climbing the ladder of fame. Little Tom was with them also. One morning: lae was out playing in front of the house, when an automobile dashed up, and some one snatched the child and was off with him before Nellie, who heard his cry, could come to his rescue. 'Twas Walter Hilton's idea to kidnap the boy to again get a hold upon the girl. Again the story would have to be told over the horrible heart-burnings of the faithful cloak NISULIB, THE BEAUTIFUL. CLOAK MODES* it not been for Bedford, who was now taking matters in his own hands. The morning after the capture of Tom tliej "mam. presented himself at the mansion of Mrs. Horton, whose summer home was but a short distance from New York. She always went from the eity early, getting better health from the pure spring air. She had the man ushered into her room, and said : **I believe you sent a message by the butler, didn't you, that you have something of impor- tance to tell me?" "I have that, ma'am," replied Bedford. "1 am William Eolland Bedford." For a moment Bedford thought the woman "was going to faint. ^Tiien you know something of my daugh- ter?" she asked in a low voice. "Yes, ma'am, I do, and I've come to know ibw much money you will give me if I turn her to you." Mrs. Horton eyed the blear-eyed stranger disdain. Her voice rang with emotion as THE BEAWSFUC, OfcOAK MOOBk. "It is not the question of money, sir, btrt of my getting back my daughter." "To me it means money," said the man. "I am willing to return the girl to you, knowing that you want her, if you will well, if you will give me enough money to live on the rest of my natural life.". "How much money do you want?" asfeed Mrs. Horton; "tell me immediately." "Ten thousand dollars," replied Bedford, looking keenly at the woman. She nodded her head, but did not reply for a moment, as tears choked her utterance. "I will give you twice that amount if you will give me that child." Bedford went away, his head swimming with the vision of so much money coming to him, and making him feel elated. He sent a letter to Nell containing these j words, which he was careful to print, for he did I not wish to have Hilton know that he had had anything to do with the girl being restored to 1 her mother's arms : 136 I^EM^E, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEU "Miss Nell 6rey: "If you will go to Horton Manor and inquire for your mother, you will find her, also the boy that was stolen from you a few days ago. It ^rill be just as well not to mention this to any enemies of yours, should you come in contact with them. I am a friend of yours. ' ' When Nell read this letter she could not wait until the next day to go to her mother, although she did not dream that Mrs. Norton was the woman. She also was desirous to get little Tom, who she feared would be badly treated by Hil- ton, for the girl was sure that Hortense and her uncle, with the millionaire, had had somethii*^ to do with the disappearance of her cousin. Jack was only too anxious to relieve the mind of his darling, so went with her to the manor that night. There they found the little lame boy locked in the gardener's closet, and Nellie found some- thing far dearer than even little Tom could be. She spurned the demand of Hortense, who was with Tom, to keep her hands from the child,, and with the aid of Jack rescued the little lad. NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL, Then Tom told hear the astounding news she the daughter of Hilton's aunt* They went to the mansion, which had been closed for the night, and, through loud ringing of bells, Mrs. M r Horton was aroused. Nell stood before h^r, not daring to give away her identity for fear of repudiation. " You wished to see me, child? Let me see- where have I seen you before?" Little Tom piped up : "She's the cloak model from Nelson's, and she's your child, for my father, William Holland Bedford, had her since she was a baby. And I heard Mr. Hilton tell that old cat, Miss Drake r that you wanted to see your girl, and I brought lier to you." Little Tom had never been so happy before. He hobbled toward Mrs. Horton and placed his fingers on her arm. "You won't take her from me?" he pleaded, and the good woman took him in her arms. There was little sleeping done in the manor that night, for even more than the reconciliation of fee mother and daughter happened. Bedford, in a drunken fit, gave away that he had told the NELLIE, THE BEAUTIFUL. CLOAK MODEL. mother of her daughter's identity, and Hilton, in a frenzy, tried to kill him; but the row ended in death for Walter, and the prison bars for both Bedford and Hortense. * * ***** After the passing of her enemies, Nell settled down to a happy life. The morning after her marriage with Jack, little Tom was taken to the hospital to be operated upon, after the surgeons had given it as their opinion that such an oper- ation would restore the boy to his health. Polly and Ike had taken up their abode in the manor also, and the girl was weeping because Nell was going away upon her wedding trip. The mother and all her newly found friends had kissed Nell good-bye, and the carriage was ready to take the young couple to the depot. "Good-bye, good-bye, " repeated Nell. "And I shall come back soon, mother dear." Nell rested back in the carriage in the arms of her husband for a few moments, and then raised her face to his. "You love me to-day as well as you ever have, Jack?" "More every day, my darKng. But I will say NELLfcE, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK MODEL. and BOW that, despite he money that must come to you, and the social position you are bound to hold, I would have welcomed you the same to my heart o hearts had you still re- mained to me MEME, THE BEAUTIFUL CLOAK M0DSL/' THE LETTERS - OF MILDRED'S MOTHER TO MILDRED. SATIRICAL SKETCHES OF STAGE LIFE. BY E. D. PRICE, ("The Man Behind the Scenes. ) THESE INGENUOUS COMMUNICATIONS, OP A STRICTLY PRIVATE NATURE, AND INTENDED TO BE PRIVILEGED, ARE AD- DRESSED TO AN ARTLESS GIRL WHO IS LEADING THE STRENUOUS LIFE IN A BROADWAY CHORUS AND ARE CALCULATED TO INSPIRE SOMB CURIOUS CONJECTURE AS TO WHAT SORT OF WOMAN WAS MILDRED'S MOTHER?" NEW YORK : /. a OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY- 67 ROSE STREET, COPYMCttT, 190*. BY THE MORNING TELEGRAPH* COPYRIGHT, ' J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY* ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. LETTERS OF MILDRED'S MOTHER TO MILDRED* LETTER L MOTHER AT THE RACES. CHICAGO, 7th July, DARLING MILDRED: This morning about twenty minutes to three Blanche and I were hammering at the ladies' entrance of the hotel for the night porter to come down and let us in, when who should happen along but the Colonel, who i passing through here on his way from Bos- ton to look over his mining properties in Montana. , He was very pleasant and was carrying 10 LETTERS OF his burden with great dignity and decorunf, considering the hour and what he must have been through, for you know, Mildred, that; a man at his time of life has not the resil- iency and rebound of one in the early twen- ties. The Colonel was quite effusive and in- quired eagerly if you were playing in town* He really seemed quite saddened when I told him that you had wisely preferred your! little fifteen per, located on Broadway, to| eighteen on the road, with all its vexations! and added expenses. Nothing would do but that Blanche and I must accept his hospitality, which was ceivj tainly considerate of him, in view of the fact that he already betrayed an impediment in his speech and wavered slightly as he < walked. MILDRED'S MOTHER. 