Putnam patriot., 1909-10-15
THE PUTNAM PATR,vI October Is 1909

most instantly sy 8 hard. dark frewn of dlSglea<ure He walttSt a moment and thea looked down a9 her with un, mlstskable shame and disapproyaI ia his eses.
 We misht just ss wei be merry while we caa. Browne was saying. Think of what the French dsd at the time of the commune They danced and died like Indies and gentlemen. And cur own foFsfathers. Chase. at the time ef tse Ane~ican Revolution-re. memher them too They gave their balls and parties right uader the mus xles of British cannon. And Nicksoars New orlesas. too-tn the civil war, Think of 'em, Why shouldn't we be as ga me and as gay as theyY'
 But they were earnest tn their dis, fractions" observed nenpingham. with glance at his wife's eager face. This could be nothing more than trasesty, a jest"
 .'oh. let us be sports cried Lady Agnes. falling into an Americanism ttANlhts ~ filAN " d ftcts 1It W 0St | oddst Something to Kill time with"
 "I don't like Mir. Browne" whispered Geneyra suddenly. Chase did not re. ply She waited q moment and then went on. He Is not like pcppingha m Do you understsndr'
 Lady peppingham came ev9 te them at that instant her eyes spar kling.
 Its to be tonight she said "A I fashionable charity hail-eseryfhins | except the newspaper accounts, don't you know. Committees and all that | It's short notice. of course. but life may be short. We'll have Arab aero electric lights and absolutely no money to distribute. That's the way it usu ally is Now. Mir. Chase. don't ieoi so sour. Re nice. pleasef' She put | her hand on his arm and smiled up al him so brightly that he could not hold out against her. She caught the toucf of disapproval fin Geneyra's glance and a sharp. quick flash of rebellion came into her own eyes.
 What is a charity haliy' asked Ge
 nevra after a moment. | "A charity hall Is function wher, one set of women sit in the boxes ana say nasty things about the women or the floor. and those on the floor sa,
 horrid things about the women in thu
 boxes. It's great fun.' | Charity is simply Authorization theng'
 | Yes, but don't mention it aloud | Mir. Britt Is trying with might aoa main to prove that Bobby and hss' I hallueinatious without end. If l hap
 pen to look depressed at hreakfas | time he jots it down-speiis Of depres
 sion and melaneholia. do you see I He's a dreadful man. | Saunders was approaching from tn l lower end of the balcony. He ap l peared fIustered. Ills face was ret and perspiring and his manner distraiI
 Well. SaundersYs said Deppinghan
 as the lawyer stepped to clear hi | throat obseGuiously.
 T have found sufficient food of al | descriptions. sir. to last for a mont | at ieast.. said Saunders in a strained | unnatural voice.
 l Have cigarette. Deppyg' inter l posed Browne seeing that somethlnI | was amiss with Saunders. In soleml
 order the silver box went the round,
 Saunders spoke nr. as if suddenl | recollecting something. -l have to rs 1 port. sir. that the stock of cigarette
 is getting very low. They can't las
 three days at this rate. sir" l The three men stared at him.
 Good Lordr' exclaimed Chase, wh
 could face any peril and relish the eS
 perience If needs be. but who no,
 foresaw sickening deprivation. .Yo
 can't mean IL Saundersr'
 "I certainly do. sir The mint | holding out we'll. though. sir. thin it will last"
 By George. that Is a calamity | groaned Chase How Is man {
 fight without cigarttesY'
 Genevra quietly preffered the on | she had not lighted. a quizzical smil l in her eyes.
 My contribution to the cause" sh | said gayiy What strange creature 1 men are, You will go out and be sho | at all day and yet She paused an' looked at the cigarette as If 1t wer l entitled fo reverence.
 l 'Tt does seem a bit silly. doesn't itY 1 lamented the stalwart Chase. Tbel 1 he took the cigarette.
 CHAPTER xxx l THE CHARITY BALL |0HEY were not long in fndin out what had happened [ Saunders After luncheon while Browne and the fhre