The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1916-04-28
CHAPTER xlx-con.Inu.d.


Then the first outside" guest A.
rived. q lady in the character OF the
queen OF Sheba. Instantly she was
surrounded by an admiring. clamoring.
teasing group.
Am I the hrst!" asked the lady.
NO, indeed said Bell comforting.
ly, with as much inanity a. the ques-
ton required. And then. just as the
situation was becoming unbearably
stupid. ~ such moments at the begin
ming Of . party always are. the door
opened to an Apache. full-painted for
war. A wild whoop went up At once.
and before II had subsidized, the crowd
began 10 stream in, many-colored.
noisy, gorgeous or humorous, filling
the dim studio with a dream-iike
throng, alive with movement, fraught
with the delightful mystery OF IA
miliar friends In disguise.
The air was full Of chatter. of
laughter, Of delighted screams Of
recognition. Good Lord! it's Bill!
Look what Bill has on! Have you
seen Makes tights!!! Kitty has on a
blonde wig!-yes, II ia Ken Harris!
Well! look at Mr.. De Bush, will you!
Hello. Pell. old boy. feel as great a
fool as you look?" ETC.. etc. From the
corner where the musicians sat, came
an ungodly squeaking and scraping.
The perfume Of burning incense, OF
hewitt cigarettes. of heavy cosmetics
and camphor, hung in the atmosphere.
Tho hungry violinist readjusted his
handkerchief and waved his bow;
there was a blast OF melody. madden
ing. enticing. and the crowd In the
center Of the room began to move
rhythmically. The guests continued
to pour in.
Among these came Leigh, clad in
high boots, rough shirt, and trousers,
carrying an AZ, his coat thrown over
his arm, this costume having been
peaEance OF the great American for
whom he had been named. AaMs-.
After 4 quick word Of greeting to
Don Milligan. no thrust his impedi-
menta into . corner, and began to
search among the crowd for the face
that had haunted him necessarily the
10 hours past. But although many
smiled at him. and beckoned him to
Join them. he shook his head In re-
fuaal. and continued to look for Pedro.
But Pedro was nowhere to be found.
and instead. In Q small room opening
on to the balcony. he came upon Iris,
who. seated upon q divan. was en-
gagged in warding on the eager atten-
lions Of Pell, who was determined
that she should dance with him.
Hello, Iris!" said Leigh. coming up.
and at once perceiving that she
wished to be rid of the young re-
porter. Hello. Pell! get out OF this.
will you! I've something particular
want to tell Miss Vanderpool."
You brigand!" retorted Pell, ma
king . WY face. what right have you,
boarding my ship this way? However.
despite my newspaper instinct.
shall withdraw from earshot. But II
you SEQ . paragraph or two about
yourselves. don't be surprised"
which witticism he was on.
cub" muttered Leigh. Then
TO Iris. MAY sit down. or would
you rather be left alone?"
"I-no. that 10. yes!" said Iris con-
fusedly. do sit here beside me.
please. IL feel rather unhappy to-
night, and that boy bothered me.
What 10 1t that you have to tell me?"
Absolutely nothing" said Leigh.
sinking down beside her. 1T was
only ruse. But Ill try and think mp
something II you like"
Don't trouble!"- replied Iris with
little laugh. ,.
''Perhaps~-that In. II you like to, you
know-will you toll me something?"
Leigh responded.
That depends" said Iris. patting
the shimmerins skirt Of her costume.
That depends on The nature Of the
question"
her. 1T Is only that l can see you are
unhappy, and there must be a reason
for it. Now. II you told me that rea-
son. the telling might help you to dis
Germ its real Significance"
You say such odd things" she re-
piled, and such true ones! In most
cases your receipt might work, but,
in this one, It won't. You see, my
chief trouble is that have made an
awful fool Of myself. and talking about
1t would only make me more fool than
ever" rs
MOT necessarily" he responded
For instance. you might have been
misled in the first place. You are
scarcely responsible for that, and all
your foolishness might be subsequent
and dependent upon such misleading
or deception"
That's 1t exactly" cried Iris. oh,
Mr.. Leigh. do you think IT would be
very terrible II were to tell you
omething-something that involved
third person. l mean? 1t would
ease my mind so. and must have ad-
vice! My father has gone on some