The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-05
The Adventures
Mr.. Peter Ruff
sy z. sHiLLiss o-~EMrxsm
The lndiscretion df Lefty
Shaw

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Amidst q storm of whispered criti,
cisms, the general opinion was that
Lefty Shaw was silly little fool who
ought to have known better. When
she had entered the restaurant a few
minutes before midnight, followed by
Austen Abbott, every one looked to see
third person following them. No
third person, however. appeared. Gus.
tav himself conducted them to small
table laid for two, covered with pink
roses, and handed his fair client the
menu OF a specially ordered supper.
Ihere was no gainsaying the fact that
Lefty and her escort proposed supping
alonei
The Cafe at the Milan was. without
DOUBT the fashionable rendezvous of
the moment for those ladies connected
with tie stage who. after their per
Torrance, had not the time or The in
clination to make the conventional
toilet demanded OF the larger restau.
rants Lefty Shaw. being one of the
principal ornaments of the musical
comedy stage, was well known to every
one in the room There was Scarcely
a person there who within the last
fortnight had not found an opnortI,.
nifty OF congratulating her upon her
engagement 10 Captain the Honorable
Brian Sotherst Sotherst was rich
and one OF the most popular young
men about town. Lefty Shaw. al.
though she had had one or two harm.
less fiirtatjons, was we'll known az
a self-respectirg and hard-working
young actress who loved her work
and against whom no ono had ever
had word to say. Consequently.
the shock was all the greater when.
within fortnight of her engagement.
she was thus to be seen openly sup
ping alone with the most notorious
woman hunter about town--a man of
bad reputation, man, too, towards
whom Sotherst was known to have a
special aversion. Nothing but break
with Sotherst or a fit of temporary IN
sanity seemed to explain. oven made
Quately. the situation.
Her best friend--the friend who
knew her and believed in her-rose to
her feet and came sailing down the
room She nodded gaily to Abbott.
whom she hated, and whom she had
not recognized for years. and laid her
hand upon Letty's arm.
Where's Brian7" she asked.
Lefty shrugged her sboulders-it
was not altogether natural gesture.
On duty tonight" she answered.
Her best friend paused for a mo-
ment.
Come over and join our party.
both Of you" she said. Dicky Pen.
nells here and Oracle Marsh-just
landed. They'd love TO meet you
Lefty shook her head slowly. There
was look In her face which even her
best friend did not understand.
I'm afraid that we can't do that
sho said. am Mr. Abbott's guest
And tonight, Austen Abbott In.
tnrvened, looking UP al the woman
who stood between them, 81 am not
disposed TO share Miss shaw with any.
body"
Her best friend could do no more but
shake her head and go away The two
were left alone for the rest of the eve.
ming. When they departed together,
people who knew felt that whifr OF
tragedy had passed through tho room.
Nobody uDderstood--or pretended TO
understand. Even before her engage
ment. Lefty had never been known to
sup alone with a man. That she
should do so now, and with this par
ticuiar man. was preposterous.
Something Will coma of IT," her