Arizona republican., 1911-01-12

Amidst a storm of whispered criti-
cisms. the general opinion was that
Lefty Shaw was a 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
a third person following them. No
third person, however, appeared. Gus
tav himself conducted them TO a small
table laid for two, covered with pink
roses, and handed his fair client the
menu of a specially ordered supper.
There 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 the stage who, after their per
formance, 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 opportu-
nifty of congratulating her upon her
engagement TO 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 flirtations, was well known as
self-respecting and hard-working
young actress who loved her work,
and against whom no one had ever
had a word TO say. Consequently,
the shock was all the greater when,
within a 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 a break
with Sotherst or fit Of temporary in
sanity seemed TO explain, even 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.
w hClt ID cLt dShFh.
Lefty shrugged her shoulders-it
was not altogether a natural gesture.
"On duty tonight" she answered.
Her best friend paused for a mo-
ment.
both Of you" she said. Dicky Pen
nell's here and Oracle Marsh-just
landed. They'd love to meet you"
- 4.
was look in her face which even her
best friend did not understand
I'm afraid that we can't do that"
she said. /" / am Mr.. Abbott's guest"
And tonight" Austen Abbott in
tervened, looking up at the woman
who stood between them, E" 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 a Whit Of
tragedy had passed through the room.
Nobody understood-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
ticular man, was preposterous.
Something will come of It," her
best friend murmured, sadly, as she
watched Austen Abbott help his COM
panion on with her cloak.
Something did!
Peter Ruff rose at his accustomed
time the following morning, and at
tired himself, IL possible. with more
than his usual care. He wore the
gray suit which he had carefully put
out the night before. but he hesitated
long between the rival appeals of
red tie with white spots and a plain
mauve one. He finally chose the lat
ter, finding that 1t harmonized more
with his socks, and after
a final survey of himself in the look
ing-glass. he entered the next room,
where his coffee was set out upon a
small round table near the fire. to-
gether with his letters and newspapers.
The first paragraph which caught
his eye as he shook open the Daily
Telegraph was sufficiently absorbing.
There Ii was In great black type: