The evening world. Newspaper, May 30, 1922, Page 7

og CHAPTER Ii. LOW hum of conversation rose to the carved oak ceil- ing, from which cunningly concealed lamps shed a soft Nght over the long room, on the few choice pictures on the panelled walls, and on the throng of people who eomprised the clientele of the fash- fonable Eros Club. Constance Brent, standing ov » Moment outside in the corridor, sur- veyed them. They fitted in with thei: Surroundings; well-dressed == men Wonderful women; and on them all was written the hall-mark of taste and caste She walked into the room, aad each ef them greeted her after his or her kind. Harkness is in town. 1 saw him this morning in Piccadilly.’ The speaker addressed the company gen- erally, but only Constance answered “He is?” Her tone was indifferent, yet she was interested in the news more than she cared to admit had thought the Eros rid of mess. Four of the men made (heir way to & discreet baize-covered door which led to an inner room Had the police known of the play which went on in that room Eros might have itaelf in contact with the law Constance did not play , And then Harkness arrived “Hallo!"’ she said. “IT thought you had left us." She might almost have been expressing a wish Harkness caught the meaning un- derlying her specch and smiled. Not yet. The day of your deliverance is very far away,”’ He was wildest gamester in England and was a con- stant threat to the safety of the Eros Constance bit her lip. Harkness @sconcerted her. Always he had been reckless, devilishly so, but now there was a raffishness about him which appalled her He nodded towards the ered door. “Anybody playing in there?’’ “Yes,"’ slowly, ‘‘but—" “But what?" There was the tiniest note of defiance in the question Constance looked Harkness straight She Hark- found known as the baize-cov- fm the eyes. ‘I would prefer it if you did not join in—that is all,"' she gaid calmly. “And why?" Harkness's grey eyes narrowed “It is not safe Already there have been rumors and things said, Those four in there now are only boys. After all, are uot aware of the reputation you he “You are not, of course, insinuat- ing that I do not play straight?” There was a quict menace in Hark- negs's voice which chilled Constance despite her experience of the world, “You would not be a member of the Eros if you played crooked," said steadily. “After all, living by this club. shut up." “Why do you say all this to me? Do you realise that you are peril- ously near accusing me of being a card-sharp?"* “Tam doing nothing of the kind, But I remember young Kilfane. You won money from him which did not belong to him. Thank heaven, it wasn't here that you did it!” Harkness interrupted her. ‘*Was T to know that Kilfano was a potential thief? At any rate, Kilfane escaped the consequences of what he thor- oughly deserved." ‘Only because somebody saw you un- she Ll earn my 1 don't want it him through, Who was it? Do you know?"" “{ neither know nor care,” an- swered Harkness shortly, ‘Excuse me, won't you. I'm going through to the room." The four men at the table looked up from tifir game—it was poker— as Harkness closed the door behind him, and nodded “Hello, Tommy!" dressed a youngster eoloriess hair. ‘Aren't well?" “Dropped a couple of hundred. Would you care to sit in my plac and he gave up his place to Hark- ness. A fresh pack of cards was pro- duced. The fair boy left the room. Constance stopped him as he made his way across the brilliantly lighted outer chamber. “Is Harkness playing ?"’ Quietly, “Yes, I've given him my place “Are they playing high?” Harkness ad- with almost you doing she asked “Fairlsh. But as 1 came out [ beard Harkness suggesting no limit, More fool him. Carteret, Devenish and Pelton are in luck to-night.” Constance considered for a moment “Must you go now, Tommy? The boy nodded. ‘I must. I'm a rotten gambler. Never have any Juck,”’ Ber & moment Constance felt an COPYRIGHT BY CHARACTERS IN THE STORY. BRENT, divorced; proprietor of a gambling club in THE MSCLORE NE They were Harkness sald: ‘Well? “Why did you do it?’") That was all Constance could say at first. “I don't understand you. was studiously cold, and Constance to anger. | “I can well believe you are unable to understand."’ The sneer hardened || the lines around Harkness’s mouth. Constance stepped closer to him “Listen, Harkness! My little girl is white, pure as these flowers,’ waving her hand towards the whispering blossoms behind her, ‘She does not know. Do you see what I mean? You cannot realize what it is to be @ gir! on the threshold of life; you cannot) | grasp the Innocence of it, the miracle of i “Oh, I know Um pretty low down, || but spare me a little. Do you mind going on?" “AIL my life I've stood between my daught: and—and"'-—Constance most said ‘such men as you,'’ but she found other words in time—‘‘and || the world." | “She told me a little of the man sie had met at Lucerne, and f read suf- fictent to know that he had captivated |! her imagination. And then she showed me you, My God!” Harkness seemed about to speak and thea his mouth closed tight. “It must stop! You understand Harkness? This must not go on. When you leave here to-day you leave forever, It will hurt AuGrey a little, but the pain will be nothing to what lent, until CONSTANCE London. UDREY BRENT, her daughter, who has been educated on the Con- tinent, ignorant of her mother’s life and business and chaperoned His tone|) it stirred ho favors Audrey’s suitor, met at Monte Carlo il M HARKNE 3S, son of a steel magnate, but a philandering ne'er-do- well, given to gambling and racing | at ale She stopped abruptly, and Hark- ness stared at her with inscrutable eyes. He was as good as this woman who was Audrey's mother. Besides, he would not be driven. “Does Audrey know about Pros?’ Constance gave back his stare. “Of course she does not. I tell you sho innocent, the || Harkness ignored the passion of the } appeal. ‘You say I am not good enough for her?” “Are you? Can you say that you are?” “I am good enough for the daugh- ter of a woman who runs a gaming- house.” It was the cruellest thing Jim Hark- ness had ever sald to a woman, and ever afterward he regretted it “But''—Constance seized his cvat sleeve with trembling fingers—“you have not answered. You have not promised. “A man who makes no promises never breaks his word,” answered Harkness coldly. He turned toward the house, and Constance followed him. They found Audrey busy with the]) tea under the great oak. ‘ea finished, Harkness turned to|' Audrey and said: “By the way, th Academy this year is very interesting. We might go to-morrow morning if it would suit yor “I should love it,” said Audrey. “May I go, mamma?" Constance Brent looked at Hark- So this was his answer! ‘Of course you may, dea answered. “I think I'll come along, too. I love pictures." “| HAVE LOST NEARLY EIGHTEEN HUNDRED, AND—GOD HELP ME!” come noise of a motor-car engine sounded faintly. “Yes?” said Constance. she?” Audrey flushed and stole a glance at Aunt Elle. “It isn’t a she. It's a man, We mot him at Lucerne, and he traveled as far as Monte Carlo with us. He was awfully nice—you liked him, didn’t wou, Aunty?—so T gave him my address id asked him to call.”” Constance felt a twinge of Jealousy, and then a sudden overwhelming despair. She should have foreseen this. ne Do you approve of him, Ella?’ ked Constance. impulse to tell him not to again, but she restrained it. After all, she had to live, and this boy bore ® great name, a name which was a key ciety, “Who is to the innermost circles of so- Meanwhile, in the room, with the ante raised to a high figure, play was Harkness won, going forward briskly hand after hand. Constance came into the room after a couple of hours’ play, and for some time she stood watching the quartette anxiously. At last “I'm through