Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-04-03
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

Lydia fiinched. she knew not why
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, If it's beauty
appeals to him." Mrs. Brood gave
her a quizzical, half-puzzled look
You have only to look about you fol
the proof. This one room represents
a fortune" The last was spoken has
tily-
How old are you. Miss Desmond p
The question came abruptly.
Il am nineteen"
You were surprised to find me sc
young VIII it add to your surprise
If l tell you that am ten years Older
than your"
ut doesn't seem credible"
Are you wondering why 1 tell you
my age?"
Yes" said Lydia, bluntly.
I'm order that you may realize that
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
quick, wistful smile took the place
of the imperious stare.
There! l am a nasty, horrid thing
Forgive me. Come, Don't be stub
born Shake hands with me and say
that you're sorry / said what / did
1t was quaint way of putting it, and
her voice was SO genuinely appealing
that Lydia, after moments hesita
ton, extended her hands Mrs. Brood
grasped them in hers and gripped
them tightly 81 think l should like tc
know that you are my friend, Lydia
Has 1t occurred to you that l am ut
terly without friends in this great city
of yours? l have my husband, that
is ALL"
The girl could no more withstand
the electric charm of the woman than
she could have fought off the sun
shine. She was bewildered, and com
pletely fascinated.
'H's-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 tc
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 room
One can almost feel the presence OIL
the genii that created it 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 1t is a part
OF the East itself-of the real East
l have sat in emperors' houses out
there. my dear. and l have slept in
the palaces of kings. l have seer
just such things as these, and 1 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 o.
kings. Mrs Brood" said Lydia enthu
siastically. Kings in the days wher
kings were real. This rug
L know" interrupted the other. m,
husband told me the story. 1t mus
have cost him fortune"
1T was worth a fortune, said Lydia
A calculating squint had come int,
Yrs Brood's eyes while she wa
peaking. To Lydia it appeared as j
tle were trying to fix upon the valu
of the wonderful carpet
"A collector has offered him-hoy
much? A hundred thousand dollars
is not that it? All, how rich he mus
bel"
The collector you refer to"
Il was referring to my husband,
said Mrs. Brood. unabashed. He i
very rich. isn't hep
Lydia managed to conceal her ar
noyance- Il think not. as America,
fortunes are rated"
1T doesn't matter" said the othel
carelessly- .I have my own fortune
And it is not my face" she added
with a quick smile. Now let us loo
further. / must see all these wonder
full things We will not be missed
and 1t Is still half an hour till tie:
time My husband is now telling hi
son all there is to be told about me-
who and what am. and how he cam
70 marry me. Not. mind you. how