The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-10-10

Tney drank tremendously. Coast
put down an empty glass. That" he
declared from the bottom Of g. con-
graduated heart, was delicious"
Another DROP"
mo Absolutely not It would in
spire ne 10 try TO buy out the shop" ,
He offered his hand. Good night, and
thank you"
Good night, Mr.. Coast"
On his way out, Coast had an indif
ferent glance for the customers at q
show case near the window. The
woman stood with her back turned.
chattering volubiy TO the assistant in
Indifferent French: small, slight fig
ure with arms upIifted. holding a
chain Of gold and imperial jade 10 the
light. Beside her the man doomed
solidly, his heavy proportions exag
gerated by fur-Iined coat, his atten-
tive pose owning a trace OF proprie
tary interest. AS Coast drew near he
looked up and faced about, stripping
OFF a glove
why, h'ar'ye, COAST"
Tone and manner proclaimed the
encounter of old friends. Perforce
Coast took his hand, pausing, then
dropped 1t, with a grave Good even
ing, Blackstock" His distaste for the
man affected him intensely, but he
tried to conceal 1t beneath a forced
banality: Early Christmas shopping,
eh?''
'tNot exactly" Blackstock slurred
explanations. 1--WE just been trying
to get you on the telephone"
Coasts eyebrows underlined his sur
prise. Yes
yes. Thought you might care for
a hand at bridge tonight; just few
of US at my rooms: Van Tuyl, Truax,
Dundas, yourself and me. Well cut
in and out. What dye say"
Coasts acceptance followed an in
stant's consideration. Had the invi-
tation been extended him at any time
before noon of that same day. his re-
fusal would have been prompt il
qualified by an invented engagement.
Now, however. after what the day had
rumored of the man, he was inclined
to grasp an opportunity to study him,
to see as much of him as possible-lit-
tie as he cared to see anything of him.
What o'clock?"
"Oh, between nine and ten-any
time You know where l hang out?
Well count on you" Blackstock
| beamed, his eyes shining behind thick
lenses: to snare Garrett Coast was a
signal conquest. An additional trace
of affable effusiveness oiled his al
ways slightly overpowering manner.
Then doubt moderated 1t, and he had
an irresolute eye for his companion.
She had turned away from the case
with an assured attitude imperative
| of an Introduction Coast received an
| impression of very large and elabo
| rately simple hat beneath which a
| great deal of hair, unquestionably nc
! stranger to henna, framed a face
| whose dead white pallor effectively
emphasized a full scarlet curve Of
t lips and large eyes like pools Of VIC
| let ink, that looked him up and down
quite openly. He bowed to Black
stocks constrained words of presenta
| ton
Miss Fancher - my friend, Mr.
| Coast
She nodded, giving him a small
/ hand whose pressure was a though
/ too frank. I've heard about you,
she said, nodding emphatically. "Glat
to know you"
"And I've enjoyed your dancing
many times, from the far side OF thu
footlights,'' he told her pleasantly.
Nice of you to say that. I'm will
The Rathskeller Girl now, you know
Have you seen it,"
I'm promising myself the pleas
ure"
well, when you come, just let M
know"
81 shant forget" Coast assured he
| vaguely. But now | must run along
Miss Fancher - Blackstock - goo
night"
He escaped to open air with ser
satfon of relief and perturbation oddl
commingled. Instead of soothing. tn
brandy warmed his grievance until
turned writhing in his bosom an
stung him like an adder. So that wa
the man! He pressed forWar
more rapidly, but now in an introspet
tive mood, oblivious Of all that so re
Gently had gratified him.
At Fortieth Street he pulled up o
the southern corner. over across frol
the dull grey colonnade OF the ne'
Public Library, awaiting a break i
the stream of traffic.
A policeman presently made wa
for him, holding back the press of W
hicles to permit string of their cour
terparts to break through. Coas
stepped down from the curb and i
another minute would have bee
across, but stopped in mid-stride
hear himself named in a voice unfo
gettable. to him inexpressibly sweet.
Startled, he halted beneath tn
noses Of a pair OF handsome horse
champing In taut-reined restraint, an
glanced at random right and left. The
as again he was called-"Garretti Ga
rett Coast! out of the corner of a
eye he detected the uplifted salutar
two fingers Of the driver Of a towr
car at halt in the outer line of nortE
bound traffic. In the window of III
, car white glove f1uttered, moth-lik.
Beside the door, with a hand on til
| latch, he spoke through the lowere
\ window.