Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-29

wanted to know. at once. why Miss Les
lie had her hat on. Was she going home?
I'm just going around the corner
Harry she replied. impatiently. Now.
don't ask any questions"
I'm go with you--
at is not at all necessary. she re-
turned. sharply. .'YoI had better stay
here"
Il shall certainly not let you go down
into that crowd alone" persisted the
he started for the door. Laura felt
there was no time to be lost in argument
so she accepted the inevitable. As the
door closed. Mrs. Gray shuddered slightly
huddled closer to her chair, and threw a
frightened glance up at the grinning doc
tor, who. to tell the truth. was a bit
puzzled at all these proceedings But
Sterling was not n bashful young man,
and as he gazed in admiration at the
brilliant red and gold kimono. he made a
sweeping gesture downward with both
hands and asked:
Does Harry provide these gorgeous
conveniences for all his friends?"
Never mind what Mr.. Townsend pro-
vides for his friends.~ replied the little
woman. severely. You may sit down il
you ike
Thank you". and as he pulled chair
from the table. he added, II did not quite
catch your name when was introduced.
Phoenix replied Mrs Gray, promptly.
Miss Phoenix
Very unusual name" observed the
doctor
Possibly returned Mrs. Gray, but
it's very old name We can trace it
back to NEUROLOGICAL times
How very singular! I've never heard
Harry speak of you. Have you known
him long,"
Il don't see of what possible interest
that can be to you.''
ut interests me. because, as my good
old friend Jack Gray says. all things con-
corning lovely women are interesting
That's what your good old friend
Jack Gray says. is it?' exclaimed Miss
Phoenix, sitting up little straighter in
her chair
Yep; Jack has perfectly correct ideas
about many things I think you'd like
other good sport gone to waste!"
rs that also an aphorism of your good
old friend Jack Gray's'?"
NO; that's mine"
That's your view of married life
well, not altogether. l dare say
Jack is quite happy. I've never seen
his wife. Most of the time since his
marriage I've been in the Philippines
She may be very lovely. but more likely
she's a pie-faced. slab-sided creature
with dyspepsia"
rs that the way Jack talks of his
wife," she inquired, with a cynical
smile.
"Oh. dear. no. laughed Sterling. HE
always speaks well of her.
Speaks well of herr"
Yes. you know what l mean. He
always speaks very nicely of her. But
you can never judge anything from
what man says to other men about
his wife,
mo more than you can judge of a
husband from what his wife says,
suppose"
well. can't say as to that" unused
Sterling. IF women spoke as well of
their husbands as they do of their IA
vorite baking powder this would be
better world"
There is no telling to what philosoph-
zeal heights the doctor might have
flown If. at this juncture. the front door
bell had not again shrilIy proclaimed a
caller. Toni entered almost imme-
diately. and Mrs. Gray. realizing that
still another stranger must be coming.
leaped from her chair and turned to-
ward the bedroom door
Where are you going?" inquired
Sterling
I'm going to escape" she replied,
with her hand on the doorknob.
"0h please don't" urged the doctor.
and he QUICKLY and impudently put his