11 There was a little place near by where the ^ aidedoor was still open, a very respectable 1 place I should judge, for there were quite a number of ladies seated at the round tables. SPhe Colonel opened a large bottle and spoke Tery kindly of you. It seemed to annoy him that his wife had signified her intention of filing a bill, and he appeared curious to know how many co-respondents she would have the bad taste to name. I do hope, my darling, that she will not in- clude you. It would be so vulgar, although I dare say it might help you to obtain a little more salary next season. I know what sac- rifices you must be compelled to make, dear, to send mamma even the paltry little $10 each week and to meet your own meagre necessities with the other five spot. Blanche and I were up bright and early, 12 LETTERS OF in time for luncheon, and, although we were not the least bit hungry, a couple of very ', dry Martinis enabled each of us to dispose of half a gem melon and a dainty little chop about as big as a half dollar, made appe- tizing by a fluted tissue paper ruffle around the bone end. In fact, we had plenty of time to dress and enjoy a few satisfying whiffs before Major Culpepper, of Virginia, who has a stable at the track, came up to take us to Washing- ton Park, He is a stately old gentleman, typical of the ancient Southern regime, with a finely colored nose of the noble Roman type that resembles a roseate horn of plenty. The Major is a fascinating and well in- formed man, and has a charming and com- prehensive command of profane expletive*, I do not recall that I ever heard any one MILDRED'S MOTHER. 13 Swear so delightfully and with such fertility and originality of expression as he did after. the third race. He had been playing Robert Waddell for the honor of his native State, and, of course, we all had a small bet on. Robert Waddell, I may explain, my pet, for you know little of such matters, is a sort of continuous per- formance racehorse, who has been started every day since he won the Chicago Derby, and would probably have been started by electric light if they held night events. The Major had assured me that it was a "cinch," whatever that may be, for Robert Waddell, but while the crowd was surging toward the betting ring to cash in on Ad- vance Guard he mastered his emotion suffi- / ciently to explain that the impost had been too heavy. I do not yet clearly compre- 14 LETTERS OF hend what this meant> but whatever it was it cost me $7, when I stood to win even money. Blanche was more fortunate. She was still groping in her stocking for the small green roll when the red flag dropped. For all that I know Robert may still be running gamely. At all events he had not come in when the bell rang for the next race. Young Mr. D. Chauncey Carruthers ? whose papa owns extensive stockyards here and who is being educated at the University of Pennsylvania, came into the stand and was very polite. He seemed to take quite a fancy to Blanche. You remember him, dear. He is the youth with the pimples who gave you the U. of P. flag that you have twined along with the Yale and Harvard pennants over the crazy corner. MILDRED'S MOTHER. 15 that reminds me, Mildred, that I hope you are always particular to keep the punk burning in the sand filled flower pots when you have callers. It gives such an Oriental atmosphere to one's apartments a,nd is an evidence of a refined taste. But as I was saying about young Car- ruthers. He was really quite crushed over the defeat of his crew at Henley, yet he ral- lied enough to feebly shout: "Rah, rah, Pennsy," and to remark that after all the result would tend to promote good feeling. On the part of England, I suppose he meant. The Penn boys are all right but. You re- member the buts that Metternich threw at Bernhardt as the Young Eaglet, although for my own part I always considered Sara more like an old crow. What a pity it is that we cannot all of us 16 LETTERS OF retain perennial youthfulness and charm* Safeguard yours zealously, Mildred, for you may be compelled to stick in the chorus for another twenty years to come, and it isn't \ every girl who can keep her shape like Frankie Bailey, who has been in the front row goodness knows how long ever since 1492, I believe. Young Mr. Carruthers has courteously in- vited us to visit his papa's plant and see bow cattle are killed and canned. It is something like a slaughter house, I think, although Mr. Carruthers referred to it as an Abattoir. The influences of our great uni- versities are so refining. Had heaven ordained that you, Mildred, should have been born a boy I might have, *ent you to college. Possibly upon mature MILDRED'S MOTHER. 17 and careful reflection I might have decided to throw you off the dock. j* After the races we came down in a sur- face car, having purposely lost Major Cul- pepper after the Waddell tip. We had tea in the Palm room of the Auditorium An- nex, which is considered quite the recherche thing in Chicago. The Auditorium Annex, I should explain, is not to be confused with the other part of the caravansary. That is called the Audito- rium proper. It is quite the thing among traveling men and comedians who wish to be considered wits, to refer to the Annex as the Auditorium improper, but nobody ever laughs and the reflection is certainly un- warranted, or Blanche and I would never have gone there. If you should ever visit the Palm room in 18 LETTERS OF the Auditorium improp that is to say, tte Annex, they will point out the corner where r Fay Templeton used to give petite soupers to a lady friend. It is considered quite a hallowed spot and is always shown O coun- try visitors. Of course the correct thing in the evening was to go to McVicker's and see "Lovers* Lane." We had been disappointed three times because we couldn't get a box. I was so affected when the young minister was driven out of his parish that I had to use my powder puff all through the next inter- mission and I am positive my nose was that red it must have been a sight. The pure moral, rustic drama always ap- peals to me more than those salacious French farces that make one blush clean through the makeup. I do so enjoy a play MILDRED'S MOTHER. 