The Washington herald., 1909-04-04


you must be crazy"
i am ee-ery sorry. sir" the man re-
piled she is the most intoxicate OF any
lady haf ever seen"
Gordon reviewed the situation swiftly.
Had not Kate herself authorized one
cocktail? Had not Nan talked nationally
after having taken liz True, she had
been flushed. excited: but wasn't that
natural when she'd never seen such a
place before? Then a cold chill crept Up
his spine and seemed 10 freeze MS heart
as he recalled her having spoken OF an
uncle who drank frightfully. Then that
was H. There was a taint-a hereditary
taste. which made a single cocktail so
much poison TO her. lie had heard OF
cases
Good heavens. mani he burst out
This is hOrrible-horrlblel What can
dor
The man looked sympathetic. Perhaps.
sir, some black coffee?' ne suggested
Yes. that's itr' cried Gordon. Black
coffee. Quick"
The waiter hurried OF. but Gordon
caught him at the door Look here" he
olurted. slipping him a bill See that
she's kept quiet. No one must see her.
understand? It's all an aecIdent-entirely
a mistake" Feeling that ne was be-
coming maudiin he stopped short.
The man began assuring him that she
should have the closest attention. but
Gordon, without waiting 70 hear him out.
made his way 10 the cloakrO0m door and
beekoning maid. asked for the young
lady who is-ah-'
Pretty bad sir" said the woman.
shaking her head. 'Itn be some time
before"
With a groan he fed. He tried 10 rest
upon a velvet-covered settee and collect
himself. but rose quickly and strobe
about the hall He heard some one call
his name. and was conscious Of a famil-
lar face. but he hurried on. unheeding.
The band seemed 70 grow more noisy: his
head felt Ike a sounding board Picking
up paper he UTied 10 read. but the type
blurred before his eyes All he could do
was 20 think In difuse sort OF way and
mutter over and over Poor little sOul.'
and What am I 20 do2" Once he went
20 the telephone and looked up the num-
Der OF the Kings Court. but did not call
H. What would Kate and Howard think2
Kate 81. too II would break Nan' s
heart - they found out Her humiliation
would be enough. heaven knew. without
that! Clearly ne must not telephone He
wondered II she might be better now.
He'd 60 again and ask on his way 10
the cloakroom door he met the head walt
e.. who had given him first news OF the
disaster. In a voice as sympathetic as q
mothers the man now asked II dinner
should wait indefinitely To the frenzied
host this question seemed no less than an
affr0nt
Dinner" he cried. There won't be
any dinner. Put II on my bill-do any
thing but talk 10 me about it,
IN his indignation he forgot where he
was going. and presently he found that
he was in the bar. Here he gulped a
highban. then he hurried TO the parlor
door agoin. only 10 hear. The lady's
feeling very bad-ao change" The WORD
change" may have suggested something,
for he gave the maid q bin before return
ing. wild-eyed. 20 the bar, where he found
a seat in a quiet corner and aung himself
into Il, the picture OF abiectest misery.
Reports were brought occasionally by
the concerned head waiter. but they were
not comforting in character. Gordon sank
deeper and deeper into the mire OF de-
spair- His energy was spent: he merely
sat Ike a melanchOlia patient. because
there was nothing 70 do. anyway. except
ing wait for the judgment trump TO blow.
Life was a mockeryl Existence was a
torture. Then his fidus Achates reap
peared, this time with first good news.
The lady was distinctly better.
After a time" the man soothed. when
she feels much more well, sir, we shall
take her out. so quiet, 10 a carriage-you
weeth me. sir; ve-ery quiet. so that no
one shall see"
Gordon nodded gloomily. feeling IN his
heart that no such time would ever come.
The dinner tables IN the other room had
been deserted. one by one. until the place
was nearly empty. That was something
10 be thankful for. # there was a glimmer
OF truth n the head walters last report
He would make inquiries o. the maid.
For the thOusandeth time. II seemed 70
him. he made his way 20 the little cur
tained doorway.
The maid. helping a departing diner into
wraps, nodded 20 him encouragingly.
When she had done the service she told
Gordon that in a little while he might
come IN and see the lady. BLACK coffee
sure does the work. she added. In her
best professional manner
Gordon sent a boy for his hat and coat.
put on the coat mechanically. and waited
dismally. With one lobe OF his brain he
prayed that she might-he shuddered at
the expression - might come round
quickly. But hghting with this hope was
a dread OF seeing her. Poor little thing,
He could not Danish a mental picture OF
her as she would look. She was sure 70
cry-she'd CRY her very heart out going
home, What could he do? What way
was there 20 comfort herr He racked his
brains for consultations. Il was al his
fault. no one would ever know OF what
had happened; the whole thing was a
joke-a trife. And ali the time he knew
there was not the shadow Of a hope that
he could make her think so.
As he stood there. immersed IN gloom.
his mind ran over her chatter IN the cab.
On, II he could only have realized-have
foreseen! How he would have sheltered
her from such experience, 4 wave OF
tenderness swept over him: he though OF
Nan as OF child whom he'd hurt unin-
teI.conally. Now he yesFned to take her
IN h.s arms and rock her. like a child.
and say. II didn't mean TO do itl'
chen the maid came out again and put
him & a sudden panic.
You might come in. sir" she invited.
It'll likely brace the lady up 10 see
YOU" She held the curtain aside. and
Gordon, dragging himself together with a
mental Jerk. gulped and stepped in.
On 4 heavily upholstered couch, beside
which stood a table Uttered with coffee
cups and glasses, he saw Nan. Her hat
was on and nothing about her was awry,
as lie imagined it would be.
"Ohl" she sighed. Tn so glad you've
Gomez
Gordon stopped dead His hand clutch
ed out behind him for the pcrtiere. HIS