Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-08-24
Copyrighted by Harper and Brothers

Miss Demorest seemed genuinely de-
lighted at this encounter She chung
I, To her companion. chattering vivacious-
| ly. then. when the rose du Barry had
l,een matched. she suggested tea.
! Well run right over to the Wal
dorf my car is outside But Loreei
! declined. explaining lanely that she
did not care for public. places.
I The dancers expression and tone.
changed abruptly. II supposed you
We're like all the others
Well. I'm not When I'm away
from the theater ! try to forget it.
hate the business
The reply. which came with sincere
feeling. widened I4oreei's eyes with
uncomfortable surprise.
Here. too" said Adoree Demorest,
quietly. "But Era not allowed TO for
get it, Our first meeting made me
think you wereort with banners
was hired on that occasion to he
naughty. What do you say to some
real tea at my house? Just you and
IL"
Ioreleis heart sank at the thought
OF that gandy machine outside. but
there was an honest appeal n the
Speakers eyes. and. moreover. the
memory OF her obligation rose to pre-
vent her from appearing ungrateful.
I'D be aelighted.' she falsihed. and.
gnrgling with appreciation. Miss Dem
crest hurried her toward the nearest
exit. In the street. however. AdOree
paused. and her next words showed
that she Was no. wanting in womanly
Intuition.
II shali't inf1irt you with a ride in
that circus wagon. It's all right for
me. but youre one OF the decent kind
II you have IL reputation 1t won't do
TO parade it In II show ease Wen take
a taxi Lorelei's relief must have
been obvious. for Adoree sped swiftly
to the corner. then WAS back again
without the dog. IF there's anything
mora conspicuous than Il blonde with
white POODLE she explained. IFS
two blondes with two poodles" Then
she Hung herself into the cab and
slammed the door.
you must think E'm very rude" her
guest ventured
Nothing of the sort. know Just
how you feel" ,iiss Demorest's smile
was a tririe strained. "Only-I'm aw
fully lonesome. and take care that
nobody sees us"
Now know I've been nasty" Lo-
relief felt her embarrassment growing.
or this woman differed entirely from
.hat she had expected. Underneath
he dancers extravngant theatlicalism
dOree changed the current OF the.
'nversation by saying:
Il hope those bloodhounds get to
citing
'How-funny" Lorelei was eylng
lie speaker with unlisguised curiosity.
You're not a. Frenchwoman?"
Agnes Smith is the name. Decent
ly descent. hut an actress by adver-
Using. Whats your game?'
I'm mAly nose is straight: l don't
limp: SO i IN an actress by force OF fea-
ture."
SIl 10
II like you" said the dancer. "Do
you mind II get out OF this cast-ron
corset and into kimono when we get
home?"
Have you spare one?''
Dozens: but they're not very clean"
That's lovely. And let's make the
tea weak
"Oh. ] can't drink anything strong!
I'm an awful counterfeit"
I'm beginning to think so. l.
wonder ir I'm dreaming"
The girls had much in common: they
chartered continuously through the
short ride. and when they alighted
from the taxlcab they disputed over
the right to pay for it, When the
guest was ushered into Adoree's apart
1nent she received another surprise,
for The place was neither elaborate nor