The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-05-28
CHAPTER IV-Contlnued.

There was sting to the words, de-
spite the languidness with which they
were uttered.
Risking more than she suspected,
she said; "He never considers the cost
of thing, Mrs. Brood, II its beauty
appeals to him." Mrs. Brood gave
her quizzical, half-puzzled look.
"You have only to look about you for
the proof. This one room represents
fortune" The last was spoken has
lilly.
How old are you, Miss Desmond?"
The question came abruptly.
II am nineteen"
you were surprised to find me SO
young. VIII 1t add to your surprise
II tell you that am ten years older
than your"
ut doesn't seem credible"
Are you wondering why tell you
my age?"
yes" said Lydia, bluntly.
I'm order that you may realize that
4 am ten years wiser than you, and
that you may not again make the mis-
take Of Understanding my intelli-
gence."
The color faded from Lydia's face.
She grew cold from head to foot. In
voluntarily she moved back a pace.
The next instant, to her unbounded
surprise, Mrs. Brood's hands were out
stretched In gesture of appeal, and
q quick, wistful smile took the place
of the imperious stare.
There! / am nasty, horrid thing.
Forgive me. Come! Don't be stub
born. Shake hands with me and say
that you're sorry said what l did"
At was quaint way of putting It, and
her voice was so genuinely appealing
that Lydia, after a moments hesita-
zion, extended her hands. Mrs. Brood
9rasped them In hers and gripped
them tightly. 81 think should like to
know that you are my friend, Lydia.
Has 1t occurred to you that / am ut
terly without friends in this great city
pf yoursH l have my husband, that
Is all"
The girl could no more Withstand
the electric charm of the woman than
she could have fought OF the sun
shine. She was bewildered, and COM
pletely fascinated.
"Its-It's very good OF you," she
murmured, her own eyes softening as
they looked into the deep, velvety
ones that would not be denied. Even
as she wondered whether she could
ever really like this magnetic crea-
ture,, she felt herself surrendering to
the spell Of her. "But perhaps you
will not like me when you know me
better"
Perhaps" said Mrs. Brood, calmly,
almost indifferently, and dismissed the
subject. what an amazing rooml
One can almost feel the presence Of
the genii that created 1t at the wish
OF the man with the enchanted lamp.
As rule, oriental rooms are abomi-
nations, but this-ah, this Is not an
oriental room after all. It Is a part
OF the East itself-of the real East.
4 have sat in emperors' houses out
there, my dear. and I have slept In
the palaces Of kings. l have seen
pust such things as these, and I know
that they could not have been trans
ported to this room except by magic.
MY husband is a magician"
These came from the palaces of
kings, Mrs, Brood" said Lydia enthu.
siastically. Kings In the days when
kings were real. This rug"
Iknowt" interrupted the other. my
husband told me the story. It must
have cost him fortune"
ut was worth a fortune" said Lydia.
A calculating squint had come into
Mrs. Brood's eyes while she was
speaking. To Lydia 1t appeared as If
she were trying to fix upon the value
of the wonderful carpet.
"A collector has offered him-how
much? A hundred thousand dollars.
is not that It? All, how rich he must
bel"
"The collector you refer to-"
Il was referring to my husband"
said Mrs. Brood, unabashed. "He is
very rich, isn't he?"
Lydia managed to conceal her an
noyance. II think not. as American
fortunes are rated"
1T doesn't matter" said the other,
caTelessly. Il have my own fortune.
And 1t is not my face" she added,
with quick smile. Nov let us look
further. l must zee all these wonder
ful things. We will not be missed,
aud 1t b still Iialf an hour till tea
ume. NY husband is now telling his
son all tnere is to be told about me-
VINO and what am, and how he came
@ARH ne Not mind you how /