The Carlisle independent., 1917-04-12

time. Here comes a man now that 1 want you to know" and she beckoned to a man who was crossing the floor with tall and strikingly handsome brunette
 Why, it's MT. Morton!" exclaimed 1 Cleo. "I didn't know that he was here. Have you known him long, here. Have you known him long?"
 q never met him until tonight, but he seems to be very charming fel- low. He and the Countess Ivanoff, the lady who is with him, are old friends of my husbands vice consul, MT. Paget. I invited them on his ac- count"
 "This is indeed pleasant surprise, Miss Burke" said Morton, gazing at Cleo in such open admiration that her eyes dropped in confusion. Now I am glad I came You look as though you had come straight from the Rue de Ia Paix. May I have this dancer"
 Cleo glanced at Hope, who was al- ready deep in an animated conversa- tion with the countess. He seemed to have forgotten her entirely He had not even asked her for a dance. A little flush of anger came into her cheeks.
 Indeed you may" she answered. T am very fond of dancing" and the next moment she was floating away in the arms of Gerald Morton. When Hope caught sight of them Morton was whispering something in her ear which caused her to look up into his eyes with smile of pleasure.
 Morton lost no time in starting his campaign of love-making. An unex- pected opportunity had been thrown in his way and he intended to make the most of 1t. He had had much ex- perience in the game of love- but he had never played it for such high stakes, or when it was so yitally nec- essary for him to win, and he appre- ciated, moreover that, were he to be successful he would have to play with consummate skill. Nor did he make the mistake of undertaking his adversary Jarvis Hope. He knew that the young naval officer held an assured place in Cleo's affections, but
 
 is always easy to make woman jeal- ous of the man she loves. And he de- termined that his first move should be to stir up jealousy between Hope and Cleo. When the dance was over, following the customary rules of the game, he suggested to Cleo that they take stroll upon the terrace, and it in, ae6 hxy screen of palms, that they were found, half an hour later. by Hope and Olga. i've been looking for you every where, Cleo" he said sternly "Why have you been away so long?"
 q have been talking to MT. Morton" Cleo answered. "But" she added de- fantly, 'I wasn't aware that I was expected to give you an account Of my actions. I am quite old enough to take care of myself, thank you"
 Morton saw with satisfaction that a lovers quarrel was brewing but it was ended almost before it began by Mrs. Delmar, who at that moment stepped onto the terrace.
 70. MT. Hope" she cried, catch ing sight of the group behind the palms, I've been looking all over for you. The butler tells me that my nephew came half an hour ago. He must have taken the books upstairs, though I can't understand why that stupid servant at the door didn't let me know. Don't you and Miss Burke want to go up to the study and look at them?''
 AS Hope and Cleo followed their hostess into the house, Morton and Olga looked at each other significant ly. ''We must follow them" Olga whispered.
 
 When Francis Leyland arrived he was met at the door by Mahlin, who recognized him by the package under his arm.
 Are you MT. Leyland, sir?" he in- quired respectfully.
 q am," was the answer.
 "Your aunt desires me to tell you, sir," said Mahlin smoothly, "that you are to give me the books and I am to take them to the upstairs study so that Lieutenant Hope can see them"
 The study was a large and hand .somely furnished apartment.
 Mahlin, closing the door behind him, had unwrapped the books with quick, nervous fingers, and was bent over the table, absorbed in their examina- tion, when the door was suddenly thrown open and young Leyland en- tered the room
 Excuse me-" he exclaimed, suppos- ing the figure at the table was one of the guests, '1m sorry if intruded. I just stepped in to see if I could find some cigarettes" and then, recogniz- ing Mahlin as the servant who had admitted him, what the devil are you doing with those books? And why haven't you told my aunt that I had arrived?"
 q really beg pardon, sir" said the