The Pensacola journal., 1917-08-10

struggle OF powerful group OF directors
TO force Warrington, Braden. and the
rest out, with a hint at the scandal OF
which every one now was talking.
L never yet knew a man who went in
for that sort of thing that lasted long in
business" she observed. This is my
chance-a crowd riding for fall
Constance chose a modest orchestra seat
in preference to the place in q. box which
Stella had reserved for her at the ONCE,
and. aside from the purpose which was
rapidly taking shape in her mind, she
rue, as the Grass Widow" played her
part with a piquancy which Constance
knew was not wholly a matter OF book
knowledge.
! As the curtain went down. the audi
ence, its appetite for the risque whetted,
| filed out on Broadway with its myriad
lights and continuous film OF motion.
! las dressing room.
| She had scarcely been welcomed by
| Stella. whose cheeks beneath the grease
paint were now genuinely ablsze with
excitement when man entered. He was
| tall spare the type whose very bow is
Iingratiating and whose delighted, I
/ assure you" is suave and compelling.
! Alfred Warrington seemed to be on
very good terms indeed with Stella as she
/
! You will Join us, Mrs. Dunlap" he
asked. throwing an opera cloak over
Stella's shoulders Vera Charmant and
Jack Braden are waiting for US at the
| Little Montmartre."
AS he mentioned the famous cabaret,
! Constance took a little tighter grip on
| herself and decided to take the plunge
and see the affair out. although that sort
Of thing had very little attraction for
her
They were leaving the theater when she
saw lurking in the crowd the familiar
/ figure of Drummond. She turned her
head quickly and sank back into the dark
/ recesses of the limousine
Should she tell them now about him?
She leaned over to Warrington. "I saw
a man in the crowd just now who seemed
to be quite interested in us" she said
quickly. Cant we drive around a bit to
throw him off if he should get into a
/ cab?"
Warrington looked at her keenly II
was quite evident that he thought it was
Constance who was being followed. not
Stella or himself Constance decided
quickly to say nothing more that would
prejudice Stella, but as Warrington d.
rected his driver to run up through the
park she saw that far from alarming
him, the words had only added a zest
OF mystery ABOUT neFSeH.
They left the park and the car joltet
them quickly now over the uneven as
phalt TO the palace OF pleasure, wher
already the two advance guards wer,
holding one of the best tables in hous
crowded with all classes from debutante
to debauchees.
. Diamond Jack" Braden was a heavy
: set man with a debonnaire, dapper wa,
about him He wore a flower in his but
tonhole, smart touch which seeme
very fetching. evidently. to the artist
3 Vera
4 Constance fell to studying him as sh
> did all men and women. His hands be
tray him." she said TO herself. as sh,
was introduced.
They were in fact shielded from viev
as he bowed, one with the thumb tucket
in the corner of his trousers pocket, tn
. other behind his back
. He is hiding something" hashet
through her mind intuitively. And, whel
she analy5ed 1t, she relt still that ther
was nothing fsnoitul about the idea. l
4 was simply little unconscious piece O
| evidence
= From the start the cabaret was prett
rapid. When they entered. two OF tn
e performers were rendering the Apach
dance with an abandon that improved o
= its namesake. Scarcely had they fnishe
3 when the orchestra began all over agair
II and couple OF diners from the table
glided past them on the dancing fooI
]. then another couple and another
ei "Tangueze-vous?' bowed Braden. lean
ing over to Stella.
l. "Oui je tanguerai." she nodded, catcl
l. ing the spirit of the place.
Il 1t left Warrington and Constance
the table with Vera, and as ConstanC
looked eagerly after the graceful for
l. of the little actress Warrin gton asket
% will you dance?"
e. NO. thank you.' she said, trying hi
( out. L haven't had time to learn the:
~ new steps. And besides. / have had
bad day in the market Steel Readin
everything is off. Not that I have Io
much-but it's what l haven't made -
Warrington. who had been about TO r
peat his question to Vera turned SUI
J. denly. This was something new to hIr
d to meet a woman like Constance. II 81
q knew about other stocks she must kno
- about the Syndicate. Already ne hs
" felt an attraction toward Constan,
IS which somehow or other seemed mo
" satisfying at least novel, in contra
,e with the gay butterfly talk OF Stella
He did not ask Vera to dance. Insfef
he began banteringly to discuss WS
81 | Street and In five minutes he found n
that she really knew as much abo
1t certain features of the game as he di
Sc she did not need 20 be told that Afr,
It Warrington. plunger. man about tow
4, was quite Unexpectedly struck bv h
l personality. "
r, Now and then she could see Stella ev