Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-08-28
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
Mrs. Lawdon put down her book
ana smiled a fattered welcome as
Mrs. Gaynor sank into a wicker
veranda chair-for Mrs. Lawdon,
though pretty and blessed with her
share of the worlds goods compared
with the shares of numerous others
not so fortunate, fully realized that
she was far from gracing that inner
circle of society to which Nellie Gay
nor's multiple charms added lustre.
Here was a golden opportunity to
secure a valuable acquaintance.
Il am surprised you didn't go to
the races, Mrs. Gaynor," she re-
marked, sure that this opening
must lead to further conversation.
The lady smiled "Yes, 'Alice-sit-
by-the-fre' hardly seems my role,
does it? To-day should have been
sleep-by-the-fire. The truth is
that for once in my life I was too
tired" She leaned her rippled gold
en- head against the cushions and
half closed her eyes. Deep WEAKNESS
was stamped on her perfect features.
Mrs. Lawdon took notice, wonder
ing whether sympathy would be re-
scented, or if good form required her
to assure the sufferer of her unalter-
ed loneliness. She decided upon the
latter.
"Tired! One would never believe
1t. You are positively RADIANT" she
exclaimed with enthusiasm.
Nellie Gaynor opened her eyes;
a smile flickered upon her lips. ''You
are too kind she murmured. "And
you, don't you care for racing?"
ooh, yes, indeed" cried Mrs.
Lawdon, fastening to resent the i'm
putation that so fashionable a sport
was not to her liking. II love it,
but I felt as if I'd caught cold last
night-you know that cold drive
from the station-so that I feared
to sit on the clubhouse lawn, and
there's no use being inside. Charlie
is placing a few bets for me. I'm
playing Roseben.''
Mr.. Evelyn will execute my
card" Mrs Gaynor shifted slight
ly. "You see I've made it quite q
business. When my husband died
his estate was heavily involved, so
took over the stable after I came
back from Europe"
Eyes, indeed" cried Mrs. Law
don, delighted with the intimate
tone of the conversation. 81 heard
so much Of you before I met you,
you know. You're quite a plunger.
Charlie told me you took twenty
thousand out of the Metropolitan
handicap one year, and no one knew
until afterwards that you had
heavy interest"
'Oh, not so much as that" Nellie
laughed. "No one knew, because
my two biggest bets were on the
side" Mrs Gaynor touched string
OF pearls clasped by a scintillating
ruby and diamond snap. Part Of
that killing went into this. But,
dear me, they would hardly interest
you. I'm going to ask you to let
me see your jewels some day. Your
emeralds are simply astonishing, I
hear"
The little parvenu flushed with
pleasure. Would you care to, real
~? Then why not now? Alice
wants to see them, too. She's in the
squash court. Come up to my sitting
room and I'll send for her" She
rose fiuttering. Mrs. Gaynor followed
languidly. A touch upon the eiec-
trio bell brought Mrs. Lawdon's
maid, who was despatched in search
Of the energetic Miss Rawlins. ''You
know" twittered the hostess of
moment as the two ladies settled
themselves in Mrs. Lawdon's sitting
room, it's really an awful RESPONSE
bility, all this stuff, and since the
affair at the Mortimers, when Mrs.
Treadwell's pearls simply vanished,
I've been nervous
TT was odd" Mrs. Gaynor
agreed. I'D been spending the
week end there, just before it hap
pened. Their butler was drunk half
of the time, and there isn't the slight
est doubt in my mind that he failed