19 that makes one cry and I honestly believe Clyde Fitch afforded me the most wholly satisfying weep I've had since the Judge wrote you that crisp, curt, cruel note that he was on the wrong side of the market and we would have to give up the flat, Blanche and I were coming out of the theatre much refreshed in spirit by the tran- quillizing odor of apple blossoms and de- termined upon going straight home, when with whom should we collide in the lobby but your old friend Ikey Isaacstein, who is out here making a book on the races, as he explained. I was somewhat confused, as I did not know he was literary, but he laughed pleas- antly and made it clear that it was some- thing to do with wagers of chance upon the 'relative speed of the various contestants* 30 LETTERS OF. Despite our protests, Mr. Isaacstein dragged us off to Hector's, which is very different, Mildred, from the Rector's up Longacre way, where I permit you to go at times when properly chaperoned. It is con- sidered quite recherche to go to the Chicago Rector's and eat oyster stew in July. One lady ordered clams au naturel and creme de menthe and looked about her proudly and defiantly, as much as to say, "Oh, I can be a sport." But to one like my- self, accustomed to the niceties of refine- ment in our older and more aesthetic East, it seemed to me to be bizarre and in posi- tively bad form. Being temperate, as you know, in all things, dear child, I requested the garcon to bring me a "Horse's Neck," whereupon he exhibited confusion and uncertainty and MILDRED'S MOTHER. 21 \ said he thought they were just out, but they, had some nice pork tenderloin. When I explained that it was a long glass of imported ginger ale with lemon peel curled in it like a boa constrictor, and just a soupcon of brandy, he was gone a long time and brought me the domestic article, without ice, and, would you believe it, the idiot had actually made gin the basic foun- dation of the liquid structure! Of course I had to pretend that it was de- licious, for I did not wish to embarrass Mr. Isaacstein, who was drinking nothing bufc beer, but I was terribly annoyed. Quite a number of distinguished people were pointed out to us> including George Ade, the famous philosophical humorist He is a tall, slender young man, with the air of a divinity student, and, oh, such a sad, ab* 22 LETTERS OP sentminded, far away look. It must be sim- ply dreadful to have to think up funny things when the drug store thermometer registers 100 in the shade right next to the soda fountain ice box. Blanche said she thought Mr. Ade was just lovely, and she wanted to go over and speak to him and try to cheer him up a bit, but we persuaded her that it would be bad form. Blanche is so impulsive and uncon- Tentional. A vulgar person from Indianapolis forced himself into our little party on the strength of having made wagers with Mr. Isaacstein. He was very rude. I was telling them what a perfectly lovely figure you had in tights when the Indianapolis person he was a furniture dealer made a vulgar jest about bureau drawers and tried to pinch me under MILDRED'S MOTHER. 23 the table. I was compelled to change seate with Blanche, who, of course, does not have to be so particular, for she has no daughter? of her own. And that reminds me, Mildred, that your father was sitting right at the next table. He was with That Creature, but very po- litely left her and came over and uttered some trivial commonplaces about the ex- treme heat and there being no lake breeze* The Creature glared as if positively jealous. It was so amusing, I thought Blanche would 1 explode. Your father seemed quite pleased to hear that you had recovered from your recent in- disposition and urged me to watch over you closely, but Heaven knows I do. He lifted his hat at parting with the same grand air of courtly politeness which once won mjj S4 LETTERS OF young affections, but now did not afford even a passing thrill. A gentleman of the old school, your fa- ther, a little down on his luck apparently, but still retaining that savoir faire, that ele- gance and distinction of manner which you inherit from him, and that makes him so fatally fascinating: to all chemical blonde creatures. It is a pity he drinks. And now, by-by, baby mine, for this time. Be very cautious and discreet and do not subject yourself to censorious comment. It is so very easy for a young girl to be mis- understood when unaccompanied by parents or guardians, and I should bitterly regret to have you talked about any mote than you have been. ^ Remember, my pet, that mamma -rfK* 4^ MILDRED'S MOTHER. . 25 -with you all next Winter, but that this little Western trip for relaxation and recupera- tion was absolutely necessary. Do not for- get to remit the ten promptly and regularly* You were shy last week. DENSEST MAMMA: 2S . LETTERS OF LETTER II. MOTHER AT A CHICAGO HOTEL. CHICAGO, 14th July, DARLING MILDRED: The drollest thing happened at the hotel last night. It couldn't have been more than 11 o'clock just the edge of the evening to a well seasoned pah: of New Yorkers like Blanche and I. fc We stopped at the desk to leave our room keys in the rack, preparatory to a little trial spin over the course, when who should we ,see toying with the register but your par- ticular friend, young Major Gatling, of our own beautiful city* He seemed nervous and MILDRED'S MOTHER: 27 xM at ease, although Blanche says she is pos- * itive he was too agitated to recognize us. You know I never met him, except that one evening when I was chaperoning you at Martin's, and he came over to our table and introduced himself. It was really quite amusing to notice the way he registered. First he wrote some- thing and then the clerk seemed to be call- ing his attention to an omission, and he ex- claimed, "Oh, of course!" and added some- thing with a muffled remark about having missed the last train and being without even hand baggage. The clerk whispered to him and he re- peated, "Certainly, of course/' this time quite irritably, and threw down a bill with some show of impatience, although he should have known that it was a rule of the $8 LETTERS OF house merely a precaution in the event of a conflagration breaking out before morn- ing. Blanche and I moved over toward the ele- Tator and managed to obtain a fairly good look at her. Although heavily veiled and obviously distrait she was very well gowned and there was about her that undefinable air of something or other that satisfied me she must have been at some time in the pro- fession. Blanche thought so, too, and you know how unerring Blanche's judgment is in most things. Quite casually and not at all through any idle curiosity, we both looked to see how the major had registered. Doubtless he had some reason for wishing to preserve an incognito. There are occa* jsions when we all do that, and it is some- MILDRED'S MOTHER. 