The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-10-19
CHAPTER VIII.

The little room was gaudily decorat
ed and redolent with the lingering
odors of many dinners. Yet Louise
who had dined on the preceding eve
ming at the Ritz and been bored, whose
taste in food and environment was al
most hypercritical, was perfectly
happy. She found the cuisine and the
Chant excellent.
"We are outstaying everyone else,
their awful legacy of tobacco smoke
Do you see that the waiter has brought
you the bill, Mr.. Strangewey? Prepare
for a shock. 1t is fortunate that you
are a millionaire ~
John laughed as he paid the bill and
ludicrously overtipped the waiter.
"You are so convincingi" Sophy muir
INJURED. "But remember that your fu-
ture entertainment is in the hands of
two women, one of whom is deserv-
ing but struggling young artist without
the means of gratifying her expensive
tastes"
my children" said Louise, rising,
1--WE must remember that we are going
to the Palace. 1t is quite time we
started" Ia
They made their way down two
flights of narrow stairs into the street.
tie to his lips, but Louise stopped him.
eve will walk" she suggested. ''This
way, Mr.. Strangewey
They passed down the long, narrow
street, with its dingy foreign cafes and
shops, scarcely one of which seemed to
be English. The people who thronged
the pavement were of a new race to
John, swarthy, a little furtive, class
of foreigner seldom seen except in
alien lands. Men and women in all
stages of dishabille were leaning out
of the windows or standing on the door
steps. The girls whom they met occa-
sionally-young women of all ages,
walking arm in arm, with shawls on
their heads in place of hats-laughed
openly in Johns face.
"Conquests everywhere he goes!'
Louise sighed. "We shall never keep
him, Sophy!"
"We have him for this evening, at
any rate" Sophy replied contentedly;
land he hasn't spent all his fortune
yet. I am not at all sure that shall
not hint at supper when we come out
of the Palace"
"a pity he fell into bad hands so
quickly" Louise laughed. ,"Here we |
lie ,a1a NTil1innair-n 4
be seen tonight in the seats
IF the mighty"
John risked a reproof, however, and |
vas fortunate enough to find a olsen
gagged box. They devoted their atten-
ion to the show, Louise and Sophy at
irst with only moderate amount of
interest, John with the real enthusiasm
# one to whom everything is new. His
aughter was so hearty, his apprecia-
ion so sincere, that his companions
ound it infectious, and began to ap-
'laud everything.
''The bioscope," Louise at last de-
ided firmly, 81 refuse to have anything
o do with. You have had all the en-
ertainment you are going to have this
vening, Mr.. Countryman."
"Now for supper, then" he proposed.
"Luigis," Sophy declared firmly.
The only place in London"
They drove toward the Strand. John
,oked around him with interest as
hey entered the restaurant. Luigi, +;
Tho came forward to welcome Sophy,
scorted them to one of the best tables. ,
''You must be very nice to this gen. {
eman, Luigi" she said. "He is very !,
reat friend of mine, just arrived in 6
ondon. He has come up on purpose '
, see me, and we shall probably de-
de to make this our favorite restau- t
ant"
81 shall be VARY happy" Luigi de-
AIRED, with bow. It
81 am beginning to regret, Mr..
trangewey, that ever introduced you
, Sophy," Louise remarked, as she
ink back into her chair. you won't
elieve that all my friends are as
ivolous as this, will your
'They aren't" Sophy proclaimed con-
iently. II am the one person who