The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-02-04
CHAPTER /.
tCOnttnued froIn NesterdRyb

OF her hand, che ran away 10 Join
her friends, aud once more Lusk was
left alone. AS he walked slowly back
10 the hotel TO his midday dinner. his
thoughts were all OF the last banter
Ing words that Fay Clayton had spok-
en- to him. and the longer he thought
or them the more the new idea she
had planted in his mind pleased and
Interested him. On the afternoon pre-
yious. when no had frat spoken TO
her OF the stage as profession, he
had done 30 because IL was one OF
the very few subjects, apart from
bis business, that he really knew
and on which he could talk glibly and
>amusingly 10 women. But now the
idea had suddenly become matter
OF real consideration and fraught with
the most interesting possibilities. His
hands olasped behind his back, HE
heady eyes smiling undsr lowered
brows, he walked slowly along the
country road, carefully reviewing the
situation from It's many and varied
angles.
Down there on the beach was a
young woman OF unusual beauty, and
apparently trimming over with health
and the JOY OF living. Had the girls
circumstances been other than they
we're, he would have passed on with
regretful but philosophic sigh.
Blanche Wimerding, for instance. the
daughter OF old David Wilmerding,
had no place in his scheme OF life
Lusk knew that the firm OF Lusk
Brothers was not the kind OF firm
with which the ola conservative house
OF Wilmerding &, Wilson would deal,
that Is. II it could possibly be avoid
ed. and he also knew that the doors
OF Wilmerdings house ia New YORK
or Of his villa on the beach at Pleas
antville would never be open 10 him.
But tho case of Fay Clayton was al
together different She was girl
without means or any defined position,
living in almost poverty as the adopt
ed daughter OF simple fisherfolk He
argued 10 himself that a girl in so
anomalous q position must OF neces-
sity rebel against its hardships. and
would willingly free herself from the
slight bonds that held her---that is,
she wonld If the inducements TO break
the bonds could be made sufficiently
attractive. He knew that even Fay
lack OF worldly knowledge, must ap-
preciate how few were the roads or
escape open 10 a woman situated as
she was. And of all these roads. Lusk
knew, from his own experience, that
the stage would. an nine cases out or
ten. prove the greatest lure 10 q girl
OF Fay's spirits, and TO her love or
life OF action and one that was en-
tirely free from restraint. To be sure
she had laughed at his mere sugges-
ton of going on the stage, but when he
had had the opportunity TO speak or
the great possibilities OF the profes-
sion, the immense returns in fame and
fortune that awaited the successful
actress, he was quite sure that he
could reach something deeper in Fay
than her simple love of excitement
II was through his finer bigger feeling
OF ambition that he hoped TO break
down. any real prejudices the girl
might have against the stage as
profession.
Max Lusk was without tact, or men
tai or moral cultivation. but he had
an indomitable. almost brutal Will and
when he wanted anything in this world
he wanted it very badly. and the great
er the obstacles thrown in his way,
the greater the pleasure he took IN
fighting for the prize. He was a man
OF quick thought and quick action.
and In addition TO this he believed
Fay Clayton TO be the most beautiful
woman he had ever seen. Between the
time he left her at the bathing grounds
land his return TO the hotel, he had
icarefully arranged his plan OF action.
lit was out OF the question TO imagine
that she would go TO New York alone
land accept his personal protection. or
lpermit him TO assist her financially
Touring her career as an embryo ac
Itress. The key to the situatlon--at
| least SO Lusk believed-lay in Porter
Yielding. Even in the two DAYS the
broker had known Fay she had left no
reasonable doubt as to her devotion
and admiration for him. She was
girl whose emotions lay very near The
surface, and sho made no effort TO
lconceal her feelings for Fielding 10
any one. even TO man whom she
knew so slightly as Lusk.
Where Fielding went IL would prob
ably be easy 10 get Fay 10 follow.
Wherefore, the first move was 20 get
Fielding TO New York and after all
Lusk had seen and learned that day,
the task did not seem difficult Field
Ing was without work, which the
broker could offer him, and in the
same town, too, where the rich Miss
.Wilmerding lfr--- Lusk knew that
the latter coincidence might mean lit
tie or nothing, but he did know that
good positions in brokers Offices IN
New York were exceedingly rare and
not TO be refused by boys from tho
country He also appreciated, even
from his short acquaintance. that with
all his good looks and his charming
courtesy OF manner. Porter Fielding
was rather weak soul. and probably
easily led. DOVE here In the country,
ln the open, on the golf links. he
knew that he had no chance against
this young good-looking athlete But
let the boy come to New York, and
then Fay Clayton could compare them
and the exten. OK their power-not IN
-tfr Sunshine Aptunder the searching
white lights and the pink candle
shades OF the Broadway restaurants
where strength aud good looks In men
counted not at all: back Ia town, that
is. the town tina. Iusk knew. tainted
and unreal land. where only money
and automobiles and gorgeous apart
ments count, and where girls learn
30 easily and quickly the love OF beau.
fiful clothes and wonderful jewels.
and acquire the passion TO have bet
ter clothes and more wonderful jewels
than any other woman.
\ During the long afternoon Lusk had
.c0snpleted his planr. and after sup