vious effort. Carteret got to his feet. he said, with an ob- ‘l’'ve lost—heavily.”” Devenish eyed Pelton, and the lat-| Aunt Ella nodded, with a side- | too. ter shook his head. “I've had about] glance at Audrey. Constance turned] Constance felt a sense of futility, enough,’ he confessed. to the girl. “Do you like him very {8 for the first time she realized how strong the man was, and how ruth- lessly he could use his strength. It was the day after Harkness's them, | much Audrey blushed Harkness looked round at Then he stood up. “More than that, “All right. Um = sorry the luck] I think, mam went all ny way. (ll give you fel-] Constance Brent felt sick. The] Visit to Constance Brent's home, and lows your revenge next time welroar of the passing car filled the|Uord Connington was at breakfast in meet. Good night!"* room, and then suddenly stopped, {is town house in Mount Street. -At He left them abruptly, and as he] Audrey ran to the window. ‘“It's|the table with him were his elder sis- went Pelton turned to Constance and] he!" she said. ‘'f didn't know—" ter, Barbara, the widow of Sir John Presiow, and her son, Sir Richard Preslow, a young man of brilliant at- tainments, of whom it was already said that a great career awaited him in the diplomatic service of his coun- try. Lord Conmington fingered a scrap of dry toast with the peevish air of a man who has no appetite, and looked up from his letters. Noth- he said. 'T repeat, Barbara, that there is nothing in it. All my life I have striven and travelled and sacrificed myself—for what? A man with a maelstrom of emotion surging }cannot find hapipness in newspaper beneath his coldness. A jest! HeJ}headlines or eulogiatic leading arti- had called it a jest, and he had not |cl They reach the head and leave realized the magnitude of it. ‘Thts|the heart cold. And in my age I a girl whom he had placed on a pedes-| finding it is the heart that counts. tal and fallen down and worshipped,| Lady Barbara regarded him critic- this girl whom he had credited with |ally. a white purity and a blameless life,| «What does all thix mean, was the daughter of Constance | trey?” she asked quietly. Brent—a woman who ran a club] “Tt means that I should like to feel which, despite its exclusiveness, was] my daughter's ips on mine—if only nothing but a gilded gambling hell! | for once," aaid Connington. Unaware of the grey wings of! young Preslow looked up. he scurried from the room, and « few minutes later returned, her face aglow wiih a light which chilled her mother's heart And then Constance got to her feet with her face gone white and pitiful. Behind Audrey stood Jim Harkness! Constance’s eyes rested on Au- drey's face. Excitement was there, a wistful pride of possession, an un- conscious appeal for approval of this man—and love And Harkness eyed her coldly, but said: ‘Do you know that Harkness has won over two thousand pounds?"’ ‘Over two thousand pounds!" Con- stance echoed the sum. ‘‘Who has lost it all?" Devenish glanced at Pelton again, and Carteret said: “I've lost nearly eighteen hundred And—God help must see Harkness!’’ Constance med. ‘*Wait a moment She hurried from the room, but when she reached the hall Harkness had already left. She turned back with @ dreadful feeling of sickness at her heart. It was always the same. Wherever this man went he left a trail of waste and unhappiness, a blight such as seemed to rest on his own life. What would happen to Carteret? UDREY BRENT strayed in- to the garden, and the scented wind came rolling across the uplands to meet Geof- nd there her, She had come home with her] tragedy which shadowed them, Au-|was a swift alarm in his eves. Lady aunt, to find that her mother had] drey spoke: Barbara spoke quickly. been detained in town Mother, T want you to meet Mr.