The evening world. Newspaper, June 3, 1922, Page 14

1922, THE EVENING WORLD, SATURDAY, JUNE 3, il HN freshments. houre, it, wae & rule of te tephen avoided meeting “ful mob out there her eyes young man, ain't lapsed back into " he ventured unger uddenly, over the top of her glass, “Think {t's safe to lead a farmer like the jarse er native alley, “Won. IUly saw Stephen's face change ex- me Into such traMe?'* der if Miss ‘Truman ever noticed it?” jon, and her eyes followed histo “I'll take a chan she The modulation of Lily’® volee was the doorway. It was the beginning of lenged ¢ was standing now, wait- never low, and il seemed to Stephen aimew dance, and the bull-necked gen- ing for him now person ,theee must Heman had risen again from his Qbediently he rose and followed her DAVE Ovethearl. Somewhere, on the Perla. <tsy ugwiast the wall int? on to the floor, It weemed to him other ** Mabie Eo 2 Prussian majesty every person there must be watching Constance ‘Truman was Itstening, judeing, Wo © didn't care what Hn the crowd that surged sround them, and never had Lily thrown Bm had appeared « ree clement. herself with such abandon of motion *"* ; ind Bia Whey were more simply at vet nto @ Stwse, Sle was deliberately r nit ich: BBES. 4 dresned than the others. Obvious a Magis 5 Ie vies a ridiculoys act amar xe nnd thin ts Re fonteot” pttey were not of the desolate ar € oe efance twas a society that did Fora xecond sho hesitated? then he Pourceless who comprised the en- vot even know she existed, a brave gree Siew Lily Had gitiowa tele of Mr. Nelson's business n. kesture in the face of a great indif passion and even admiration, but ten- Atinctively every old patron resented ference SStiass ead. | SEP RTULTCN, their easy, confident, insulting civ At the end of the dance the little “Stevie Al her anger was ity. it was the Country Club “gang” group of explorers gathered, with the bisened! Gut . She was a child @B a spree, for, from New York to rowdyism permitted only the well muddent 1 and tired and defeated Beattie, the old dictum obtains that bred, in the refreshment parler, ANd croc she repeated, “L know the “you can go anywhere with @own to reach thelr old table Lily and oionin’s only a pup, but tim dead @rowd Stephen had to pass by. Dumbly joy would mind if we pushed boThe smartios!” Lily spoke with Stephen started to follow his partner. es ing. “They'll talk about this for As luak would have it, they en “rm with so He didn't look at & week now as though they'd done countered David Sargent, en route yy Some way, he realized the kind- mething really lowbrow and dev- from the Prussian doorkeeper with a pat thing was to be casual. “It's hot Gish.” new instalment of dance tickets Lily ter than the devil here, anyway.” $ Btephen didn't answer. logical was intoxicated with the drama of All the way home they chatted as ba snobbish as he knew it to be, he her deflange, She was « Jeanne though nothing had happened, At the Priehed suddenly he hadn't come there d'Arc, her spear in the rest agains door of Lily's boarding house Stephen frand with her, all those piivileged ones who had said good night. They shook hands $ At once from the group at the en- turned her world suddenly into a gipWiy, and Lily felt, someway, tt france a couple separated itself, It Shabby thing, who had made her was more than formality. It was a fran Constance, Truman and David @PPear ridiculous to the man she compact, the two of them against Parent cared for, to ‘herself. Suddenly those others. After alk he too was “Went to grade school with hime MY stopped and accosted the up from nowhere. He had ot My threw out. It wasn't necessary Cnet Young gentleman before her, further than she only because a indicate about whom she was “Hello.” she said. “'Giving the lower woman, back on that farm in Green peaking. ‘He used to copy my prob. ‘lastes the once over, are you? Mountain, had sacrificed for him lems in arithmetic." It was evident from the expression There had been no Hephzibah Preston Stephen twisted in his chair, ever so. Pavel Sargent did not recognize in to sacrifice for Lily tly, so that he no longer faced this hard-eyed, angry woman the “How about next ‘Thursday he he dancers, and became absorbed in stwhile solver of his arithmetic offered the sugar-coated bottom of his lemon problems. For an instant it seemed In the darkness she looked up at ade glass. He was curiously ashamed that he was going to retort. ‘Then him uits me," she said, of his action and he hoped Lily hadn't he reconsidered and passed them by ‘“Fine."’ His voice was full of con- Boticed—but more than all he didn't With the most remote and frigid nod viction “Good night." want to meet Constance Truman consistent with good breeding. It wis For many hours Lily Sedelmeyer Suddenly Lily sat up very straight, a rebuff more stinging than a blow, made no battle to capture sleep. It ind her body began to bend and twitch and, although Stephen Mad never was pleasant just to lie there and im response to the call of the jazz, met David Sargent, he felt a curious day dream. There would be to-mor- “Come on," she said, “it's a fox!" and sudden partisanship with Lily. row and to-morrow and then Thurs- ONE: Will Never, ‘BY JOHN HUNTER® AUT, day, Thursday, Finally she slept. UT to-morrow brought the un- expected. That juggler of municipal polities, that fash- loner of careers of bankers and Mayors and Judges, the man for whom Stephen Douglas was ruining his Sat- urdAy afternoons, was about to ap- pear. Michael Higgins of Chicago was coming to town ‘The entire office was rife with gos- sip and endless speculation, but it was Lily who divulged the Judge's plans for the dinner parts “Class,’ she exclaimed, ‘just the Carringtons, the Mayor and his wife, the Beacons, the Judge, of course-—- and hin daughter.” Stephen listened, absorbed, to the Seems too bad he's not go- he concluded the sincerity of the the jest, but she “Well, I'll say he’s details ing to meet me," Lily guessed wish under laughed at him missing It! In his mind's eye Stephen visualized evening. He remembered the Truman dining room, dig- nified shadowy and satisfying Constance Truman would look very lovely She would sit at the head of her father's table, and there would be coffee afterward in the library. It another world from Stephen's, and yet he was not ill at ease. He believed in his heart he belonged to-morrow passed ly, At Inst it was Thursday. She had been busy all and she was glad of the ahsorp- tion, Each time she looked at the clock more minutes ‘had slid by than she had believed possible. She was happy, happy all out of proportion to the cause. To-night she could not Constance Truman. She she was Lily Sedelmeyer and glad she was in love At five-fhirty it seemed as though the hands of the clock would never drag around that last half hour, and still it-was pleasant just to anticipate, to sit motionless and watch the twi- light deepen, watch the thousand lights of the city flash one by one even that beautiful and was ‘To-morrow and Slowly day, even envy was glad « I : A°STORY FOR THE. YOUNG OF HEART. <OevmanT By mm miccuoRm EW SPARE SYN OF CHARACTERS IN THE STORY. SONS? ance BRENT, divorced; proprietor of a gambling club in ndon. AUDREY BRENT, her daughter, who has been educated on the Con- Hea: ignorant of her mother’s life and business and chaperoned 'y T t CHAPTER IX. RESLOW had begun to under- stand the depth of her ignor- ance of Harkness. ‘He has money,’ he answered care- ‘but his father earns it.’ “His father oe AL ELLA, who favors Audrey's suitor, met at Monte Carlo, fives. Presiow's manner was J1M HARIXNESS, son of a steel magnate, but a philandering ne’er-do- a ah here a rca ihsey well, given to gambling and racing. His closest woman friend is Ing? He is our friend's father. He LOIS DENBIGH, an actress, who really loves him but respects his is'reputed to work eighteen hours .ott love for Audrey. Audrey does not know that she is the daughter of off twenty-four for six days a week Frated Sent It a dave ree LORD CONNINGTON, British statesman, who has divorced her : dp taesiet cits and suet: pos mother sixteen years before the story opens. Harkness, to protect Mb awn way . Audrey, tells her he does not love her and