The Detroit times., 1914-02-17


way seeing is believing. aud they saw
Fay clayton with Max Lusk. and
they saw that Belle Gordon and sew
eral more of her luxurious type OF
shoW-girl We're members OF the same
party aud they therefore believed
IL was just as Fay was about 10
take her place at Lusk's right that
she first saw the Wilmerdings and
Fielding sitting al a table but Few
feet away. Al the moment Blanche
Wilmerding was speaking TO her
rather, but Fielding's eyes were
riVeted on Fay. She had not seen him
since she had gone away. more than
week before, and her first impulse
was TO take the few steps that sep
arated them and 20 tell him how
happy she was TO see him again, but
there was something in his look that
made this simple show OF friendl-
ness impossible. Fielding's lips were
drawn into a straight hard line. and
there was no smile OF welcome AZ
he recognized Fay's greeting by
formal bow. If Wilmerding or his
dau ghter, both OF whom she knew
slightly, were conscious OF her pres
ence they did not show IL then or
afterward. With a sharp little gasp
OF wonder and pain, she sank into
her chair and quickly turned to-
ward the man sitting on her right
so that her face was hidden from
Wilmerding's table. To Fay the room
became suddenly unbearably oppres-
sive, the pink candle-shades and the
roses on the table seemed 10 be NOV
ing slowly up and down before her
straining eyes, her lips were parched,
and the pleasantries she tried 10
speak died in her throat The man
on her right regarded her with evil
dent alarm.
I'm afraid you're "a little faint"
be said. You'd better drink this"
and he pushed glass OF water to-
ward her. She did as she was bid,
and in a few minutes more she had
found herself again, and went on
talking TO her fellow-guest, as II
nothing had happened.
Instead OF being the happIest
night OF Fay's life, as she had SO
carefully planned that il should be.
TT turned out, in reality, 10 be the
most miserabls that she had ever
known AS the long supper dragged
on it's weary way OF cheap wit and
sordid gossip she found herself east
ing secret chances at the men and
women OF her own party. and then
comparing them and their manners
and their clothes with the people at
! the other tables. AS far as she could
see, there was little difference, ex-
cept the womena at Lusk's table were
perhaps a little overdressed, and at
times, especially as the hour grew
late, the men laughed loudly and
seemed TO want TO make themselves
conspicuous Several times. almost
against her Will. she glanced at the
Wilmerdings' table. but II always SO
happened that Fielding was talking
TO Miss Wilmerding, and when they
started to leave the restaurant FAY
quickly turned her head and talked
with much animation TO one OF her
own party.
But at last, and greatly TO Fays|
relief, the supper came to an end,
and Lusk took her and Belle Gordon
home In his ear. They dropped Miss
Gordon at her apartment and Fay
found herself alone with Lusk. The
long evening OF anxiety and excite
ment had begun to tell on her and
she sank back YEARLY into the cor
ner OF the limousine, her eyes closed,
and her head resting against the
cushions.
Pm afraid you're very tired"
Lusk said with great solicitude.
Very" she said the perform
ance was a good deal OF strain, but
that's over at last. thank heaven,
I'm mighty glad I can never make
another first appearance on Broad
way"
Lusk smiled at her and gave her
"a fatherly pat on her gloved hand
Il tell you you were wonderful,
Miss Clayton, wonderful You ought
TO have heard how the men raved
about you between the acts was
mighty proud OF my protege, mighty
proud, believe me-"
Fay closed her eyes. and with a
slight shudder, sank farther back
into the cushions. She wanted so
much TO be silent, but Lusk insisted
on talking ceaselessly
Did YOU see Porter at supper?"
he ran on You know he has left
us and gone with old man Wilmer
ding 4 rare chance for a boy And
that Miss WilmerdinR's a fine gal. a
( fine gal can tell YOU
/ Fay pulled herself slowly from the
''"pti'e 90 ha oH4hinns. and sitting on
the edge OF The seat, stared out OF
tue open window ou the long rows of
gloomy ioreboding houses flying By
IN the darkness
Yes she said she's a Gne girl.
But not FOR me lnsk chuckled
not my Kind al AN like women
Who work for a living who really do
something rih their llvrs. and who
are clever enoueh go keep themselves
before The public What can YOU ex-
pect OF a girl Who has everything
thrown az ller al OT HeT ne aud for
what for nothing
That's right Fay said with
weary little sigh chat girls got every
thing "a home, aud father 10 look
after her, and friends and money
III, bet she doesn't have, 10 borrow
fromNmen
Lusk stuck his hand deep I'm his.
trousers pocket and pulling out a rat
roll OF bills held &c toward her.
My dear Miss Clayton. he said
10 there's anything / can do"
But Fay pushed the pronered hand
sharply from her
'Thank YOU no She whispered
Please don't do that. please don't
While she siill spoke the automo.
bile. TO her great relief. swung around
1.-THE corner OF the crosssstpeet on which