| «your daughter? Have you forgot- || ‘Audrey. picked. her way throuphi| Tarenees Sim my. mother; ten whose daughter she | Constance Brent thought quickly. Audrey must never know of the Eros Club, She stepped forward and held out her hand, so this is Mr, Harkness,” she smiled. To Harkness she added: “Audrey has been telling me a lot about you, and it has made me quite anxious to meet you." Harkness took her fingers loosely in his grip. This woman was won- derful, Her coolness, her ease of manner, and— “If Audrey has been as enthusiastic Connington tapped his fingers. on the table-top. You are referring to the woman I married,'’ he said coldly. “T have not forgotten. But time has dimmed her memory, Barbera, and I am an old and weary man, and I rea!- ize it is impossible to find comfort in myself, I want my daughter.’ Preslow bent over his plete. His]! uncle's words were stirring to life a fear which had always lain dormant in his heart. Richard Prealow, things were at the moment, was Con- nington’s heir, | “I think you are speaking the truth when you say you are old,"’ said Lady Barbara slowly. Then, with # sudden || irrelevancy, she added: ‘Have you seen Hilda Montessan’s picture at the]! Academy this year? You will remem~- ber her as Dicky Montossan’s scape- grace daughter, It is the greatest ex hibit of all, Would you care to see it It you lik he replied. “I am all day. Shall we go this morn- the flower-beds, and came to the gate opening out on to the lame. Beyond the house the valley dipped d rose again to Biggin Hill, and on the other side lay Sevenoaks, with the broad Hastings road cutting through it to Tonbridge. The place was serene, aloof. Ten minutes later her mother ar- rived, and Audrey was in her arms. Constance held her at arms’ length about me as she was about you, I after the first embrace. fore T ahen't dineppeiat soit the “L believe you have grown taller, | guid Audrey."’ she said. “Every time | They sat down, and Audrey lounged see you, you seem to on the arm of her mother's chair. i Constance turned to Audrey. “Mary more beautiful has gone down to Sevenoaks, dear. Constance gazed round her, This Would you get some tea? We will cottage was a sanctuary of peace have it under the oak. Jn the mean They went into the drawing-room, | time I am going to show Mr. Har and with constant references to Aunt have grown ness my tulips.’* tr Audrey ran off to the kitchen, and, Jing Ella, Audrey told her mother of her} with Aunt Ella still quietly knitting.) They reached the Academy, and holiday. At the finish she hesitated, | Constance got to her feet Lady Barbara took them straight to| | and then said: ‘Mamma, | am go-| Harkness followed her out int the picture Of the year, the painting blazing sunshine, across the by the daughter of Sir Roderick Mon- ing to have a visitor-—my frat sp by shter of Sir i 0 a orm=my MSC) and round the bend until they came ia tessan the flower garden. turned and faced him, And then she From far away down the hill the (Te We Continued) |} THE EVENING WORLD, TUESDAY, MAY 30, ve.Will Never. ‘BY JOHN HUNTER ; A*STORY,_ FOR THE, YOUNG OF HEART. Store Hours, 9 to 5:30 1922, * | ABRAHAM €~STRAUS wx BROOKLYN ’ Telephone Main 6100 Store Closed All Day Today—“MEMORIAL DAY” Tomorrow Our Doors Will 0 Will Understan ‘Otore-wide N occasion when every department in the store brings forward the most decisive economy offering of the | All desirable, seasonable merchandise, at a lower price than has been quoted during the Mail orders will be filled if possible; but many lots will sell quickly, of course, and it will pay well month. sale, to come in person as early as you can. Street Floor Rubberized Aprons, 23c ‘The lowest price in years for these indis- pensable household or laboratory aids. Water- proof, easy to clean. Pretty patterns A, & 8.—Bteeet floor, Centra Hemmed Bath Towels, 38c Formerly 49¢ Each Extra good bleached Turkish, with red or blue borders. Size 22x43 inches. A. & S.