The evening world. Newspaper, October 1, 1921, Page 15

THE EVENING WORLD'S FICTION SECTION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1921. 3 making herself conspicuous with a man of his age.” “That is a pity, seeing that I am go- ing to Prince's with him to-morrow. I adore skating, and, as you probably know, he is one of the finest skaters in London.” Billy was white with anger. “I absolutely forbid you to go,” he said, furiously. ‘As long as you are as- sociated with me as my future wife I forbid you to have anything to do with Seldon.” She swung round, raising her gray eyes to his angry face. “Why?” she asked directly. “Are you jealous? Do you love me? Or are you only jealous of your name?” Billy turned scarlet; the suddenness of the attack: disarmed him. “Because the man is a cau,” he said, violently. “I could tell you enough about him to prove’—— “You could tell me nothing that I do not already know.” The Hon. Billy caught his breath hard, “You mean you have nret him be- fore?” “No; I have never spoken to him in all my life until this evening.” She laughed contemptuously. “Perhaps you think—oh, how absurd it all is!” she broke off. “Ours is purely a business relation. What is it to do with yor how I spend my time? In two months you will be free of me.” She spoks defiantly. “I will be free of you now! I will publish it in the papers to-morrow that our engagement is at an end.” She was deathly white now. “You can be ag insulting as you choose, but I am not afraid of you! Do as you threaten, and I will publish the whole story of our agreement—the sum I have paid you; the sum I have paid to Lady Mary; it will make inter- esting reading for your friends, will ¢ not?” Phillis jaughed and raised her head. “You're jealous,” she said. Sudden daring filled her animated face. “Jealous because you are in love with me and think it beneath you to admit it. You’re an honorable, and blue- blooded, even if you are glad to take my money! And I'm just nobody—jumped up from nothing—holding my position because of your help’"-—— She broke off, frightened at the expression of the Hon. Billy’s face. “Jealous! In love with you!” He laughed discordantly. “I am afraid you are making a mistake,” he said. She shrank back from him as if he had struck her. The Hon. Billy turned on his heel and walked out of the room without another word. Lady Mary, returning cautiously a moment later, found Phillis Staring into the dying fire with brooding, sombre eyes. “Heavens!” she ejaculated in a stage whisper. ‘What has happened? Did you hear Billy stam the door?” Phillis laughed rather tremulously, “Billy's jealous—of Lord Seldon!” she said. -_ NEW COMPLICATIONS. ITH morning Billy awoke from a short, troubled sleep with every other emotion save remorse washed out of his heart and mind. When he had breakfasted he rang Lady Mary up on the phone and asked if he could come round “Billy, of course you can! isn’t in! She this morning. till lunch time,” “I'll come to lunch then,” said Billy, and rang off. He made his toilet with extra care; Pierce heaved a sigh of relief when at last the door closed behind his immacu- late back. Lady Mary looked a trifle anxious as she greeted him. “Phil isn't home; she phoned up to gay she was ionching out. No, she didn't say with whom.” “She’s with Seldon, said. “My dear boy, how should I know? She went out alone; I never ask ques- tions, and, after all, Phil tells me that it was you who introduced Lord Sel- But Phil went out quite early I don't expect her back of course,” he “She told you then?” “She said you were jealous of Lord Seldon! So absurd! He is a middle- aged man.” The Hon. Billy started up from his chair. - “He's a rich man and he’s got a title. But it’s absurd to say I was jealous—anegry, if you like.’ Lady Mary raised her brows. “I entirely sympathize with Phillis,” she said. “If you treat her like this now what will you do when you are married?” “Hang it all! You know jolly well we never shali be married,” he said, storm- iiy. ‘There was a slight smile on Lady Mary's thin face. “Really, Billy,” she ‘said, aggrievedly, “you need not fly into such rages with me! How can I help your*being jeal- ous of Lord Seldon?” “] tell you I’m pot jealous: it’s only ghe said, slowly, as if she were thinking out what to say. “Then I need not apologize to you for anything I have done—or may do! After all, it’s only other people who imagine we like each other, isn’t it? You and I both know the real truth—that it’s only—just— pretense!” Billy looked down at her with dis- tressed eyes. “You haven't forgiven me atall! I— I—I'm afraid, perhaps, there was more truth In what you said last night than I would admit—when you said I was jealous, that I wag really in love with you, that’—— “Oh, that!” she laughed lightly. “Oh, that was only nonsense. You know nothing about me! What would be the use of us falling in love when— when you haven't a shilling in the world?” Billy stepped back from her; his lips “BILLY, COME AND SEE ME SOMETIMES,” VI CHALLONER PURRED. that it looks so thundering bad for her to go about with him when she ig supposed to be engaged to me, I-- there she