Gilpin observer., 1916-08-10


It was Alix that discov cred Alan as
the Elenic steamed slowly down the
Solent. He was already comfortably
established in his chair with a small
pile Of fiction beside him.
She paused before she approached
him. Alan had always interested her.
Alix had thought of him heretofore
as modern exquisite subject to atavic
fits that, in times past, had led him
into more than one barbarous esca-
pade. Now in London she had by chance
heard things of him that forced her to
readjustment Of her estimate. In six
months Alan had turned himself into a
mystery.
WELL" she said, coming up behind
him. "how are your
Alan turned his head slowly and
then threw OF his rugs and sprang
to his feet.
"The sky is Clear" he said, where
did you drop from" His eyes meas
ured her. She was ravishing in a fur
toQue and coat which had yet to re-
ceive their baptism Of import duty.
"Oh," said Alix, my presence is
humdrum. Just the usual returning
from six weeks abroad. But you! You
come from the haunts of wild beasts
and from all accounts you have been
one"
Been one! From all accountsv ex-
claimed Alan, a puzzled frown on his
face. "Just what do you mean?
They started walking. II meant that
even in Africa one can't hide from Pic
cadilly. In Piccadilly you are already
known. Not as Mr.. Alan Wayne, a
New York social satellite. but as
whirlwind in shirt sleeves. Ten Per-
cent Wayne, in short" She looked
at him with teasing archness. She
could see that he was worried.
satellite Is rather rough" remarked
Alan. II never was that"
"All bachelors are satellites in the
nature OF things-satellites to other
mems wives"
Have you a vacancy?" said Alan.
They both knew they were embark
Ing upon dangerous game, but Alix
played 1t often. No pretty woman
takes her European degree without
ample occasion for practice and Alix
had been through the European mill.
She threw out her daintily shod feet
as she walked. She was full of life.
She felt like skipping. The light OF
battle danced merrily in her eyes. She
made no other reply.
II met lots of people we both know"
she said, at last.
(which one Of them passed on the
news that had taken to the ways OF
a Wild beast?"
"Oh, that was the Honorable Percy.
I only caught few words. He was
telling about man known as Ten
Percent Wayne and the only time he'd
ever seen the shirt-sleeve policy work
with natives. When l learned 1t was
Africa. l linked up with you at once
and screamed and he turned to me and
said. You know Mr.. Wagner But
just then Lady Merle signaled the re-
treat. and when the men came out
somebody else snafiled Collingeford be-
fore l got chance"
"Oh, Collingeford," said Alan. II
remember" He frowned and was ST.
lent.
"Alan," said Allx after a moment,
"let me warn you. see a new ten
dency in you but before 1t goes
any further than tendency let
me tell you that thoughtful
man is a most awful bore. When
I caught sight Of you thought. What
delightful little party but II you're
going to be pensive there are others"
Alan glanced at her. "Alix," he
said, mimicking her tone, II see in you
the makings of an altogether charming
woman. I'm not speaking OF the
painstaking veneer-I suppose you
need that in your walk of life-but
what's under 1t. There may be Others
as you say. Pretty women have taken
to wearing men for bangles. But don't
you make mistake. I'm not BAN
gle. I've just come from the unclothed
world of real things. To me n man 10
just man and, what's more. a woman
is just woman"
"How un-American," said Alix.
"It's more than that" said Aim,
ITS pre-American."
AK was thoughtful in her turn.
Alan caught her by the arm and turned
her toward ths west A yawl was lust