The Auction Block

h head-lights ablaze, was defying all speed laws. Other vehicles on their way home to the fashionable estates of Wheatley Hills, Hempstead, and the South Shore were overhauled and

eep cushions, were decidedly restful, and had there been nothing to challenge her sight Lorelei felt that she, too, might have been soothed as Merkle was. But she was fascinated, hypnotized by the gleaming tunnel of light into which she was being hurled. The blazing panorama of fence, forest, and

size without protection; otherwise I could put him out of the way very

u warn Mr. Ha

opposition is so deep, that he would laugh at the idea of a plot against him. Then, too, he's mad about th

e for a dim-lit window here and there. The car was eating the miles in a flight as swift and undeviating as that of an arro

Crouched immovably in his seat, the driver scanned the causeway that leaped into view and vanished beneath the wheels, like a tremendous ribbon whirling upon spools. Merkle lay back inertly, lolling and swaying to the side-thrust of the cushions; but Lorelei found her fists clenched and he

, "Is this too fast

usly. "N-no. I'm

led her by inquiring, "

rto

the reeling shadows in

think I like h

the sort you're loo

ct to-marry a decent man.

d then, "It would be

tary. Perhaps I'm not

as gone to my head; no man could remain quite sane in your company." He turned his tired, bright eye

you thought. I've seen

ts wholly upon impulse, of c

hauffeur, then directed him to tu

ght," he said. "If you don't mind I'll doze on the way in,

ce broken only by Merkle's demand for more speed whenever the machine s

ional red lanterns. The strange car held to its course; there was a blast of horns, a dazzling instant of intense illumination, then a crash as the inside mud-guards met. Merkle's car seemed to leap into the air; there was a report of an exploding tire; Lorelei felt a sickening sense of insecurity, and found herself hanging, bruised and breathless, across the back of the

erkle inquired anxiously if Lorelei were hurt; the chauffeur ran after the offending car, yelling anathemas into

"They wouldn't give way, an

g-board, then directed his driver to ascertain the extent of the damage. The motor was still throbbing, b

ht; but I'll have to send for

lendid mach

they had covered so swiftly; but she saw that he was serious and in a sour temper. "One risks his life on the whim of some dr

so if you don't mind the walk we'll go ahead. It will take an hour to get one of my other mac

such a shake-up. I swear, I think I feel it more than

e help from the nearest garage; and as they followed the dim road Merkle continued to apologi

he road led through a wooded country. Before long, however,

nsurpassed by any city restaurant, and, being within an hour's run by motor, it received a liberal patronage. Tips were large at the Chateau; its hospitality was famous among those who could afford the extravagance of midnight entertainmen

o the house they espied in the road ahead of them first the

rkle ejaculated. "

facing in the direction of the Chateau, and

. What do you think this is, a c

Lorelei, an

are you doing here?" he managed to say. One of the men who had been kneeling over a case of some

dy," he

which his companions, judging by their alert watchfulness, fu

re-and who is this guy?" He j

anion and made known the ca

you suppose ma'll say to this-

? Who are those peo

-I don't like the lo

m. "If you can't take your sister home

as if you'd been wrecked. Where's your driver?" Merkle's fist

r; "I'm not going to make trouble, o

and flung himself into the waiting automobile.

me home?" his s

elivered as he swung himself upon the running-board of the car, sounded li

ious mind," Merkle said. "I hope

i's emphasis on the last word made her

no harm done,

nning from stable to garage, others were scouring the grounds; from the open door came a voice pitched high in anger. The speaker was evidently beside himse

irst the two new-comers thought he was dangerously drunk, but, as they mounted to the tiled terrace which ser

. "By God! you'r

s happ

elf. These ruffians put up something on

erocious mustaches and frightened ey

ated, "you ruin me. Suc

ness. The man

How did he get his camera fixed without your knowledge? I'll have your scalp for this. I'll close this place and the city plac

re was a car outside the g

"Will you tell me

credible, M'sieu,"

room, then took a flash-light, and-there you are. I made a rush for the waiter as soon as I realized what had occurred, but he'd sk

that mysterious party at the gate; she understood now the significance of the

ent, and Hammon seemed about to destroy him when Me

ed briefly, t

it's my wife's work. She's had detectives on me for some time." Merkle murmured something m

rds were audible, and they w

we've got to kill the story and kill it q

is time," groaned the oth

move fast. Is

es

n with you. I had a

the other." Hammon jerked his head meaningly towa

young companion w

s we're

y. "Don't tell him who

st. I-can't see

-there never is. Jarvis will have to s

the porte-cochere, and a moment l

deeply agitated. Her face was swollen with weeping; she verged upon hysteria. No s

n he was up to something; but I didn'

" Merkle

r. This is

kes you

d have guessed, but he-Oh, I could kill myself!" S

ome to the dressing-ro

years. I've always-kno

hen I met her. She didn't know the sort of ruffian he is

uldn't let me, and I've HAD to be nic

le exclaime

so powerful that nobody can get him. He's the king of his ward; he keep

irst time began to doubt her own previous convictions. It seemed incredible that such emotion could be counterfeit, and Lilas's plausible explanations did indeed

ent insinuations, he still trusted her. "This is the only woman who ever cared for me, John,"

er complicates matters, doesn't it? What are

n't regret any change. When a man goes ahead and his wife stands still the right and wrong of what either chooses to do is hard to settle.

e on in