Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-05-14

on the third morning Hilda took
n step which she saw plainly had to
hc takcu. she rode down to the
ArmardcNillc offices. Deliberately
avoiding the gallant head of the house
she sought out NJ. Levy, the expert
cHced Jewish employee who had for
years accompanied her on her buying
expeditions as translator and business
agent and set herself at the task of
apparently bidding him casually
friendly farewell while really endeav-
orins To fix in his mind satisfactory
explanation Of her distinctly irregular
movements. M. Levy was discreet. lie
did not share with his chief the priv
ileEc Of making personal advances to
Ni5i'irG lady BUYERS. He was too
closely associated with them in their
Intricate day-b day transactions to
permit OF his intruding the slightest
feeling into his relationships with
hom. This. despite the fact that he
WAS often Obliged to lunch and dine
with them, to accompany them to
opera and races and on occasional
aiEhisceilg expeditions. HildI. of re-
cent years after her experience with
ali sorts of men in France, Germany.
England and America, had wondered
often at his sclf-control She had even
wondered where and when he pursued
the Gmours so important in the life or
every Partisan she had even known
or heard OF. Sometimes. so busy was
he. ii seemed that you could account
for all his waking time. Yet always
he was smiling and blondly urbane,
always patient, always impersonal;
never In hurry to be off about his
own affairs Thus he maintained
among the flocks of lady buyers, the
good will of Armandeville ct Gle.
which had been not infrequently
jeopardized by the exigent suscepti-
bilities OF old NJ. Armandeville himself.
And so 1t was that Hilda-outwardly
cool, II a thought pale and tired but
inwardlly blazing with resentment that
the thing should be necessary at all
passing NJ. Levy's desk as II 1t was the
most natural thing in the world that
she should be there, greeted MIN
cordially. and accepted the chair he
offered.
you have been away" said he. all
smiles.
Hilda thought quickly. They must
have been trying to find her at the
big hotel on the Rue de Rivoli. So
she nodded, then guarded the nod with
the statement--"Not out Of Paris, but
with friends"
Her thoughts raced on and on,
dTolnu anu ducdu VI tHe pTcScut Sltu-
alton. 1t was going to be difficult.
That miserably unstable thing, her
reputation. would crash right here,
were she not exceedingly skilltul in
creating q plausible impression. The
one thing above all others that she
could not tell. was the truth. 1t had
como 10 lying-no doubt Of that. now.
Downright wretched lying. So much
had q warm impulse done for her on
an empty rudderless day. No use even
considering the matter now. And yet
the truth was beautiful-the most
beautiful experience In her barren life.
She was doing a natural thing. a hu:
man thing, an essentially decent and
fine thing. And she had to cover 1t
up--lie about It
For one deep moment q great up-
rush OF anger swayed within her. And
she sat calmly there, smiling q little.
and idly finEertng corner OF the
green desk blotter. She was as beauti-
full as ever, N. Levy thought, study
ing her through mild eyes. A fine
woman driver; and with . good
business head! Some Of the others
were catA He wondered how she
managed 70 look 20 young. Possibly
she really was young. Who could
ssyd aS.a. At that however 'h' did look
You have worked hard" hs OBJ
sarved.
tim going 70 take . vacation" said
sheOehs orse regular vacation In
yeA0s