The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-03-28

WV W aNs 80 >'hhs' Oa a.N
and she Enclosed with her letter n ON
plete set Of newspaper reviews Of the
piece.
II was n week later that she wrote:
II met James Randolph coming up
Broadway yesterday afternoon, about
five o'clock. He's changed, somehow,
since ] saw him last as brilliant us
ever, but rnther-lurid. DO you sup
pose things are going badly between
him and Eleanorf He told me he hadn't
seen you forever. Why don't you drop
In on himT"
1t was quite true hat Rodney had
g g very little OF the Randolphs
since Rose went away. When II came
to confronting his friends, In the
knowledge that they knew that Rose
had left him for the Globe chorus, he
found that james Randolph was n
he didn't care to face. He knew too
much. He'd be too Internally curious,
too full Of surmises, eager for expert
ments.
But Roses letter put n different face
on the matter. The fact that she'd
put him, partly Mt lenst. In possession
of what she Ind observed and whnt
she guessed, gave him IA sort Of shield
against the doctor. So one evening
about nine o'clock he slipped out and
walked around To- the new house which
BERTHE Willis had built for Eleanor.
Rodney reflected, as he stood ut the
door utter ringing the bell, that his
wi house was quite meek and owen
tlonnl alongside this. Berthe had gone
his limit.
The grin which his reflection afford
ed him was still on Rodncy's lips when,
n servant having opened the door, he
found himself face to face with the
architect. BERTHE, t%op-coatcd and hat
in hand. was waiting for Eleanor, who
was coming down the stairs followed
by n maid with her carriage-coat. He
returned Rodney's nod pretty stiiily, as
was natural enough, since Rodney's
grin had distinctly frightened up at
sight Of him.
Eleanor said, rather negligently /:
Hello, Rod. We're just dashing of to
, 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. 81 came over to
see Jim. Is he ut homer"
, The maid was holding out the coat
for Eleanor's arms. But Eleanor, at
Rodney'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 ut home
she said at last.
BUSY, I suppose" said Rodney,
Her infection had dictated this reply,
"Yes, he's busy" she repeated nb.
sently and In n tone still more coldly
hostile. though Rodney perceived that
the hostility was not meant for him
She looked around ut BERTHE.
wait two minutes" she said. III
you don't mind" Then, to Rodney
Come along" And she led the way
up the l%ustrous. velvety lockwood
stair.
lie followed her. But, arrived al
the drawing floor, he stopped
Look here" he said. III Jlm's busy
&c.,"
"Oh, don't be too dense, Rodney! +
she said. "a man 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 60
right In" She gave him u nod ant
a hard little smile, and went down
stairs again to BERTHE.
Rodney found the door Eleanor hat
indicated, knocked smartly on 1t. ant
sang out ut the same time, This Is
Rodney Aldrich. May I come mi"
Come In. OF course" Randolph
called. "lm glad to see you" he add
ed, coming to meet his guest, but dc
Q you mind telling me how you got In
heref Some poor wretch will lose
his Job, you know, II Eleanor finds
r out about this. When I'm In thi:
q room. sacred to reflection and re
. search. It's a frst-class crime to lie,
me be disturbed" II didn't need hi
i sardonic grin to point the satire Of his
l. words.
I Rodney said CURLY: Eleanor SEN
Q me up herself. I didn't much want t.
come. to tell the truth, when I heard
G you were busy"
Eleanor! - her husband repeated. 90
e thought she'd gone out-with her poo
die"
I Rodney said. with unconcealed dis
g taste: "They We're IN the point Of 90
y Ing out when I came In. That's how
x Eleanor happened to see me-"
q With n visible effort Randolph re
p covered n more normal manner. "I'u
o glad 1t happened that way" he said
$ Get yourself n drink. You'll find any
I thing you want over there, / guess, anC
something TO smoke; then We'll slt
down and have an o~Id-fashioned talk
The source of drinks he indicated
c was a wcll-stocked cellarette at the
other side of the room. But Rodney''
@ eye fell first on II decanter and siphor
on the table, within reach OF the chat
$ Randolph had been sitting In.
II don't believe l want anything NOR,
n to drink just now" Rodney said. And
n as he followed Rodney's glance, Ran
dolph allowed himself another sardonit
grin.