—Btreet floor, Bast WhiteNoveltyVoiles,29c ya. Formerly 45¢ yard. Mercerized plaid or checked voiles. ‘One yard wide and extremely desirable for Summer dresses or blouses. A. & 8.—Btrect floor, Wort Men’s Union Suits, 58c Only 1,200; full-cut, non-clinging suits of good bleached checked nainsook. Sizes 34 to 46. The lowest price this season. A. & 8.—Street floor, Fast Men’s Rep Shirts, $1.85 “Primrose” shirts of printed rep that aye the Tepeuicn of outwearing any other ity. few and novel colored stripes. ‘Rises 14 to 17. A. & B.—Street floor, Bast Men’s Straw Hats, $1.75 Regularly $2.95. Sennit straw sailors im- ported from Italy. Light of syelgne and fitted with cushioned sweatbands. Sizes 6%% to 75%. None on approval. A. & B.—Streat floor, Hoyt Street Sports Hats and Sailors $1.69 Banded lisere straw sailors faced with milan or porcupine in two color effects. Silk sports hats combined with straw or felt and straw hats in sports colorings. A. & 8.—Street floor, Bast Imported Flower Wreaths 98c Formerly #1.98 and $2.48. 1,000 wreaths that make fascinating hat adornments. A. & 8.—Street floor, Hast 54-in. Cream Serge $1.19 yd. All-wool, and an ideal fabric for Summer wraps and separate ides—a splendid quality and just the correct weight for perfect tailoring. AO a8 Men’s Palm Beach Suits $13.75 t, new suits tailored of genuine “Palm cloth by one of the best makers in the country. Made to hold their shape and appear trim and neat at all times. In plain sand, brown, grey, also worsted-like pencil stripes. All ‘sizes. A «8 -Btreét floor, Central Sm Beach Street floor, Hoyt Street Spectacles & Eyeglasses 3.25 Regularly #5.95, Eyeglasses with gold-filled finger-piece mounting and deep curved spherical lenses; spectacles with imitation shell rims and deep curved spherical lenses. Price includes eye examination by expert opto- metrist. A. & 8.—Street floor, Central Printed Lingerie Cloth 69c yd. Regularly 89c. A dainty lingerie fabric with a soft lustrous finish that can be turned into Ene, loveliest undergarments, Dainty designs in different colors printed on white pe ground. A. & &.—Street floor, Central, Second Floor Tweed Skirts $3.95 Formanly $6.95. Only one hundred and fifty of these very desirable skirts, suitable for street or sports wear, Tailored, straightline models in seasonable shades. waistbands. A & 8. ond € Women’s Store opens at 9 o'clock Second Floor | Large Fox Scarfs, $19.75 One of the most popular of all fur neck- pieces this season. A soft, silky quality in ex- quisite brown tones. A. & 8 -Second floor, Centra Women’s Tweed Suits $10.75 Formerly $19.75 and more tailored trelaine suits. Typical sports n els with silk lined Telted Ox coats, notch collars dnd link button fastenings. Sizes 34 to 44, but not all sizes in all styles. A. & 8.—Beeond floor | Also smartl Centra Women’s Wraps and Capes, $19.75 Poiret Twill, wool velour, shawsheen, herringbones and fancy mixtures, and these developed in models suitable for street, sports or semi-dress wear. All are silk lined and exceeding'y desirable, wearable styles. A. & §.—Second floor, Central Women’s White Oxfords $1.98 White canvas oxfords with rubber soles and low rubber heels. Sizes 3 to 8; D widths. A. & 8.—Second floor, Went Misses’ Sports Coats $10.95 Two smart new models—of sports flannel in high shades and street colors. Fashioned with notch collars, tailored sleeves and shoul- ders, novelty pockets and belts. Sizes 14 to 18. A. & 8.—Second floor, Central Fibre Tuxedo Sweaters | $4.95 | Tuxedo styles of fibre silk, a zig-zag weave, with belt and pockets. In sweater shades of Harding blue, Copenhagen, orchid, gray, navy and black. Sizes 36 to 46. | A. & 8.—-Hecond floor, Girls’ Tweed Skirts, $2.95 Formerly $4.95. Straight line skirts of tweed, suitable for town or sports wear. Fashioned with belts and pockets, in rose, blue and brown. Sizes 6 to 16, but not every size in every color. | aes | Crepe Night Gowns, $1.39 Slip over pigbt gowns, with round or V necks colored floral designs on white grounds, butterflies on colored grounds, and some stripes. f the crepe that doesn't require pressing in laundering! Extra Size, $1.79. A. & 8.