The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-30

as through veil. The dancer was
standing In the center of the room,
one hand on her hip, and in the other
hand cigarette. Her short skirt
stood out around her like a bell, and
over the bell fell a rain Of pinkish
coral strands. She wore q thin slip,
from which her neck and arms came
shining out, and her woman knelt at
her feet strapping on a little coral
shoe
Blair shut the door behind him, and
began to realize how rude, how imper-
tinent his entrance would be consid.
cred. But he came boldly forward and
would have introduced himself as
Dan Blair from Blairtown," but Miss
Lane, who stood at the entrance
through the smoke, burst into laugh
so bright, so delightful, that he was
carried high up on the coral strands
to the very beach. She crossed her
white arms over her breast and leaned
forward as saleswoman might lean
forward over a counter. and with her
beautifully trained voice, all sweetly
she asked him:
Hello, little boy, what will you
take?"
Blair giggled, quick to catch her
meaning, and answered: "Oh, choco-
late. | guess"
And Lefty Lane laughed, put out
her white hand, the one without the
cigarette. and said: Haven't got
that brand on board-so sorry! Will
a cocktail do? All .sorts in bottles.
Higgins. fix Mr.. Blair a Martini"
AS the dresser rose from her stoop-
Ing position, the rest of Lefty Lanes
dressingroom unfolded out OF the
mist and smoke. On a sofa covered
with lace pillows Blair saw a man sit.
ting, smoking as we'll. He was tall,
and had dark mustache. It was
Prince Poniotowsky, whom Dan had
ALREADY met at the Galorey shoot.
Prince Poniotowsky," Miss Lane
presented him. "Mr. Blair of Blair
town, Mont. Say, Frederick, give me
my cap. will you? 1t is over by your
side. I've got to hustle"
The man, without moving, picked UP
a small red cap with a single plume,
from the sofa at his side. In another
second Lefty Lane had placed 1t on
her head OF yellow hair, real yellow
hair and not doubt OF 1t, like sun
shine-not the color one gets from in
side bottles. Her arms, her hands
Mashed with rings, priceless flashes,
and the little spears pricked Dan like
sharp needles.
It's the incest ever!" she was say
Ing. How on earth did you get In
here. though? Have you bought the
Gaiety theater? I'm the most exclu.
sive girl on the stage. Who let you
in?"
Her accent was English. and even
that put her from him. AS he looked
at her he couldn't understand how he
nad ever recognized her. If he had
waited for another act he wouldn't
have believed the likeness real. The
girl he remembered had both softened
and hardened; the rounded features
were gone, but all the angles were
gone as we'll. Her eyes were IA gray
as the seas; she was painted and her
lids were darkened. Seen close. she
was not SO divine as on the stage,
but there was still more thrilling
charm about the fact that she was
real.
TO think of any one from Montana
being here tonight! Staying very lone,
MT. Blair?' Between each sentence
she directed Higgins, who was getting
her into her bodice. "And how do
you like "Mandalay?" Isn't 1t great?"
She addressed herself to Dan, but
she smiled on both the men with ex-
treme brilliance.
"You bet your hfe." he responded.
Il should think 1t was great"
Poniotowsky rose indolently. He
had not looked toward the new
conner. but had. on the other hand, fol-
lowed every detail of Miss Lanes
dressing
Better take your scarf. Lefty.
Hand 1T to Miss Lane" he directed
Higgins. 1T is so damned drafty in
these beastly wings"
He drew his watch out, gathered up
his long coat. flung 1t over his arm
and picked up his opera hat which
lay folded on Lefty Lanes dressing
table.
The call page for the third time
summoned Miss Lane, Miss
Lane and she took the scarf Hig-
gins handed her and ran It through
her hands, still beaming on Dan.
Come in to see me at the Savoy on
any day, at two-thirty except on mat
inee days"
Put on your scarf" Poniotowsky,
taking 1t from her hands, laid it across
her white shoulders, and she passed
out between the two men. light as a
bird, smiling, nodding, followed by the