The midland journal., 1917-08-24
CHAPTER XXI.

Under Lorelei's encouragement Bob
put in the next two weeks to good ad-
vantage. In fact, so obsessed was he
with his new employment that it was
not long before his imaginary bet with
Cady assumed reality in his mind.
Moreover, 1t became gossip around his
clubs; and in quarters where he was
well known his method Of winning the
wager was deemed not only character
istic but ingenious. His exploits were
famous; and his friends, rejoicing in
one more display of eccentricity, and
relishing any mild misfortune to Dick
Cady, in the majority of cases changed
tailors.
Business at Kurtz' increased so SUBJ
stantially that Bob was treated with a
reverential amazement by everyone in
the shop. The other statesmen gazed
upon him with envy: Kurtz' bearing
changed in a way that was extremely
gratifying to one who had been uni
versally accounted failure. And Bob
expanded under success; he began to
feel more than mere amusement in his
experiment.
His marriage had become public, but
the affair was too old to be of much
news value Now that he had escaped
the disagreeable notoriety he had ex-
pected and was possessed of larger
means, Bob-inordinately proud of his
wife's beauty and boyishly eager to
5;e11oxy a. -,1DdorfooL1 fn xuiu sooiol woo
ognition for her. 1t was no difficult
task for one with his wide acquaint-
ance to make a beginning. Lorelei
was surprised and delighted one day to
receive an invitation for her and her
husband to spend weekend at Fen
nellcourt, the country home Of Bert
Hayman's sister. She had not been
sorry to give up her theatrical work,
and the prospect of meeting nice
! people, of leaving for good and all the
sordid, unhealthy atmosphere of Broad
way, bathed her in glow Of anticipa-
ton.
Fennellcourt is one of the show
places Of the Wheatley Hills section.
Bert Hayman drove the Whartons out
from the city, and Lorelefs first
glimpse Of Fennellcourt was such that
she forgot her vague dislike of Hay
man himself. Bert, who had met her
and Bob for luncheon, had turned out
to be, instead of polished man of the
world, glib youth with an artifcia!
laugh and pair of sober, heavy-lidded
eyes. That he possessed keen ap-
probation of feminine beauty he
showed by surrendering uncondition-
ally to Lorelei's charms.
AS Hayman's car rolled up the drive
way and the beauties of Fennellcourt
displayed themselves, Lorelei found
her heart throbbing violently Was not
this the beginning of glorious adven-
ture? Was not life unfolding at last?
Was she not upon the threshold OF
new world? The fiutter in her breast
was answer.
Bert led the way through an impress
sive hall that bisected the building,
then out upon a stately balustraded
stone terrace, where, in the grateful
shade Of gaudy awnings, a dozen
people were chatting at tea tables.
Mrs. Fennell, the hostess. a plain
faced, dumpy young matron, welcomed
the newcomers, then made Lorelei
known. AS for Bob, he needed no in
PRODUCTIONS; a noisy outburst greeted
him, and Lorelei's heart warmed at
the welcome.
A few moments of chatter, then she
and Bob were led into the house again
and up to a cool, wide bedroom. AS
Lorelei removed her motor coat and
bonnet she exclaimed, breathlessly:
"What a gorgeous house! And those
people! They weren't the least bit
formal"
Bob laughed. "Formality is about
the last thing they're famous for.
There's liable to be too much infor-
mality. Say! You made those danes
look like the Monday morning wash
ladies' parade. knew you would"
"You said this was the younger set
but that awful Thompson Bellaire wild
ow is here. and that blonde girl met
with her."
"Alice Wyeth?"
Yes. l thought she was going TO
kiss you"
Bob grinned. $50 did l. She will,
too, If she feels like it."
Wont you have anything to say
about it?"
"What could 1 say? Alice does just
as she likes. So does everybody else,
for that matter. I've never gone in for
this sort of thing very much.'
After a moment Lorelei ventured, II
suppose they're all hard drinkers"
THAT wasn't spring water you saw
In their glasses"
"Are you-going to? Lorelei eyed
him anxiOusly.
81 can't very well make myself con-
spicuous by refusing everything;
don't want to look like zebra in a
henyard-and a cocktail before dinner