is.” A car had just driven up to the curb- stone; a man sot out, turning to help some one. It was Phillis! The man, Lord Seldon, stood talking to her for a moment while hts foot- man rang the doorbell; then he raised his hat and went back to the car. Phillis came into the room a moment later, a pair of skates flung across her rounded arm. She kissed Lady Mary and nodded to Billy in friendly fashion. “We've had a lovely time.” Lady Mary made a very thin pretext of a forgotten handkerchief and left the room. Phillis turned to follow, barred the way. “I came to see you—I want to speak to you—to sty how sorry I am about last night. I hope you will forgive me and forget it.” ; She eyed him coolly; she smiled a little, "1 don’t want you to apologize to me,” but Billy were a little white. “Of course not,” he said. “As you say, what would be the use of a man who was—proke!" He laughed. “Well, I won't offend again.” He looked at her. “Do you want me to-day at all?” “No, I think not, thank you.” She moved toward the door, then hesitated, “By the way,” she said, with sudden change of yoice, “what sort of man is Mr, Furnival?” “Furnival? Oh, not 4 bad chap; fair- ly well off, but rather mean. We used to be quite chums at one time, till f went broke—I think I told you,” “Why do you ask?” The length of the room was between them now; acrors it thelr eyes met. “Because,” said i*hillis, “he has asked me to marry him, that’s ail.” She opened the door and closed it again softly behind her. SURPRISES FOR BILLY. BOUT 5 o'clock Billy let him- self into the house and went up to his cozy rooms. The door stood ajar; a light barned within. As he entered, a man looked up fresa the depthy of tis favorite chair was Furnival! Billy crossed the reem, “You can get out of bere,” he sabd, uncompronmlising\y. Furnival rose to his feet; smiling, though a@ little pale. “My dear chagi’—— “You can get out of here,” Billy re- peated, grimly. “And don’t come back again, either,” Furnival shrugged his shoulders. “Phillis &ae teil you, of course?” he submitted, alrly. “Miss Clyne has told me that you be- he was - haved like the cad I ought to have known you to ominous calm. Furnival laughed, a laugh that sound. ed like an insult. “At least,” he said, with detestable in- flection, “I shall always have the pleasure of knowing that I have kissed your charming fiancee,” he paused. “Which I am open to bet ten pounds-- is more than you have done!” Billy doubled his fist and Furnival in the face. “Take that,” he gasped, breathlessly, “Take that, you dirty cad!" The blow sent Furnival staggering back and tumbled him into the chair. He lay there, a despicable figuro—arm upraised to shield his head. “T'll have the law on you,” he stut- tered fearfully. Billy twisted his knuckles in the other’s collar and dragged him to the door, be,” said Billy, with struck He flung it wide, with a bang that brought Pierce up the stairs. “Now get out,” said Billy, furiously “And you, Pleree, bear witness that 1 kicked this man out of my room.” Pierce, returning noiselessly, found his master sitthfg in the armchair by the fire, his head in his hands. He mixed a brandy and soda at the sideboard and carried it to him on a tray. “Begging your pardon, sir," he said in his expressioniess voice; “but that's what you ought to have done months Billy was having a fate breakfast the following mornivg when Lady rang up. “You'd better come round and see Phillis,” she said. “The whole room was talking about her and that old man Sel- don last night at Lady Dacre’s.” She rang off impatiently. Billy walked across the park. A dainty landaulette passed him; a woman wag at the wheel; she looked over her shoulder at Billy. The car stopped. Billy started and flushed; it was Vi Challoner. “Billy!” she called to him jn a pretty, shrill yoice. “Goodness, man, don't scowl at me so! I’m allalone. Step in and I'll drive you wherever you're going.” Billy obeyed reluctantly. “Nice stories I've been hearing about you,” she said with a mischievous note in her voice. Mary “I hope they're not true, Billy.” “I dont know what you’ mean,” stiffly. “Oh, yes you do--I mean about this girl you've picked up. I saw your Plil'ts the other night with Lady Mary in the stalls,” she burst into her shrill laughter again. “Oh, Billy, you are such a duffer!” she said, “I am glad you are so amused,” he said, stiffly. P “Amused! Heavens! I knew the girl directly I saw her. I wonder she hasa’t been recognized before; it only shows what fools people are in you call it.” ‘society,’ as “I don't know what you mean. should people recognize her?” He swal- lowed hard. “Who is she, then?’ he asked with an effort, “Oh, Billy, Billy! Why we've seen her when we've been together—you and of times, Why, my dear sweet innocent, she's one of the mane- nequins from Elise’s.” Vi Chatoner was watching him with amused eyes, “Bo you never Poor old Billy!" of laughter, Billy threw the rug from his kneo@ “If you'll put me down here,” be sald. His yoice sounded flinty. Vi Challouee stopped the car at once, “Billy, come and see me sometime” Why I—scores knew! She stifled a ripple Order Your Evening World in Advance