2fr times very discreet, as for example, when a tnan is burglarizing a house or a married lady is slumming while her husband is in Boston. But be that as it may, the Major had simply inscribed "John Smith and lady, Peoria, 111." The addition which he had made at the clerk's suggestion evidently re- ferred to the lady. Men are so forgetful when on their bridal tours. Had you heard of the Major's marriage, Mildred, dear? If so, it must have been quite a shock to you. It is curious we never saw it in the papers, although, to tell the truth, I've seldom looked at a paper since I came here, except the racing charts* There's scarcely a thing in the local pa- pers at this time of year except such items as "Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Cohen, Miss 80 LETTERS OF Cohen, Miss Rebecca Cohen and Master Isa- dore Cohen have gone to Oconomowoc during the heated spell." Blanche and I were chatting with the night clerk, a very pleasant gentleman, and asking him if he knew any good things at the track to-day, when the bell began to ring violently. It appeared that Mr. and Mrs. Smith, cf Peoria, desired immediately two Manhat- tan cocktails, a large cold quart and a couple of club sandwiches. That was the only think that made me suspicious, Mil* , dred. It is tiie usual custom when a married couple arrive at a hotel for the poor, neg- lected wife to go up alone and do the best she can to get iced water while the brute of a husband lights a fresh cigar and makes a "MILDRED'S MOTHER. 31 bee line for the bar. Men are such wretches, ma petite. There are two things, dear child, I wi^h to impress upon you never contract a me- salliance and try to support a husband on your chorus salary, and never allow any lib- erties to be taken with the hotel register. It is so unnecessary. Col. Hannibal Peterson, of Moberly, Mo; 5 was our escort to Washington Park to-day fc a charming man, although the least bit chol- eric. It was really almost embarrassing when, over a dispute about a paltry fifty cents, he offered to fight the hackman, a stocky, florid faced person, with a grizzled,, bullet head, who drove in his shirt sleeves. Col. Peterson said he didn't care about the four bits, but his honor was involved. Fortunately an Irish policeman threatened aS LETTERS OF to take us all to the Harrison street station and the disagreeable incident was closed. I do hope, Mildred, dear, that the dogs are running better for you down at the Beach than they are for us. It was another very off day, Blanche and I pooled at the suggestion of Col. Peterson, who said it was to be a watermelpn cutting, and played Rolling Boer to win. Had we taken him to show in seventh place we could have beggared the bookmak- ers. The Colonel was very much chagrined and explained that "the old pelter had a hot leg," although goodness knows I don't see why, for he certainly did not run fast enough. Anyhow, a racehorse's leg is not supposed to be like an overheated axle box on a limited express train. It was most irritating to us to see an im~ MILDRED'S MOTHER. 33 snense painted blonde creature in the next box cash in on Terminus at 20 to 1. She had diamonds as big as walnuts, and Blanche said she thought she must be one of the demi-monde. Blanche is a great read- er of character. It was very disgusting. Your friend, young Carruthers, the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania student, who is here spending his vacation at home he is the one who gave you the turquoise that turned color, although I honestly believe the poor boy was swindled was very attentive to us. He showed us a quiet place down under the stand where we could get a fairly palatable gin fizz, and he was very courteous. He seemed to take such a fancy to Blanche, After all, Mildred, it is the woman of well ripened charms to whom inexperienced col- legions axe most susceptible. It is the sub- 84 LETTERS OF tie suggestion of experience that is so fas- cinating to young men. The mingled odor 4 of violet and orris root is more enticing than that of baby powder. Young Carruthers wanted to take us to a theatrical entertainment, but we had seen positively everything. It seems to me as if all the men we meet want to send us tickets to the theatres. I am quite firmly convinced that a considerable percentage of the men are buying for Blanche and me two and three weeks ahead. Blanche laughed the other day and said we were becoming so popular that it was almost as though we were controlled by a syndicate. But I told her I had yet to see the man I could trust It was just a merry, playful little jest, but Blanche did not seen* MILDRED'S MOTHER. & to recognize the point. Blanche lacks quick- ness of perception at times. If Mme. de Stael had said a thing like that people would have called it a bon mot and considered it very clever, and it wonld have been published in her memoirs. Blanche and I compromised with young Carruthers by spending an evening at a Summer garden. Anything that has a few stunted shrubs in tubs, with chairs and tables and a Hungarian band, and where they charge fancy prices for plain drinks, is called a Summer garden nowadays. There wasn't a breath of air stirring and I was gasping like a fish. Then, too, I had laced them in about an inch too tight. I found it very stupid, particularly as Blanche seemed determined to monopolize our escort. 36 LETTERS OF During the third battle she remarked how anxious she was to get back into the legiti- mate. You know, darling, she was never in anything but the chorus, and eventually even got too stout to wear tights. Young Carruthers immediately became excited and offered to star her. He said he was willing to put up $50,000, but when she inquired whether it was in cash or conversation, he seemed to feel hurt, and was quite attentive to me for the rest of the evening. You know, Mildred, darling, that mamma is not yet out of the running. I was mar- ried when a mere child. It was so perfectly absurd of Blanche to exhibit pique. When Mr. Carruthers finally turned to her for he is a thorough gentleman and politely inquired if she did not admire the beautiful view, she replied quite snappishly: MILDRED'S MOTHER. 37 "I fail to perceive anything particularly ravishing about the view." "Well," he persisted, obstinately, "the*"" the moon, for instance. Did you ever enjoy a finer view of the moon anywhere or in any country? It's no better from the top of the Matterhorn." And Blanche hadn't a word to say. I don't believe she knows the Alps from the Shawangunk Mountains. After that Mr. Carruthers was more a*- tentive than ever. He finally became quite sentimental, and wanted to wish on my wed- ding ring, but I never take it off. It's bad luck for a woman to take off her wedding ring, even though she may have been di- vorced fifty times. I am so glad, Mildred, that you have de- cided to take your Wall Street friend's ad- 38 LETTERS OF vice anil Summer in the flat. I was so afraid you would go to Sheepshead Bay again* It is so perfectly outre and I am positive there is malaria in the marshes when the tide is low. Then, too, one simply has to be polite to the jockeys and I should so dread to have you talked about like Elfie Fay. You ask me if I think it imprudent for you to have gone driving through the park in a hansom cab with a married man whose wife misun- derstands him, and at 2.30 in the morning ! My darling, it was worse than imprudent. Never, never, never, let me hear of your go- ing out again, under such circumstances, in any vehicle that has a trap door in the roof. You might have been seriously compro- mised^ Positively it saddens me to think MILDRED'S MOTHER. 