The midland journal., 1917-07-13

Bergman says Mrs. Thompson- Bel
1 laire is giving box party, and she
told him to fetch you around for sup
per. She owns piece of this show.
and the theater belongs to the estate,
so you'll just have to CO."
"Mercy! Mrs. Thompson -Bellaire, the
college boys giddy godmother," Lilas
Knocked. 81 suppose she's out slum-
ming, with her kindergarten class"
| Slosson frowned at this levity. "Will
you goT" he inquired. Eyes or now
"Um-m-Pll have to say yes it
seems"
| Good I'll phone Bergman
When the press agent had gone Lilas
regarded her companion with open
compassion. See! But you're going
to have a grand time. That bunch
thinks it's smart to be seen with show
people, and Of course they'll dance all
night"
"And 1 did so want to go straight
back to my new home" When she
| Joined her employer after the show she
was in no very agreeable frame of
mind.
| Mrs. Thompson-B -Bellaire was a YER
milion-haired widow with a chest like
blacksmith. who had become famous
for her jewels and her social eccen-
tricities. She and her party were es-
| tablished at one of the uptown "Trot-
toires," when Nobel Bergman and Lo-
relei arrived Three examples of
blushing boyhood devoted themselves
to a languid blonde girl Of thirty five,
and the hostess herself was dancing
with another tender youth, but she
came forward, painting.
$50 good Of you to come, DEAR" she
cried. ''This is Miss Wyeth, and these
are my boys, Mr." She spoke four
meaningless names, and four mean
| ingless smiles responded; four wet
combed heads were bowed. She turned
to her blonde companion, saying "She
is pretty, isn't she, Alice?"
"Very," Alice agreed, without remov-
| ing her eyes from the youth at her left
Bergman invited Lorelei to finish the
dance; then he inquired, What do you
think of her?"
Her hair fascinates me; she looks
as if she had just burst out of a thicket
of henna leaves" Bergman laughed,
silently "But why did she invite meT'
81 told her to-"
"YouY
81 knew you'd refuse If I asked
you"
so? Then I'm really your guest in
stead Of hers"
"We'll leave whenever you say"
Throughout the rest Of the dance
| Lorelei was silent, offended at Berg
mans deception and uncomfortable at
| her own situation; but the hostess had
| ordered a supper of the unsatisfactory
kind usual in such places; little as she
| liked the prospect, she could not leave
at once.
The meal was interrupted regularly
each time the music played, for dane
| ing was more than fad in this set
| it was serious business with which
| nothing was allowed to interfere.
| There) was considerable drinking.
Bergman, who devoted himself assidu-
| ously to his employee, showing more
effect from it than the others. AS the
night wore on he became more and
| more offensive; he grew coarse in
sly, tentative manner, as If feeling his
ground. He changed the manner of
his dancing, also, until Lorelei could
no longer tolerate him.
Getting tired, my dear?" he queried,
throng.
Eyes. I want to 60"
"Still on Amsterdam avenue"
"No, I'm living alone-now."
Bergman started, his eyes bright
ened "Ah! Then you've come to your
senses finally. Merkle fixed it-eh? 1
can do more for you than Merkle can"
"Merkle?" She eyed him coolly.
"Oh, play your game with strangers,
but don't put me off. Weren't you
caught with him at the Chateau? Well,
then"
"You needn't finish. I'm going home
now"
He laid OBTAINING hand upon her
arm. "You never learned that speech
in one of my shows" he said, "and
you're not going to say good night to
me. Understand" He grinned at her
with disgusting confidence, and she
flung off his touch. The returning
dancers offered a welcome diversion.
Lorelei dreaded an open clash with
the manager, knowing that the place,
the hour and the conditions were Ill
suited to a scene. She had learned
to smile and to consider swiftly, to
situation with light steps. Quickly
she turned to Mrs. Thompson-Bellaire
who was bowling effusively to a new
conner.
my wofd! What is Bob Wharton
doing here?" exclaimed the widow.
"Bob Wharton? Where?" Miss Wy
eths languor vanished electrically; she
yranohad har attention from thp wire