The Lamar register., 1917-09-05


and left him standing nonplused in
the lobby.
He went back to the street in an odd
frame of mind. Here was the girl he
had heretofore regarded as simply
good in surprisingly new light. He
wondered If her mother knew the kind
of friends" she was going to meet In
this place He was rather sure his
mother didn't. She had sent him about
his business with unexpected breviry
and decision. Perhaps it was curios-
ity, he didn't stop to analyze, but he
wanted to see what would happen next
and he turned and went back into the
cafe with it's dazzling lights, hum of
voices, strident violins, smell of wine.
and moving mass of dancers. He
meant TO watch Dolly Kemper without
being observed. Finally he located
her. She was dancing with fat bald
headed man whom he did not know,
but whose face and expression he
loathed After the dance she went
with watery eyed, loose mouthed
young man, whom Sperry mentally
dubbed a "decndent" to a table, and
drank wine with him.
At this stage Of the proceedings her
brother came up to the table, and
seemed to wish to take her away. But
she did not listen TO him. Sperry got
near enough to the table to overhenr
the conversation without being seen.
The young mans conversation was as
vacuous and decadent as his looks.
Sperry wondered how she could stand
II. Jack Kemper seemed to be losing
his relish for the festivities, and re-
turned again to his sister. He asked
her to come and dance with him. She
refused, saying:
"rm already engaged for two more
dances to-to-well I don't know his
name-the fat gentleman with the bald
head. And this gentleman" pointing
to the man at the table, "has the next
dance"
Here she made an attempt to intro
duce her brother, and the weak eyed
young man gave his name as Letting.
Kemper made no attempt to disguise
his disgust and chagrin, but Dolly was
not TO be moved. She laughed loudly
at her discounted brother, and cried
out "Now run along Buzzyr Have
good time, and don't bother mel"
It was plain to Sperry that the
friends she was going to meet We're
not I'm evidence. She had come there
alone to have her own good time"
and had not expected to find her broth
er. AS the evening wore on she danced
with all kinds of men. and drank wine
at the little tables more often than
a g.
the costume he had thought so eX-
quisite was. when the coat was re-
moved. ultra, freakish. even bizarre.
II drew the attention of many eyes,
and seemed as much out OF keeping
with the honest gray eyes, and the
charming feminine brow and mouth as
a parrots plumaCe on dove. Spcrry
almost laughed aloud when he thought
Of his mothers face could she at that
moment see her model girl, Dolly
Kemper. II all seemed rather unreal
and uncanny to him like a queer night
mare.
Just then rather loud and excited
voices broke In on his musings.
Kemper was trying TO induce his
sister to go home with him. and she
was quite as strenuously refusing TO
go. He was unusually sober. and was
evidently shocked, mortified, and utter
ly miserable over her conduct.
Gomez" he urged. Its horribleI
It's disgraceful for you to be dancing
with all these strange men. 1 don't
know one of them, and you DON'T
well you come here night after
night Do these women know who
you are? Do you know one Of them?"
That's differentw
mo it isn'tI' she cried. whats
good for you is good for met"
"Dollyl" he implored.
"Well II 1t isn't good why do you go
on doing ii. drinking yourself into an
idiot, making me miserable, breaking
mothers heart? But may be it's all
right :" she laughed in maudlin way.
''rm going on anyway, having n good
time as long as you do. Come on
Have somethingw
For an instant he looked utterly
helpless, then his lips tightened. "
caught sight of Sperry, and beckoned
him to him. He went.
Mfr Sperry," he said, 81 want my
sister TO go home with me. Perhaps
you can persuade her"
She actually went pale at sight Of