39 how little you have profited by my maternal teachings. Such a contretemps, if I may use the ex- pression, almost makes me feel as if I ought to cut short my little outing and hurry home to you, and yet you must realize how sadly I was run down by staying out nights with you all last Winter and how much I need the change. And speaking of the change, I must re- mind you that it is the duty of every girl, holding a good chorus position, located on Broadway, at fifteen per, to submit to the usual weekly ten dollar assessment. I need it in my business. Be careful, Mildred, to exercise the utmost circumspection in every- thing you do, for the world is so cruel to a (woman, and not to accept any counterfeit op mutilated currency. 40 LETTERS OF Give the canary plenty of sunshine and see that Bijou has his bath and constitu- tional regularly. It seems to me that you ' are making a mistake to feed him so much lobster salad. It is not good for a dog, par- ticularly in hot weather. Blanche and I are thinking of going to the country next week. We are due at the manicure's early in the morning that is^ if Blanche gets over her exhibition of ill temper and after that to the astrologer's. I had such a frightful dream about you last night. I dreamed that you had written that it would be impossible to send the ten. YOUR DEAREST MAMMA. MILDRED'S MOTHER, 41 LETTER III. MOTHER GOES YACHTING. CHICAGO, 21st July, DARLING MILDRED: Well, such a day as Blanche and I had yesterday, not to mention the night! I don't believe I told you about the two perfectly elegant gentlemen who introduced themselves in the elevator the other even- ing. They are both stopping here, and it was most thoughtful of them not to overlook the amenities of life, for it is certainly very dull and dispiriting for a couple of lone, un- protected women in a strange hotel. The big, blond, breezy man, Mr. Sylvanus 42 LETTERS OP I J R. Wilcox, is traveling for a whisky house, and the petite brunette, Mr. Isadore Marks* quite a stout, jolly little man, is introducing a new five cent cigar, named after a popular actor. I never smoke anything but an oc- casional gold tipped Egyptian, as you know, Mildred, but Mr. Marks assures me that there isn't a better cigar on the market for the money clear Florida filling with a choice flavored New England wrapper. He has promised to give me a box to send to you. When a girl has so many callers it is always nice to be able to offer the gentle- men a cigar. It flatters them and causes them to feel at home and has a tendency to make them loosen up a bit. Mr. Marks asked me for your address and carefully wrote it down in Ms order book, so yon will be nice to him when he calls MILDRED'S MOTHER. 43 at the flat, for he expects to be in New York very soon, on his way to Long Branch. Blanche and I had just ordered coffee and rolls in the caf yesterday morning when Mr. Wilcox and Mr. Marks happened in and insisted that we breakfast with them. So we increased the order to cocktails, canta- loupe, lamb chops, omelette a la Creole and Julienne potatoes, and told the garcon to bring real cream with the coffee. Nothing would do but that we must go to the trial yacht race between the Canada cup defenders, so while Blanche and I were making a hasty toilet, Mr. Marks hustled out and hired the sailboat, and Mr. Wilcox had one of the bellboys carry over a case of rye samples provided by his firm, and other light refreshments. It wass ao fortunate, dear, that Blanche 44 LETTERS OF and I brought the white duck suits ami sailor hats. You know Blanche has consid- Arable breadth of beam, and your mamma's lines are not drawn too fine, and when we sailed out through the main entrance we were the cynosure of all eyes. The hack- tt*en lined up along the curb were particu- larly admirative, and I overheard one of them say we resembled a couple of armored cruisers proceeding under canvas. It was just lovely on the lake and I felt so sorry for you, my precious, broiling and stewing on Broadway, although you are for- tunate, in one sense, in having an all Sum- ner engagement, which helps you assist mamma obtain a much needed rest cure on ithis Western trip, to say nothing of defray- ing your little sister Louise's expenses at the convent MILDRED'S MOTHER. 45 you should be positively grateful that you are one of the real things and not a Chicago chorus girl. The Chicago chorus girls are merely the plated imitations slov- enly persons in bargain counter shirt waists and perpetually chewing gum. They are al- ways talking about when they were .with Edna May in London. It is so droll, for it is perfectly apparent that they have never been further away from this town than Milwaukee. I honestly believe that if a broiled lobster was set be- fore one of them she would be afraid to taste it, and would say she preferred a dish of vanilla ice cream. Never accept a Summer chorus engage- , ment in Chicago, Mildred, dear. Little old Broadway should be plenty good enough for any girl who has a mother with a weak heart 46 LETTERS OF partly dependent upon her for support. Which reminds me that the customary ten dollar money order for last week is now overdue. But, dear me, I do wander so. I had quite forgotten all about the yacht race. To be perfectly candid, dear child, we never saw it. Blanche had thoughtfully brought a deck of playing cards and proposed telling fortunes. And from that it was awfully easy to drift into a friendly game of poker with a modest limit. When Blanche and I were $38 to the good between us, our pedal extremities suddenly became chilled and we began to suffer so dreadfully from mal-de-mer that Mr. Wilcox and Mr. Marks, to their great disappoint- ment, were compelled to put the boat about and land us opposite the hotel. And then> MILDRED'S MOTHER. 47 too, the liquid sample supplies ha I did all I could to cheer her up, and as- sured her that whichever sphere she might be translated to she needn't worry. If she went to heaven, well and good, and if she her destination to be the other place,. 54 LETTERS OF she was certain to meet some charming peo- ple. ' But that was an hour ago. Within the last ten minutes Blanche has rounded to . beautifully. She is able to sit up and ask for liquid nourishment, and says she thinks she would like to go and see "Lovers' Lane" again to-night. The hero is a clergyman, you know, and it will be perfectly proper to go, even if it is the Sabbath evening. I think Blanche is secretly enamored of Ernest Hastings, although she has never tnet him, but, for that matter, I caught her giving the eye to Raymond Hitchcock, the comic opera comedian, who never noticed her. I am afraid Blanche is just the least bit disposed to be fickle and impressionable. Do you know, Mildred, I am of the opin- Bon that Blanche and I have had about MILDRED'S MOTHER. 