Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-13

Great Scott" cried Sterling, snatch
ing his hat.
And it's all your fault. too" Laura
said to him. 60 and explain. The
drug clerk reported to the authorities,
after filling your prescription"
oh, the fool business" groaned Ster-
ling, and was off.
CHAPTER XII.
Under ordinary circumstances. Harry
Townsend. would have been delighted
to see Laura Leslie, and his manner
would have been most attentive. But
at this particular moment, filled as he
was with false theories and twisted
facts. he could with difficulty bring
himself to his usual cordial manner
toward his guest. Laura noticed, but
paid little heed to his glum and cheer
less demeanor, for she herself was fig
uring on how to tell him of Miss Phoe-
nix's identity. and of the complications
resulting from her .unintended visit to
his rooms.
7 want to tell you about yesterday"
she began.
II think l know all I care to know"
replied Townsend solemnly.
Then. you have heard?" she asked,
assuming that DIR. Sterling had given
him the information about Miss Phoe-
nix.
II have" he grunted.
Don't you think it's funny
Townsend felt as if he could lay yio-
lent hands on the beautiful girl who
sat smiling at him across the room.
How woman who had done what
Laura had done-who had treated a
man as she had treated him-could
come to him and ask il he did not think
1t was funny, was quite beyond his
present mental comprehension. He
merely giared at her. and as he glared
his Indignation rose.
Funny he exclaimed. you might,
at least, have told me all the truth yes
terday."
But could not" protested Laura,
still in defense of Miss Phoenix. 81 had
promised not to-"
Il suppose you know best" he con-
tinued. But / can't help resenting it.
We have always been good friends
more than good friends-'
Don't talk that way, Harry" she
broke in propitiatingly. Its of no
Importance"
"Of no Importance he cried. "of no
Importance: Bigamy is a sort of joke,
eh?"
Well. that bigamy business" laughed
Laura, wholly missing Townsend's
point. was the funniest scene ] ever
witnessed. You should have seen Mrs.
Gray denouncing Jack as self-con-
fessed bigamist"'
Townsend was nonplussed. How an
intelligent woman could make light of
so serious an affair he could not COM
prehend. To think that she could de-
liberately go and marry man whom
she knew to be already married.
Don't you think you have rather
made fool of yourself?" he exclaimed
dramatically Have YOU no consci-
friends, no consideration for your own
postion?'
Bravo" she chirped enthusiastically
Bravo. Harry, Put that in the second
. Elttt all ~,
You ask me that he rallied. You!
You. of all women to me, of all men,
You know how / have felt toward you,
you know how have striven to do the
best l could to aid you in this foolish am
bition of yours to become a great actress
! who have begged you to leave the stage,
And now. suddenly without warning. with
piteous foolishuess, you go and marry
marry man who He was choking
with emotion.
Harry. dear" Laura said quietly. with
feigned alarm. And so early in the day,
too
He thought she was hooking him. He
could stand il no longer. He feared his
feelings would get the better of his Ian
guage If he remained in her presence. He
shook his head with sort of despairing
groaD and sought refuge in his bedroom
CHAPTER XIII.
Col. Crosby had walked less than
block upon leaving the Grays' house, after
having heard Gertrude Gray declare that
her husband was a self-confessed biga-
mist, when the humor Of the situation
suddenly dawned upon him, and his
momentary anger vanished into a hearty
laugh. He realized that there must have
been some mix-up of which he and the
others were ignorant, and that. instead
of going off in huff it would be much
better for him to return and see If he