she, for the moment trhey left their seats just before the encourages the attentions of y.came*to an-end. Preslow se- SIR RICHARD PRESLOW, nephew of Connington, who, knowing cured one of the first taxis on the his uncle's desire to reclaim his daughter, plots with his mother to bring about a marriage with Audrey. Pthe Eros?" he asked Audrey, and nodded. he taxi drew up at the Bros, and Presiow threw open the door. Will you come in?’ asked Audréy. “I know my mother will be pleased to; see you." Preslow smothered a grimace. ‘‘If don't mind, I'll ask you to excuse me,” he said. ‘Have you an ning ext week you could spare me?’ Audrey reflected. The manservant who had admitted her in the afternoon opened the door to her again, and she walked inside with some surety a then Constance Brent came to her, ¢ had imagined Audrey already bapk at Knockholt, in bed, asleep. g'What brings you here again?’ adked Constance sharply — Why—mamma? I've been to a etlipatre. I thought I'd give you a piéasant surprise. Constance Brent lost control of her- self for the moment. She laughed shortly and harshly hth By yourself! Are you mad? "I went with Sir Richard Preslow, whom we met at the Academy, mamma. I thought {t would be all night. as, you and Lord Connington such id friends.” rOld friends? Oh, yes, we are old friends!" There was a deadly sneer in iConstance's tone. Tears were suspiciously near the lwurface as Audrey replied v1 thought I'd persuade you to come with me by the last train; or else, ps, I could,apend the night here. 1 have wired Auntie.” Constance looked at her specula- tively. She hardly knew what to do. Her face looked very old as she an- swered Audrey. ° “I don't know what you can do. I @uppose you had better stop here. -<Audrey stepped closer to her. “Lam so sorry, mamma. I really bad no intention of annoying you. fs the matter? You look ill and jorried. I—— The club is different what I thought St this after- “| SHOULD IMAGINE THAT WESTRUP WAS PERFECTLY CORRECT." . don where people do not gambie. This happens to be the card room of the club, that is all. Of course you are forgiven. And you may certain- ly come again, I will bring you up myself. And now don’t you think you had better go to bed?"’ “IT am rather = tired,'’ Audrey. The door opened behind Audrey. Against the subdued light of the cor- ridor stood Jim Harkness. Beside him, her hand slipped through his arm, stood Lois Denbigh. ARKNESS undoubtedly did not recognize Audrey, for she had her back to him and Lots. He addressed Con- stance over Audrey's head. “Good evening, Mrs. Brent. As an extremely old friend of yours, I have ventured to bring along another old friend."* He stopped, and Constance knew that he had seen Audrey at last. “I don't believe you have met Miss Denbigh,"’ he said suavely, “I have brought her along from the Arcadian to show her the nicest little club in town, Lols—Mrs. Brent.” Harkness turned to Audrey. “Miss Lois Denbigh—Miss Audrey Brent."’ Audrey! Lois remembered the name at once but Lois tried to open up @ conversation, It is awfully hot in here, isn’t it “IT feel cold, answered Audrey, and there was a note of finality in her voice which prevented any further remark, Harkness was talking to Constance. He was apparently perfectiy at his ease, and in his eyes lurked a devilish understanding which “frightened Con- stance. admitted “Anything doing in the little voom?"' he asked casually. “How can you ask?’ Her voice low and strained no heart? “It's head that !s needed for the game we play here.’ he answered. “May I go through? “No!'' She put her hand on his arm, careless of the fact that Audrey and Lois.were watching them. ‘The last time—there was Carteret." rteret’s a fool,’’ observed Hark- .» much he might have com- mented on the weather. “Whatever he is does not matter,” answered Constance. ‘There are five of them in there now—and three are people 1 would rather stayed away. “Have you One is Major Stadvatos,’* “Major Stadvatos! A charming person He and I always mingle well together." Don't fool, Harkness, You know him—and he knows you. | ask yor to go—at—once—for my sake; fo: Her eyes sought Audrey. ‘There are other reasons why you should go, Audrey looked round. The flush on her cheeks deepened. J.cis Denbigh 7 Audrey nodded towards the card don't look—nice men. I cannot forget saw it and stepped close up to her ‘Constance Brent's eyes hardened. tabies. that you never troubled to tell me Lois gave Audrey's fingers a little “You are not asked for your opinion, ‘All that. T know I am ignorant What your business was in town squeeze. Audrey. Come! Iwill get a maid of the world, but—I have heard of It was Constance Brent's chance, ‘They walked away toward the gud you can go to bed. There are clubs where people gamble. This af- Hut she did not grasp it. She had tables, and Audrey slipped to her foome upstairs. ternoon I thought the Eros was a lied again mother's aide. Constance looked at "Phere is nothing hidden, Audrey,’ smart women's club, but now I find is nothing the matter, her, and dropped her eyes before the phe aid. “Why do you ask men here as well. Some of the mea There isn't a club in Lon- accusation she read in Audr, face. the darkness, It was good to into . Douglas?" came the question was Constance ‘Truman's voice. On the exterision in the outer office Stephen answered, The call war not for Li She was eaves- dropping frankly, but without # qualm of conscience she continued to hold the receiver against her ear. it appeared Mr, Beacon was ill and unable to come to the dinner that eve- Would Stephen be good enough ning to accept at this last moment to fill the vacan It wouldn't be at all formal ‘Pather wants you especially,"’ she added, ‘since you're working on the traction case too." Stephen hesitated. ‘‘I'd like to Jot more than you can imagine, but there was an instant of silence “ve got a date this evening “Oh, U'm sorry." There was no doubting her sine “Wait a minute,’ he said. ‘Maybe I could shift if, Would {t be too late if { let you know in ten minutes?" rity The Judge's daughter was all gra- ciousness. ‘Then the receivers clicked back Into place—all except Lily's, For a long moment she sat there. So he wanted to get rid of her, to go away to "those others who were fortunate and happy and well born, Then she jammed her owu receiver into place. Well, she wouldn't release him. He belonged to her, for he too had known poverty and struggle @&d discourage- ment It was she against Constance Truman—and Lily was going to win. ITHOUT knowing what she intended to do, she pushed open the door into Steph- en's office. He hadn't come back yet. For a fhoment she stood undecided, then she crossed oyer to his desk, It was cluttered with papers and notebooks filled with jot- tings, misspelled and abbreviated and in the hasty, illiterate handwriting of youth. Absently she sat down and her fingers brought order out of chaos, Then she stopped. Between the leaves of some memoranda was a letter, postmarked {rom Green Moun- tain. It was written on cheap, lined stationery and with a pen that had caught maliciously and jeft little sprays of ink on the paper. Lily had ©o inhibitions another's letters, “Dear Stevie,"' she read “That was a nice letter you wrote me. If you didn’t say those things I woulin't never think I had done so much for you. Sacrificing for some people just comes natural some way. It’s a sort of sweetness to do it, and nothing a body deserves credit for. But it made me proud and happy for you to write like you did. “Zeke bought a new harness yes- terday at Jim Cassady's auction with the present you sent us. I think it's a good one. I made some cookies this morning, the sort you like with nuts in them. Zeke ate six for his supper. “I don't want to say I miss you because I'm so glad you're succeed- ing. That repays for everything, and I make myself keep thinking all the time how smart you are and how I helped a little. If you wasn't get- regarding “FOR A LONG TIME LILY SAT THERE AND STARED AT NOTH- ING.” ting on, I don’t think it would be easy to stand it without you—spe cially since the evenings are getting so long and still. “I'm proud of you and so is Zeke and everybody." It was signed “Your devoted Aunt Hephzibah.” Fora long time Lil stared at nothing. Then she folded! the letter and slipped & again into the notebook. It was dark outside, and Stephen would be back any mo- ment, But she did not move. "Gosh," she whispered “gosh.” 80 sat there and finally, Then ‘she picked up a paper, and pencil “Dear Stevie.” she wrote "Would you mind {if we went out to dinner IMustrated by Will B, Johnstone “Mammi Audrey was almost sobbing. ‘What does it all mean? Is it really so cruel as it seems Have you all been deceiving me?"’ Constance looked away. “I admit that I had met Harkness before you introduced him," she said. “There were a large number of reasons why it was best that he and I should meet as strangers. One of them is that he is a dangerous man, a braggart, an adventurer—" “IT should not cail him a braggart,”’ interrupted Audrey quietly. Constance cooled slightly. ‘'Per- haps not. But he is a useless fellow, and no good to anybody, not even to himself.’ “And now I want you to go to bed,"’ she continued. ‘“'There is no reason for you to stay up aiy longer." “T am not going,’ answered Au- drey quietly. ‘There seems to be nothing more for me to learn, so no harm can result in my staying.’’ , Constance seized her arm. “You will go! You must go! Listen! You see that little door over there. It leads to a small card room where— where—play is sometimes indiscrect. Men. are in there now. I have tried to keep some of those men out of the club, but failed. One of the men is Major Stadvatos, whom Harkness referred to just now, He is a dan- gerous man, Stadvatos and Harkness hate each other. I am afraid there will be trouble when they meet. So now, will you go upstairs? Say you will, Audrey—please?" ‘The frantic entreaty in her moth- er's tone brought home to Audrey the fact that she must go. At that moment the door leading to the inner room opened violently, anda youth lurched through, slammed it after him, and walked’ straight across the room. As though by magic every game ceased. From inside the little room came the crash of a chair and a cry. Everybody in the big card room stood "Four men came from the small room, led by a giant, with fair, olose- cut, curly hair, A little fair, clipped mustache of military pattern adorned his upper lip. “This ts too much!" he cried, ad- dressing himself generally to the people in the big room, ‘I am sorry h NEXT SATURDAY’ S COMPLETE ‘NOVE DO YOUR S TUF F Wiliam Slavens McNutt THE STORY OF @ BASEBALL PITCHER WHO ORDER YOUR PAPER IN ADVANCE HOUGHT HE COULD i \" some other time? I've got a hea! ache this eveni LILY (Copyright. All rights reserved. Printed by arrangeniont with Metropolitan Newspaper Service, New York.) 4 tt LETTE ACT--AND A GIRL that there should be a disturbance of this description, but a serious ac- cusation has been made against me. Now then, Westrup, let us hear what you have to sa And then, even as Westrup seemed to quall before the domineering stare of the major, a cold, hard voice broke the silence, ringing with a suave irony. “L should imagine Was perfectly correct.’ At last Stadvatos said: repeat that, Harkness?’ hall we go back into the room you have just left?’’ Harkness asked. that Westrup “Will you Stadvatos was choking with rage “I have nothing to hide!"’ he cried. “If you shirk publicity keep your mouth shut Harkness turned (oward Con- stance. “Mrs, Brent, I am afraid I allowed my tongue a moment of tn- discretion just now, and I apdlogize for the fact. Is it your wish that I should withdraw?” Constance hesitated for a moment At last she said: “I think, if you have any consid- eration for us and for the reputation of the Eros, you will both go, and never come here again.” Harkness studied her for a moment, and to Audrey his face was inscrut- able. He bowed very slightly “As you wish.’ To Stadvatos he said: “I shall have the pleasure of meeting you again." Stadvatos stepped forward “T am determined that you Apologize!" declared the major. Harkness was silent for some mo- ments, His gaze had shifted from Audrey, and he was staring straight into Stadvatos's flushed face. He spoke very slowly and quietly, but in his tone was a lashing contempt which was more dreadful than the Wildest wrath, “You are a card-sharp, Major Stadvatos, a cad, and unfit ‘to as- foclate with decent people." “Oh A woman behind Audrey Basped the ejaculation, Everybody else was silent. You le, Harkness!" Stadvatos’ utterance was almost unintelligible. Harkness smiled. “I don't think 1 from the truth more ‘than the ge man does, Stadyatos." f—If—'' Stadvatos was groping for words, ‘If elmeumstanges were shall different, I would thrash you." “You deal in impossibilities, friend,” Harkness drawled; continued with a harder ring in his voice: ‘‘Mrs. Brent has asked that you and | shall cease to come to the tros. f have decided that it might be as well for everybody if we ceded to her request. Perhaps, after what has just occurred, you may think the same." Audrey felt tighten on hers “You have decided!’ echoed the phrase. “Those are the words I used," said Harkness smoothly, “If reflect a little, T am sure you agree with me."’ It was too much for He looked around suppress the tremor There are other Eros!" he snarled oxactly, smoothly. Major toward th Harkness He had once my and then ac- her mother's hand Stadvatos you will Stadvatos. and strove in his voice Places than the to agreed + Harkness udvatos wheeled and strode door. They all looked at more offered his arm to Lois. “I regret that my farewell to the Eros should have been marked by such an inauspicious event,"’ drawled Harkness, with a low note’ of mockery in his voice, ‘But—perhaps some of you will say that it has been a fitting end. I am sorry to go, but, as the gentleman who has just left us re marked—there are other places. By the way, if I may venture a little advice, [ think it would be advisable for all of you to investigate the cir- cumstances of young Charters, and see that no scandal results from his having been cheated."* twitched his lips my fatherly Goodby!" His bow was for them all, but his eyes were for Audrey alone Harkness and Lois walked out A little smile “You will forgive attitude, won't you As the door closed a murmur of talk arose in the room, Amid the buzz of it Audrey whispered to her mother “LT want to go to bed. I am tired Constance hurried her from the room In the taxi which was carrying them towards Lois’s home, Harkness said to Lois; ‘That was the girl," “TL guessed it,’' said Lois simply Lois was silent for a moment Harkness did not realize that she wis fighting ba the tears which had athered in her s. At last she 4: "Do you know, Jimmy, I think you are very spl Lois's eyes flashed. ‘And then you say you not good enough!" she whispered. Oh, Jimmy, you fool. You are good enough for the finest woman in all the world s stared at | Harkness breathed the name and Lois drew back. She was panting, and had abandoned all effort to hide the fact that she was crying. “Oh, Jimny That was all she sald, and buried her face in her hands Harkness put his arm across {ier shoulders and drew her to him “Don't ery, little pal’? he whis- pered, “EL have been a blind, silly brute, all this time. Don’t ery."’ “Jimmy, may | put my head on your shoulder? 1 have wanted to pver so many times when I have been tired, and I am awfully tired to- night."" Harkness drew her head down, so t it rested on his shoulder and her r brushed his cheek. He did not say a word, She snuggled close with a little sigh It was all wrong, thought Hark- ness, This girl, beautiful, talented, witty, loved him, while he, who had for her merely a feeling of strong friendship, loved another girl as sho loved him The taxi slid to a standstill, and Harkness gently lifted Lois up. “Home, Lois,’ he satd quietly, “1 am lunching alone Carlton Grill Lois shivere to-morrow in the May J call for you?" slightly, as wakeful- ness returned to her. ‘All right, old thing.” She strove to infuse her voice with its customary Tightne “I'm always willing to feed," Their eyes met and held for a mo- ment in the halflight, and then Hark- ness bent forward and kissed her tua on the lips. “Good night."’ He felt her fingers clutch tight at iis hands, and then relax “Go (CONTINUED MONDAYQ 4 TE