55 tenough of Chicago. It always impressed me as being a Midway Plaisance sort of town. Mr. Isaacstein is strenuously insistent that we accompany him to the Pan-Amer- ican. He says we will have the time of our lives and that, anyhow, it is our duty to give the Buffalonians a treat. Mr. Isaacstein declares there is no profit in making book, and he has a good thing that he desires to introduce to the granger element visiting the great exposition. It is a, puzzle game, played with a dried pea and three half sections of walnut shell. To make it interesting there is a small money wager involved. If the country dele- ,gate guesses which shell the pea is under he rgets Mr. Isaacstein's money, and if he is an indifferent guesser he pawns the silver 56 LETTERS OF openfticed watch, which is a family heir- loom> in order to buy his return ticket It lookr> good. I wish, my darling, that you would be particular about this week's remittance* Should the little purse with the jeweled nonogram be depleted just rattle the nickel savings bank on your escritoire and if it gives forth a hollow sound you had better see the Polish refugee around the corner and get what you can on the marquise ring with the chipped turquoise. And that reminds me, Mildred, that should the Colonel again mention the dia- mond sunburst, try and get him to give you instead a piano for Louise. You know what a talent for music your dear little sister jhas, and she will soon be leaving the vent. MILDRED'S MOTHER. B? I am quite sure the Colonel will stand for the piano, if you are at all diplomatic. It is almost a necessity, for the organ is get- ting quite wheezy. I shall be so delighted when we are aJJ united again, for I am such a home body. .YOUR DEAREST MAMMA. GRACE MILLER WHITE'S POPULAR NOVELS FROM PLAYS AND MOTION PICTURES MRS. WHITE is known as one of the ablest novelizers of popular plays in the country. Literary ability and large experience enable her to give the reader a true and delightful word picture in book form of the best which has appeared on the theatrical stage throughout the country, eliminating that stiffness and abruptness char- acteristic of some novelizers, but retaining all of the romance, tenderness, action and interest of the story. Driven From Home Queen of the White Slaves When Women Love A Child of the Slums Human Hearts From Rags to Riches Down by the Sea How Hearts Are Broken The House of Mystery When the World Sleeps Ruled Off the Turf Secrets of the Police A Marked Woman A Race Across the Continent The Great Express Robbery Deadwood Dick's Last Shot Since Nellie Went Away Convict 999 All the above books, are issued in our Play Book Series, and contain 125 to 200 pages each, with attractive cover in colors. Price, postpaid, 25 cents each ; or, five for $1.00. Address all orders to J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY P. O. Box 767 57 ROSE STREET, NEW, YORK. $1,25 WORTH FOR 35 GENTS OLD SECRETS AND NEW DISCOVERIES CONTAINS INFORMATION OF RARE VALUE FOR ALL CLASSES, IN ALL CONDITIONS OF SOCIETY This book is a combina- tion of five books, each complete in itself, and? which were formerly pub- lished at 25 cents per copy. Following are the titles o<" the five books contained iiv OLD SECRETS AND NEW DISCOVERIES: Old Secrets; Secrets for Farmers; Canning, Pickling and Preserving Secrets; Secrets for the House- wife; and The Secret of Money Getting, by P. T. Bar- num. This Book Tells how to make persons at a distance think of you Something all lovers should know. It Tells how you can charm those you meet and make them love you. it Tells how Spiritualists and others can make writing appear on the arm in blood characters, as performed by Foster and other noted magicians. 8t TeHs how to make a cheap Galvanic Battery; how to plate and gild without a battery: how to make a candle burn all night: how to rt*t.6ct counterfeit money; how to banish and prevent mosquitoes trom biting; how to make yellow butter in winter; Circassian curling fluid; Sympathetic or Secret Writing Ink; Cologne Water; Artificial Honey; Stammering; to copy letters without a press; to obtain fresh-blown flowers in winter; to> make S'ood burning candles from lard. ft Tells how to make a horse appear as though he was badly foun- dered; to make a horse temporarily lame; how to make him stand by his food and not e&t it; how to cure a horse from the crib or sucking wind; how to put a young countenance on the horse; how to cover up the heaves; how to make him appear? as if he had the glanders; how to make a true pulling horse balk; how to nerve a horse that is lame, etc. These horse ' secrets are being continually sold at one dollar each. ,$! Tells how to make the eggs of Pharo's S'erpents, from which., when lighted, though but the size of a pea, there issues from* it a coiling-, hissing serpent, wonderful in length and similar ' to a genuine serpent. It Tells of a simple and ingenious method for copying any kind of drawing or picture. And more wonderful still, how to print pictures from the print itself. It Tells how to perform the Davenport Brothers' "Spirit Mysteries/* so that any person can astonish an audience, as has been done. , Also scores of other wonderful things which we have no room to mention. OLD SECRETS AND NEW DISCOVERIES contains over 25fc eplid pages of reading matter, and is worth $1.25 to any person, We will mail it to any address upon receipt of only 35 cents. Postr age stamps taken the same as cash. ADDRESS ALL ORDERS TO J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING CO., 9T ROSE STREET NEW YORK, N f %t OUR. ENDEAVOR in selling books to you, is to have you feel that you are getting your money's wor*h.' We therefore desire to call your special attention to the following Four Books: in. ONE, 7ou are Courting, You want to Court, ot^ You want to be Courted, you should obtain at the earliest possible moment? HOW TO WOO: WHEN AND WHOM, which gives full and interesting rules for the etiquette of courtship, the time and place for conducting the same, and some good advice as to the selection of your partner for life. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE, which tells hvjw to win tha favor of the ladies, how to begin and end a courtship, and how to " Pop the Question ;" and also gives full information in regard to the invitations, gifts, ushers, bridesmaids, con* duct of the wedding ceremony, etc., etc. THE LOVER'S GUIDE, which gives the flirtations of the hand- kerchief, parasol, glove, fan and napkin ; also, the language of flowers i now to kiss deliciously ; and a cure for bashfulnoss. tttE POPULAR LETTER WRITER, which tells how to write business, social, and Jpve letters, giving numerous examples of alL This valuable work, containing the lour books above luentioned, is issued in one volume under the titled HOW TO WOO, and it will be sent to any address, ' postpaid, upon receipt of 30 cents in TJ. S. postage &*mps or money. Address all orders to J. S. OGILVIB PUBLISHING COMPANY. . 0. Box 767. 