Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-18

II am going to her flat at the Milan
Court tomorrow morning at II o'clock"
Beatrice leaned back in her chair.
Presently she recommended her dinner.
She had the air of one to whom a respite
has been granted. Tavernake in n way,
began to resent this continued silence
of hers, He had certainly hoped that she
would at least have gone so far as to ex-
plain her anxiety to keep her where
abouts secret.
You must remember" he went on,
after short pause, that am in a some-
what peculiar position with regard to
you, Beatrice. 1 know so little that | do
not even know how to answer in your
interests such questions as Mrs. Wen
ham Gardner asked me. l am not COM
planning, but Is this state of absolute
ignorance necessary"
new thought seemed to come to Bea-
trice. She looked at her companion curl
ously.
Tell me-" she asked, what did you
think of Mrs. Wenham Gardner"
Tavernake answered deliberately, and
after a moments reflection.
II thought her." he said, zone of the
most beautiful women l have ever seen
in my life. That is rot saying very much.
perhaps, but to me it meant a good deal.
She was exceedingly gracious and her in
terest in you seemed quite real and even
affectionate. l do not understand why
you should wish to hide from such
woman"
You found her attractIve?" Beatrice
persisted.
81 found her very attractive indeed"
Tavernake admitted, without hesitation.
"She had an air with her. She was quite
different from all the women have ever
met at the boarding-house or anywhere
else. She has face which reminded me
somehow of the Madonnas you took me
to see in the National Gallery the other
day"
Beatrice shivered slightly. For some
reason. his remark seemed to have dis
tresBed her.
"I am very, very sorry" she declared.
that Elizabeth ever came to your office.
I want you to promise me, Leonard. that
you will be careful whenever you are with
her"
Careful" he repeated. "She Isn't
likely 10 be even civil to me tomorrow
when tell her that have seen you and
I refuse to give her your address, Care
full, indeed What has a poor clerk in
a house-agehts office to fear from such
a personage2
The servant had reappeared with their
second and last course. For a few mo-
ments they spoke of casual subjects,
Afterward, however. Tavernake asked
question.
SPY the way" he said. I'VE are hoping
TO let Grantham House 10 Mrs. Wenham
Gardner. 1 suppose she must be very
wealthy"
Beatrice looked at him. curiously.
why do you come TO me for informa-
tionY" she demanded. II suppose that
she brought you referencesr
I'VE haven't quite got to that stage
yet" he answered. Somehow or other.
from her manner OF talking and general
Mr.. Dowling or I doubted her financial
position"
II should never have thought you so
credulous a person." remarked Beatrice,
with a smile.
Tavernake was genuinely disturbed.
His business instincts were aroused.
do you really mean that this Mrs,
Wenham Gardner is not a person Of sub
stanceg" he inquired.
Beatrice shrugged her shoulders.
"5he is the wife OF man who had
the reputation OF being very wealthy"
she replied. "she has no money of her
own. am sure"
"shs still lives with her husband, I
suppose2" Tavernake asked.
Beatrice closed her eyes.
II know very little about her" she
declared. Last time 1 heard. he had
gone away, or something OF
the sort"
"And she has no money Tavernake
persisted, except what she gets from
him9 No settlement, even, or anything
OF that scrt7'
Nothing at all" Beatrice answered.
This Is very bad news" Tavernake re-
marked. thinking gloomlly OF his wasted
day. "It win be a great disappointment
10 Mr.. Dowllng. Why her motorcar was
and she talked as though |
money were no object at all 1 suppose |
YOU are quite sure OF what you are say
lnz?"
Beatrice shrugged her shoulders.
II ought 70 know" she answered, |
grlmly, "for she Is my sister"
Tavernaks remained quite motlonlees /
for a minute. without speech; Il was his |
way OF showing surprise. When he was
sure that he had Erasped the import 1
II her words h1 spoke again
Your alsterl" ha repeated. Where 3
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