New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-08-03

returned ROdney's nod pretty stifiy, as
was natural enough, since ROdney's
grin had distinctly frightened up "a
sight Of him.
Eleanor said. rather negligently
Hello, Rod. We're just dashlng off tc
the Palace to see a perfectly exquisite
little dancer Bertie's discovered down
there. She comes on at half past nine
so we've got to fly. Want to Gomez
NO" Rodney said. II came over to
see Jim. Is he at homer"
The maid was holding out the coat
for EleanOr's arms. But Eleanor, at
ltodney's question, just stood for a
second quite still. She wasn't looking
at anybody, but the expression in her
eyes was sullen. Yes, he's at home"
she said at last.
BUSY, l suppose" said Rodney.
Her infection had dictated this reply.
Yes, he's busy" she repeated alb
scntly and In u tone still more coldly
hostile, though Rodney perceived that
the hostility was nOt meant for him.
She looked around at Berthe.
walt two minutes" she said, "if
you don't mind" Then. to Rodney,
Come along" And she led the way
up the lustrOus, velvety lockwood
stair.
He followed her. But, arrived at
the drawing DON floor, he stopped.
Look here" he said. "If Jim's busy
"Oh, don't be too dense, Rodney"
she said. "A mar has to be busy
when he's known to be in the house
and won't entertain his wife's guests.
Go up, sing out who you are, and go
right ill.," She gave him II nod and
Il hard little smile, and went down
stairs again to BERTHE.
Rodney found the door Eleanor had
Indicated, Knocked slmartly on it, and
sang out at the same time, This is
Rodney Aldrich. May l come in"
"aNome in, of COURSE" Randolph
called. I'm glad to see you" he add
ed, coming to meet his guest, "but do
you mind telling me how you got in
here? Some poor wretch will lose
his job, YOU know. If Eleanor finds
out about this. When I'm in this
room, sacred to reflection and re-
search, It's a f1rst-class crime to let
me be disturbed 1t didn't need his
sardonic grin to point the satire of his
words.
Rodney said CURLY: Eleanor sent
me up herself. l didn't much want to
come, to tell the truth, when l heard
you were busy"
'Eleanor!" her husband repeated, 81
thought she'd gone out-with her poo
die"
Rodney said, with unconcealed dis
"Ihey were on the point of 60
ing out when l came in. That's how
happened to see me-"
With a visible effort Randolph re-
covered a more normal ann 'I'm
clad it happened that way" he said.
Get yourself Il drink. You'll find any
hing you want over there, l guess, and
something to smoke; then we'll sit
Town and have an old-fashioned talk"
The source Of drinks he Indicated
vas a well-stocked cellarette at the
'ther side of the room. But Rodney's I
ye fell first on Il decanter and siphon
n the table, within reach of the chair
randolph had been sitting in.
81 don't believe want anything more
o drink just now" Rodney said. And.
= hn fAJIn,,,I D.,l,A,'t ,l,.., b-,
olph allowed himself another sardonic ,
rim.
The prcliminaries We're gone through =.
tther deliberately; chairs drawn up i,
nd adjusted, ash-trays put within :.
each cigars got going satisfactorily. +,
'ut the talk they were supposed to &
repare the way for, didn't ut once be- ;,
in. :,
Randolph took another stifish drink :,
nd settled back into n dull. sullen alb i,
fraction. Finally, for the sake of say p
Y something, Rodney remarked: =
This is n wonderful room. isn't it," q
Randolph reused himself. Never i,
zen in here before?" he asked. "Well Il
here's two more rooms you must
a
The first one, opening from the study, fl
its purpose at Il glance, with Il
desk and typewriter, and filing cabi- h
IT'S around the walls. Rubber floor" Al
andOlph pointed out, "felt ceiling; abb m
lutely sOund-prOOf. Here's where M
y stenOgrapher sits all day, ready u,
re a fireman. And this" he conclud- n,
!, leading the way to the other room,
$ the holy of holies." CO
1t had Il rubber floor, too, and, Rod in
Y supposed. a felt ceiling. But its n,
cot. g,
"Sound-proOf too" said Randolph. of
tut sounding boards or something in ST
the walls. | press this button, start tn
dictaphone. and talk in any direc. m
N, anywhere. It's all taken down, kt
res where I'm supposed to think, is
Ike discoveries and things. l tried it di
Il while" to
They went back into the study. en-
Clever beasts, though-poodles," he d,
marked. as he nodded Rodney to his
lir and poured himself another
nix. Learn their tricks very nicely.
t, good heavens, Aldrich, think Of to
n as a man! Think what our Amer ex
n married women are up against. RAJ
en- they want somebody to play off sn
.inst their husbands and have to fall ST,
on tired little beasts like that. me
doesn't mean anything. She's no
ing to make me jealous. That's her tb,