57 ROSE SXBEEI. NEW Y03K, SIZZLER A TEXAS COW BOY f FROM SIZZLERVILLEI; Sets You From the Word 80? ROflANCE ROUTED! FICTION ABASHED! ATexas Cowboy In this tremendously interest* ing work the famous and heroic Cowboy King, Chas. A. Siringo, tells the story of his dare-devil life in the palmy days of the Wild South West THE BLOOD RUNS RIOT as vre watch the bellowing herda of long-horned cattle, roving tribes of blood-thirsty Indians, mighty bands of grazing buffalo, sweep panorama-like across the boundless plains and rolling prairie. The author in his breezy, irresistible style carries the reader through a thousand blood-curdling adventures withe marauding redskins, gamblers, desperadoes and stampeding ateers, holding one tense and spellbound to the very end of b* astounding narrative. A Pulsating Record of Red-Blooded Deeds! A Thrill in Every Line ! A Sensation in Every Chapter! FACTS ! FACTS 1 1 FACTS ! ! ! and TRUTH ! f 1 1 triumphantly rout the wildest imaginings of the fictiontetS Get in line and secure the best record ever / panned of the fast-vanishing Wild Western life. A TEXAS COWBOY contains 256 pages, printed from large type, and bound in attractive cover printed in colors. For sale by booksellers everywhere, or seni by mail, postpaid, on receipt of Price, 35 Gents. J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY, P. 0. Box 767, 67 ROSE STREET, NEW YORfc, GASP? GASP! GASPl *n>d HOLD YOUR BREATH when yowt read Fred Bennett the Mormon Detective BY U. S, MARSHAL BENNETT MORMONS I M ORMONS ! MORMOHS . All abmt the MORMONS and the KARSMS OF TEE WESTC n this astounding record of fact that puts fiction to blush, i& repealed all the vicious and secret doings and profligate practices of Mormondom. You visit the secret chambers of the Endowment houses ir Salt Lake City, THe Paradise of tHe Polygasnist* and with astonishment view the converts to the "faith" in a state of nudity, sealed for life to their lecherous partners. Follow the author on his deadly, dangerous, hair-raising raid iti the Western wilds as he despoils the individual harems and dens of vice and incest of their degraded occupants. READ! FIE, AD! READ OF THE TURKS OF OTAE *ND THEIR DEBASED OBALI3KS; POLYGAMY IN ITS PRIME Read how Uncle Sam threw a bomb into the Constantinople o* . '* the West, rescued deluded women from bondage, and stopped tb* 'polygamous practices of sensuous satyrs. j HYPOCRISY UNMASKED! LUST LAID BARE ! VICE EXPOSEDL FRED BENNETT THE MORMON DETECTIVE is a book o! 283 pages bound in paper covers attractively printed in colors, ani ^ is for sale by booksellers and newsdealers everywhere, or will t>e sent by mail postpaid on receipt of Price, 35 cental J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY ^JW Rose Street New Yost ^he Story roith the Vanchf 'Che 1&al Qoodsf! hates and primitive passions of a wild, fearless, fast living, hard dying race . A Frontier Classic ! The Real Goods ! Written by a Master Hand* No mush, slush, or trash, but a stirring- truthful record of thr ^reat cattle wars of the early *90's. -^ Everything Clicks like a Colt 3S ! Makes the European war seem tame and life In the trenches fc ^pastoral of peace in comparison. All Aboard for the Wild and Woolly West. The Book You Need ! The Book You Must have! BUY IT NOW ! ! ! *^ttle Rustlers Of Wyoming: is a book of 200 pages printed i/om new large type and bound in attractive illustrated paper cover printed in colors. For sale by all booksellers and news dealers. Price 35 cents postpaid. J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING CO. 67 ROSE STREET MEW YOtUC BANG! BANG! BANG! ALL ABOARD! ALL ABOARD! ALL ABOARD! FOR THE RIO GRANDE You've Simply Gotta Read j ON A Mexican Mustang Through Texas By the famous editors of the immortal TEXAS SIFTINGS TEXAS IN ITS PALMY DAYS! TEXAS IN ITS GLORY 2 A thrilling and historically correct record of Border life in *he wild and wooly days when the corks popped freely and: thfl liquor ran red, while the bowie knives flashed, pistols barkej and gambler, bad man, cow puncher and frontiersman fought fol the smiles and favors of the dark-eyed, languorous, sensuouj senoritas of the dance hall and hacienda, and chased the lon$ ihorned, bellowing herds across the boundless prairies. You live again in THE BRAVE, DAREDEVIL DAYS OF OLD! When every bullet found its billet and the law of life was gun *nd knife. FUN! FACT! FROLIC AND FANCY! Humor and Pathos ! Laughter and Tears E Hundreds of Pages of Pure Delight Once More* A.11 A,fc>oardl For the enchanted land of romance, sunshine and mysfery. The Trip Costs You Only Thirty Cents. <3ET ABOARD THE MEXICAN MUSTANG AND START RIGHT NOWJ ON A MEXICAN MUSTANG THROUGH TEXAS contains / 280 pages with over 100 illustrations, is bound in heavy paper cover with attractive cover illustration printed in colors. It is for sal by all booksellers and newsdealers, or will be sent b? r mail postpaid on receipt of Price, 35 cents. J. S. OGII*VI PUBLISHING COMPANY 7 Koe Street New YorK ITHEMANFROMTHE *BOM TMI WEST '1 ALL PEP FROM THE WORD GO? Grips like a Barbed Wire Fence ! NEVER HALTS! NEVER TIRES! TENSE! DRAMATIC! THR1LL1N6? The Man From The West HIE THERE YOU! Get busy and follow the trail of a breezy, dashing Western Ranch- er, who hits Wall Street like the tail end of a Kansas cy~ clone, sweeps through its gilded palaces and temples of mammon as a broncho goes thru a bunch of frightened steers. See the cattle puncher drop his wad and get it back, and then some. See Texas bucking the Street and skim- ming the golden bubbles off .the shimmering surface of the financial pond. Love, romance, passion, hate, intrigue, death and retribution all blended and woven by a master hand. GETS HOME LIKE A U-BOAT TORPEDO! A story for the war time ! A story with a punch ! BUY IT NOW! The Man from the West contains 245 pages, illus* ' trated, bound in paper cover printed in colors, and will be sent by mail postpaid to any address on receipt of 50 cents. J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY 57 ROSE STREET NEW YORK The Clemenceaii Case By Alexandra Bumact In this story Dumas has attaintQ the caj, rtone of his towering geniut^ Of Iza, the pantherish heroine of thi^, deathless drama, he himself wrote :* "I fc>hall never create anotner such character though I scribble till dooms* day. 9 ' Iza's sinister bsauty am *ts fatal effect on the lives of two noble meu form the mom plot of YBV$ CivEMENCKATj CASE. Pierre, her husband, tvhom she cast* off for COG- stantin Ritz, she leaves with his career a a talented sculptor blasted forever. In turn she toys with the infatuated Ritz, shattering his hopes, ambitions and home life. 4 But Pierre saves Ritz against himself. With heroic sell- Sacrifice he allows himself, apparently, to fall once more under Iza's spell. He meets her in her oriental boudoir. As she pc$s* jier false lips to Pierre's, he stabs her to the heart just as Rita "I hava saved you for your wife," ssays Vierre calmly as he tel*- phones for the police. "As for me, Iza killed, my heart years ago.* ; This story by Dumas is considered such a masterpiece, and afr Containing such a strong presentation of to what pride and desira rtor admiration and conquest will lead, that it has been moving* I Returned and is now being shown as a photoplay thruout ttotf Country. j The book is 7jx5# inches in size and nearly one inch thick 'l> It is for sale by booksellers and newsdealers everywhere.