—Second floor, East, Central, Second floor, Central. Women’s Cotton Dresses | $5.75 Cool summery dresses in a variety of pretty new styles. Light and dark colored voiles, dotted or plain voiles and dotted Swisses. ‘They have collars and cuffs of organdie or | \ace trimmed. Sizes 86 to 4 | A. & 8--Becond floor, | | Lovely Silk Blouses $3.48 Reduced jrom $4.98. Of crepe de chine, georgette crepe, novelty printed silks, and radium silk, in light and dark colors. Trim- med and tailored in regulation, tie back and overblouse styles. Sizes 34 to 46 Aas Children’ sBloomers 45c pr. Windsor crepe, cut full with elastic top and finished at the knee with a ruffle. In white. Sizes 4 to 14 A. & 3.—Second floor ast, Second floor, Kast Bast, Practical House Dresses $1.68 Six different styles, percales and ginghams not every size in every style, but a com- plete size range in the selections. In checks, plaids and solid golors. & #.—Second floor, Ea | Boys’ Wash Knickers, 89c Khaki drill—the sort that boys like for vacation and playtime wea: Sulphur dyed. | Stand plenty of hard wear and not show soil easily Only 1,200; finished with belt loops and pockets. Sizes 7 to 18 years. A. & S.—Second floo Weer FOR WEDNESDAY’S SELLING = en to an Event that Every Brooklynite ¢ and Be Eager to Share— alles Second Floor Men’s Tan Calf Oxfords $4.95 Regularly 85.50. Smart Haperiog toe lasts of calfskin in the new light shade of mahogany. Weilted and stitched leather soles; rubber heels. All sizes. A. & 8.—Second floor, Hoyt street Third Floor Inlaid Linoleum, $1.69 Sq. yd. Regularly $2.)5. Heavy, thick quality cut from perfect, full rolls. Tile and wood de- signs; 2 yards wie. & 8.—Third floor, a Bed Light Frames, $1. 15 Formerly $3.48 Each. Oblony frames designed to be attaches one electric light socket and attached or ova. wire to top ot bed; vitch chain A. & 8.—Third floor, Contral Overnight Bags $4.95 Regularly $5.95. A bobs of a dollar here if you buy tomorrow. enuine leather over a light pretent, aantte frame. Silk lined; two pockets. Cobra or walrus grain. A, & 8.—Thhrd floor, Central Chair Cushions 96c Covered both sides with cretonnes and filled with cotton. Made in our own work- shops. Button tufted; deep boxing. A. & 8.—Third floor, Central Wool Velvet Carpet $1.39 yd. Regularly $1.85. An excellent wearing rade in fall and stair patterns to match. Perfect and cut from full rolls. Tapestry Brussels Carpeis, $1.09 yd., regularly $1.55. A, & B—Third floor, Subway Floor 100-Pc. Dinner Sets $17.50 Regularly $27.50. A very attractive cot- tage pattern in American porcelain. Flower- basket design; edges treated with two har- monizing blue lines. A &8 Subway floor, Central. Light-cut Ice Tea Sets $1.75 Thirteen pieces; large jug, 6 tall tumblers and 6 glass sippers. Crystal clear glass cut in an attractive floral design. Quantity lim- ited, A. & 8,—Subway Moor, Central, Fourth h Floor White Boswil 1 Beds, $5.25 | Regularly $11.50. An ideal bungalow or Summer cottage. type for the itted with brass top mounts. All standard sizes One of the greatest bed values we have ever offered A. & 8.—Fourth, floor, Kaat, Walk and TalkDolls, $3.45 end Dolls with faces “just like real," dressed in cunning bloomer frocks of flows eretonne with hats to match. 19 in with composition heads, arms and ley stuffed bodies, A. & 8. Fourth floor, Fifth Floor Framed Colored Prints $1.39 Mostly landscapes, a few fruit pictures as well. Framed with neh antique gilt and toned frames, 18x23 inches outside dimen- sions A 4&8 Fifth fleor, Central. . Fish Aquarium, $9.75 36 and 40 inch wrought iron stands in black or green finish, and lovely large glass bowls, in blue, green or opalescent—and you have the aquarium complete. A, & SPIN floor, Went i y { i} 1