The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-10-21
Cast for Photoplay

SIDE her plate. her lovely face unsmillng.
1t occurred to Christopher that she had
scracely spoken at all. yet to him, at
least, she dominated the scene.
I'm to be q sleeping partner" asked
christopher, wishing himself elsewhere,
though his interest was entangied.
On the contrary. you're to be very
wide awake. But I'll tell you all about
1t. or course, you've heard Of the Van
Bouton ball. next week."
or course. CHRISTOPHER had. and said
so. For the past fortnight the papers
had rained paragraphs about the Van
bouten bail. IL was to be masked
ball, and was planned to rival In mag
innocence tho historic affair at Devon
shire House In Diamond Jubilee year.
Miss. Van Bouton. paent yeast heir
ess, was as renowned for her beauty as
for her millions. She and n carefully
selected aunt had taken and restored h
hne old abbey OF Henry Wis day, con-
veniently near London. A year ago the
young heiress had been presented and
captured or was on the point OF captur-
ing. the MARQUES OF Arrowdale. Now
she and the aunt were giving this ball,
at which. II was said. after the unmask-
ing, her engagement to Lord Arrowdale
would perhaps be announced.
We have a scheme for the night of
the ball which will be the sensation of
the century. IL we can only carry Il
OUT, Ftzgerald went on, 1T falls on
the last OF March, as l said: SO that /
or All Fools Day. you know. But that
gives you no hint Of our brilliant idea
though II did give us our inspiration. We
nad reason to believe up to last night
that the plan was in the best working
order; but-the schemes OF mice and
men One OF our best mice suddenly
failed us-infiuenza or something OBJ
vious. The wheels wouldn't go round
without him-literally; because she's a
% %Ssn ANA, was upset but reflected ,S.
American girl, SO ! allied Mas Dauvray
into consultation. No chaperon,' l said,
and having the courage of her convic-
lions, she consented to lunch at the
waited for her l saw you-and your car.
What q beauty! l said to myself.
(Don't blush; / mean the carl. Now, II
only we had a motor like that to do our
Just then came along Major Nor
burn. In six words he told me your
cars history. Your audacity and orig
inality captivated my imagination on
the instant. felt you were the man for
US, II we could secure you.
We want you to take us-Miss Dauv-
ray, myself. and several friends-to st.
Romans Mount for the ball in your rip
ping motor car. We don't mean to stay
ns bach N fact IA o we can promise that yoI
guests have stopped dancing. Now.
what do you say, when, In addition to
short hours you'll be in for a splendid
adyenture-iust the sort Of thing to APP
IT'S rather odd" said Christopher,
but my errand hero this morning was
to leave a note for Lord Arrowdale.
making an appointment for a talk about
R RSnons "a party q his friends to st,
Miss Dauyray looked up suddenly,
and was nobly beautiful with the ivory
curve OF her cheeks stained a deep rose
color. Still she did not speak.
aa%s S S Glad %sen she locked
to see what her eyes were like. No: It
was not necessary for a woman with
such eyes to say much with her lips.
still, what did the. eyes say7 Some
thing very expressively. very ardently
but what? Was she pleased to hear
that there was q chance OF his being
engaged to take another party to the
ball? Why did she flush when he mem
toned an appointment with Lord Ar
Christopher noticed now that she was
looking tired. Her eyes were gentle
and sad. and oddly wistful, as the
turned them to his In support Of her
one word. 1t was, as II she appealed
to him. But-did she want him to con-
sent or refuse? He felt suddenly pas
sionate desire to understand her. The
way to do so was to see more OF her
He would see more Of her. 'In that
case" he said, II am at your orders"
ITS settled-your're one OF us!" ex-
claimed Fitzgerald.
Then you shall hear the whole thing
Well. as you've heard about the ball
her aunt, who poses as hostess-has Of
feTed the Scrope blue diamond as
prize for, the greatest sensation OF the
evening""
nj
| mot exactly that. for II can even be
won by party. Indeed. ] think 1t
will be won by my party. What she
means Is to give the diamond to the
person or group of persons whose ap-
pearance and manner OF entrance Gre
ates the greatest. sensation.
| NATURALLY. everybody wants to get
that diamond. which Milly van Bouten
bought at Christie's on purpose to ofrer
| In this way. Myself, rather think she
hopes Arrowdale mag get 1t, as II would
please him. and then there'd be a chance
| of It's coming back TO her In the end
though know for fact that he hasn't
proposed yet, in spite of all the talk.
cred that Miss Dauvray had also set
her heart on annex4ng II. This sug-
gested our putting our heads together.
Milly got the diamond at a bargain, and
the day after she was offered three
millionaire, Jim Scrope- Saunders, who
fancles himself to be an ofrshoot Of the
real Scropes. She wouldn't sell II; what
was twelve thousand pounds to Milly?
But It's something to us; and II we get
the prize, as we shall. our idea Is to sell
to Scrope-Saunders and divide among
our assistantB-the biggest portion for
ourselves. as Is only fair. since we're the
ortginators OF the Idea. There'il Do Ilve
in II. including yourself now. and two
men who ara friends OF mine. what
ever happens. you're sure Of advent IRE
and whatever you like to charge for
your car and your services. II we gel
the diamond, your share will be fivs
hundred pounds. How does that strik,
your
"As most generous--too generous fol-
me to accept" said Christopher.
"Wel force you to accept. But never
mind that part now, ! told you that q
friend with u motor had failed US, A
motor II necessary because, when view,
made our sensation. we must be able &
dash away. as up-to-date highwaymeT
should. But. oh. perhaps / forgot Il