Evening star., 1912-07-19
CYNTHIA-0F- -THE-MINUTE
LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Authe d BrassBe Land etc.
co,yasst ~ Ls.sJ Js~yA
LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE

sitiveness. and tho other woman. crude
enough to suggest things such as you
said just now-even In anger. That should
have shown me what you were at heart
Well she said. harshly. you've got
your eyes open now. haven't your"
He nodded llstlcssiy. What do you
want?" he asked. after a span of 81
move quietly to and fro. her eyes ap-
praising the changes that had come 10
pass in the room since last she had seen
II Il presume you're after some
Just now" she returned. lightly. I'm
after a cigarette"
Il think youth f,nd some over there on
tho table,
She swung away 10 the farther side OF
her back to him. Then she struck a
match. touched II to the cigarette be-
tween her full. crimson lips. and return
ed. putting.
Bruce" She threw the cigarette away
with a little moue OF disgust. Whats
become Of your desk?'
"Sold,' he said.
"sold." he iterated in the same unin-
Hmm :" She began to move back
-
paper on your door-did you.see it?''
This morning" he said: my land
lords gentle way OF suggesting he'd pre-
fer my room to my tenancy
"Dispossess notice-what?"
"And all because Of met She laughed.
affectedly. How romantic, how touch
ing! He's going to the bow-wows be-
cause OF q woman! Or are your She
paused. swaying. before him. Are you
N IA
Bruce?"
He shook his head NO" he returned
Il dare say might have. II I'd had .
taste for drink. That would have killed
clear enough for me to think, to under
stand q little just how worthless a thing
you were. You aren't worth mans
damnation. Lefty"
going down hill. you know. You've let
go-people are forgetting you"
I'm working out my cure in my own
way" he said. IF I'd been making
money all this time there might have
been tho temptation ."
ITO try to buy me back. Bruce?"
He said nothing. She considered brief
ly. then came and stood near to him.
What" she purred, gently-"what II
l had come to tell you I'd found out my
Startled. he lifted his head. his glance
meeting her eyes In mute inquiry. She
smiled slowly down upon him.
What" she went on. in her silken ac-
cents. III I wanted you to take me
back?"
His eyes clouded and turned blank.
Good Lord!' ne exclaimed. in utter dis
gust. and rising. moved away.
Presently. from the open window.
where he stood with an elbow against
the frame. his gaze wandering blindly
through the gulf of darkness that yawr-
ed below. ne resumed: mo. I'm not
down. Only I've had my taste Of he'll
this past year. 1t took time to get over
that, and regain my belief in right and
decency and the worth Of work. I'm not
wholly sound, even yet. but It's coming.
It won't take forever. I'll come back
There's a woman In this. said ms
wife. from the room behind him. =
There sure is,' she insisted. Il guess
know men well enough Who il
she? That kid you We're with tonight?
She's good looking; / always said IL
would take a good-looking woman to
make you forget me"
You're mistaken" he said, quietly.
"And it's getting late and I want sleep.
"Who was she?" queried the actress.
ignoring his attitude. I'm curious
mo one you'd know-or understand"
he said. impatiently.
Well: then the man with you; who
Calls himself Rhode. IL thatll satisfy
yeu.f Crittenden lounged away from the
window irritated. .Is that alp
I Delicately. shielding her mouth with .
dainty, jeweled hand, Lefty yawned. 1T
is late she conceded. I'm getting
tired, too-you're making me tired, IL you
must know, Bruce" She flashed daz-
zling mocking smile at him. Don't you
In the depths OF his impatience and
contempt, he was dumb.
Dear me, is it really as bad as thatf
Have you actually grown SO cold to me,
Bruce? Have you nothing to say to me?
Not q word, not sign OF encourage
ment to offer the erring spouseF
Think
What did you come here for?' he de-
manded, in evaporation.
Simply to see YOU, Bruce. That
glimpse. l had OF you-well. IT startled
me. Couldn't forget It. You've TO idea
how seedy you looA. l couldn't rest for
thinking about you. after I'd got home.
Remorse-"
Damn your emotions!' he cried. III
you weren't dead to every decent one,
you'd end this and get out"
Again she yawned, fastidiously. How
rude!' she jeered. How awfully rude!
You have changed, Bruce - Very
we'll" She gathered up her wrap and
turned toward the door. You'll be
sorry some day. See II you aren't. I'm
going to be sorry right away; l daresay
I'll have the deuce of q taxi bill to pay.
all for the pleasure of this interview"
(To be continued tomorrow)
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