The Auction Block

rising in the country, insisted upon his breakfast at seven, and in spite of his inaction demanded dinner at noon and supper at six. Jim, being errati

rm as important an adjunct to the stage-woman's career as to that of the woman of fashion. All this was a vital part of that plan to which the mother had devoted herself. She attended the girl's health and good looks with a devout singleness of purpose that would have been admirable in a better cause. No race-horse on the eve of a Derby was groomed more carefully than this budding woman. In preparing her for masculine conquest the entire family took a hand. Her prospects, her actions, her triumphs, were the main topic of conversation; all other interests were s

breakfast, and Lorelei, according to custom, was

Mrs. Knight commented, when she heard the full

was drunk and fresh. I can't b

's an only son. He'll inherit e

-m-

many girls to choose from, you know. Young Powell, who married Norma Gale, was the same sort. She was twice his age, but he married her just the same,

sign she's

e might take you ri

ic. He's no good,

e morning paper, spoke from

Merkle himself, Sis? Eas

cigarettes, and the racing sheet of the Morning Telegraph. He wore his pajama jacket over a silk undershirt, and was now rest

ose old men are all alike. Mr.

he softer they get. Take it from me, on the word of a volunteer f

now?" inquire

econd sight. Anyhow, the info is

told

rother. "Maybe Max Melcher told me. Anyhow, you coul

ead. You and-that gang of yours-are full of tricks, but Lorelei's decent, and

never will be. This jail talk is funny. Just wait and see how easy Lilas gets hers. Of

ng to get hers?"

" James return

marry him. S

his sister brok

? Anybody would think

s it. What's the use of talking to a pair of haymakers like you, anyhow? I could grab a lot of coin for us

kmail

nd it takes a good-looking girl to pull off a deal in this town. When Lilas lands Hammon sh

de her napkin wit

to make a few pennies for you? All right-play for Bob Wharto

ow

ixth Avenue joint the other night. Maxey owns a plac

ivings concerning his activities of late, but Jim had never

"Forty per cent. That's usual. If he's going t

puzzled at this turn of the conversation. The girl's

started at the bitterness of the tone. "You're in a fine business, to

nything abo

orelei's voice broke; her eyes filmed over with tears. "I'd give anything in the w

cs," Jim growled. "What

y, ain'

Amsterdam Avenue. Pa is a crip

no crook. You've no right to talk lik

at brought us here? Ain't you having the time of your young life-parti

ate

ket if you did. You think you could go back, but you co

ole thing is-rotten. So

ei ch

nce. Do you think I like this stuffy flat, after that other house with the yard and the trees and the sunshine? Peter lies in his room here, day in and day out, and never has a moment's comfort or pleasure. I don't know a soul; I haven't a frie

l, falteringly. "I thi

have as you do and make it harder for us." Mrs. Knight sniffed and wiped her e

t night-there was something in his face, something in the way he held me-just as if I were his for the taking. It isn't the first time I've seen it, either. All the men I meet are beas

ried Jim, rising and making for his roo

e Mrs. Knight a

are you

. W

ll go back to work. You can't be too careful with the men you meet, for you're so beautiful that they'll promise you anything or pretend to be everything they aren't. I don't inten

be happy with a ma

turn out to be a drunkard and a loafer, just like Wharton is now." She sighed. "I'd like to see you settled; we could take

et the

ow

e on clothes, and if Jim would hel

rances. No; Peter will have to wait till you're married-only I did hope, when you told me about Robert Wharton, tha

elf to take the statement seriously. It was too absurd. She could not imagine how such a thing could be managed by a third person, or how he could profit by it. Her stage experience had acquainted her with several intrigues in which the men's names were nearly as prominent as Hammon's; but in no case had anything more serious than gossip eventuated. A number of such attachments h

she had moved in a world where matters the mere mention of which would not have been tolerated in Vale were openly discussed. These topics were treated frankly, moreo

sh; a pair of small, imperturbable eyes were set in a smiling face beneath a prematurely gray head. Max Melcher was a figure on Broadway; he had the entree to all

est conversation with Miss Lynn. None of their words were audible to the last come

sn't go, it's a joke

old her, quietly,

wo planning?" i

laimed, "I'm tired of this business. We're fools to stay in it. Think of Atlantic City on a night like this, or the mountains. This heat has

ck from the cleaner's

you. You're getting altogether too shiftless, Cro

all si

othing of

n; I hope I d

en't you?" Lilas's voice was strident; her face was da

gly. "Lilas! Croft is old

ugh to have some sense,

I drop d

nt girl. "I told you to attend to th

upon whose manifest need of employment Lorelei had taken pity some tim

m nervous enough to-night without having you in hysterics. Remember, if it ever happens again you'll go-and you'll take s

e me? I need work, I d

emper. But you really ought

nute if I didn't send 'em o

bbing. You know L

"Is that what you call it? How ever you can bear her I don't s

w! She wa

business, like she thinks he will. Poor man! He's laying up trouble for himself,

d from her mirror.

hat Jew-I beg pardon,

are

t the flas

in the profession-Not that I d

o

eviltry-her and that Maxey Melcher. They've got a pho

? Wh

something big in the air. Millions it is. And her saying she'll

rything, Cro

you better war

head through the curtains, shouting:

leaped to her feet a

eft behind. She breathed a feeble malediction upon the cause of it, seized a hat-pin, and, holding i

ome expensive cologne from a large bottle, transferring the perfume to a smaller bottle which she took from h

oft counted it. The pile was sufficiently large to reassure her, so she abstracted two