-* jPrice, 35 oeats. J. S. OGILVXE PUBLISHING COMPANY X".O.BOX 767^ 57 ROSE STREET. NEW YORK A Story of the Home THE UNLOVED WIFE By FLORENCE EDNA MAY Compulsory Divorce Advocated by Prof. Barnes By International News Service. BOSTON, Oct. 30. -Compulsory divorce if the husband and wife do not love each other was recommended by Professor Ear) Barnes, formerly of Leland Stanford University, speaking hers at a State social conference. "It is a monstrous thing/' he said, "for any man and woman to live in rhe close intimacy of marital life if they do not love each other ardently." Docs your husband really IOVQ you? Honestly now does he? Or does he just tolerate you? Has his love ever been thoroughly tested? What makes a man different after he is married? Did it ever occur to you that every married man has a double personality? Why is your husband different from the man you married? You probably know a dozen couples who are unhappily married, why? How much deception should a wife tolerate on the part of foer husband? Is it a fact that every married woman at some time thinks *he is unloved? Should the woman be tied to the home while the man does Us he pleases? How shall you retain the love of your husband? If you would learn the answers to the above questions, read the book THE UNLOVED WIFE, founded on the play of the same name, a story of thrills, laughter, tears, romance and the sweep of drama. An original theme that grips and holds you. Sent by mail postpaid on receipt of PRICE 35 CENTS. J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY 67 ROSE STREET NEW YORK Tense! Dramatic! Appealing f SWEEPS THE WHOLE GAMUT OF HUMAN EMOTIONS! STIRS THE SOUL TO ITS BOTTOMMOST DEPTHS f THE UNMARRIED: MOTHER By FLORENCE EDNA MAY You will read with throbbing heart and tear dimmed eyes this ever old but ever new story of beauty and innocence heroic- ally battling for honor, right and decency against terrifying odds. Beth Goodman, young, fair and winsome, the victim 01 man's villainous duplicity, sacrifices her all to gain bread and shelter for a dying mother. Read how the kindly hands of Protecting Providence deliver this wisp of exquisite womanhood from the toils with which a merciless fate has enchained her. A Social Sore Laid Bare by a Master Hand ! Sordid Misery Made Radiant by the Purifying Influences of Love and Devotion ! For Mother and Daughter. Father and Son the Unmarried Mother Conveys a Lesson That All Should Heed/ This thrilling story lays bare the inmost workings of a woman's soul and wakens emotions, tender and sympathetic irn 'the flintiest heart. f A STORY WITH A MORAL! A STORY WITH A PURPOSE** THE UNMARRIED MOTHER contains 125 pages o solid reading matter, printed in large type on good paper, bouncf in paper cover with attractive cover design. It is for sale by booksellers and newsdealers everywhere, or will be sent T;y mail postpaid on receipt of PRICE 35 CENTS. J. S. OGILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY Box 767, C. H. Sta. 57 Rose Street, New York The Confessions A book of this sort would necc.isanly be anonymous, and the name of the .vainer is not essential as indicative of literary ability, the strength of -the story depend- ing upon its action as revealed thru ugh the laying bare of the innermost secrets of a "Princess of the Realm" whose dis- position and character were such as to compel her to find elsewhere than in her own home the love, tenderness, admira- lion, and society which was lacking there, which her being craved Position, money and power, seem to those who do not possess them, to bring happiness. 'Such is not the case, however, where stability of character is? lackmg and where one depends upon the pleasures of sense for the enjoyment of life rather than on the p^omplisbmem of things worth while, based on high ideals. The writer has taken a page from her life and ha^ given it u* the world. She has laid bare the soul of a woman, that some other woman (or some man) might profit thereby. The names have been changed, and such events omitted as might lead too readily to the discovery of their identity. Each the Victim of circumstance, yet the price is demanded of the ous $ f ho fell the victim of environment. ' Hie Confessions of a Princess is the story of a w< *na& , who saw, conquered and fell. The book contains 270 pages, printed from new* large type on good paper, bound in paper cover witfi Attractive design in colors. For sale by newsdealers 'everywhere, or sent by mail, postpaid, upon rsceipt of 35 cents. J. & OCHLYIE PUBLISHING COMPANY, JP. 0. Box 767- 57 BOSH STSEET, HEW YOKE, B.R-R-R ! BIFF ! ! BANG in TORPEDOED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN! Adrift in the Submarine Infested Waters of the War Zone! By E. H. JOHNSON A Victim of German Frlshtfalness Unequalled and Unsurpassed The War's Best and Most Hair Raising Narrative BATTLING WITH THE GERMAN U BOATS A Book That Will Stir Your Yankee Doodle Blood to Fever Heat Read hew the author witnessed the sinking of com- rade ships; watch his vessel trailed by hostile raiders; hear the roar of the deadly Hun torpedo; view his good ship as it sinks beneath him and his struggles for life, and see him at sea a castaway on the northern coast of distant Africa. Truth That KaKes Fiction Tame and Tedious*) The U Boats Are BlocKing Our Coasts. this astounding story of the pirates of the under- seas, a story of three continents ablaze with the horrors &f the world's greatest war. Go over the top of the ocean's trenches with the hero author and buy TORPEDOED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN! NOW Instructive ! Educational ! Thrilling ! The book is printed from new, large type on good paper, bound in paper cover with attractive design in colors. For sale by newsdealers everywhere, or sent by mail, postpaid, upon receipt of price, 35 cents. J. S. OGIL.VIE PUBLISHING COMPANY fV O. Box 767 57 Rose Street, New York ALT! ATTENTION! _ Read the most astounding and exciting love story of the age ONL7 A GIRL'S LOVE I BY CHARLES GARVICEe IT ENRAPTURES! ENTRANCES I THRILLS ! DELIGHTS ! In this intensely dramatic and thrilling love story, we 3r&teh with bated breath the unfolding of a high life drama of Absorbing interest. Rank and wealth, pride and prejudice, vice and villainly, combine in a desperate and determined effort to break off a romantic and thrilling love match, the develop- ment, temporary rupture and final consummation of which, by the genius of the author, we are, with spell-bound interest, tense^ arteries and throbbing hearts privileged to witness. This desperate attempt to halt the course of true love and dain the well-springs of an ardent and romantic affection, will bo watched by the reader with a boundless and untiring interest. New Scenes ! New Faces I New Features ! New Thrifts 1 SECURE THIS SUPERB NOVEL and learn for yourself the result of this astounding battle of true love against terriffic odds. FICTION LOVERS, NOVEL READERS, TAKE NOTICkf Just What You Are Looking For ! ^ story that grips th* heart and holds the reader spell-boand. i from start to finish ! A MENTAL FEAST, A LITERARY BANQUET I tfoa Want It! You Cannot Do Without It! Bay It Today! Now!' The book contains 380 pages of soM reading matter, bound in attractive paper cover, printed in colors. For sale by book- sellers and newsdealers everywhere, or sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price, 3" cents. 3. 3. G'JILVIE PUBLISHING COMPANY, P. 0. Box '/