South Bend news-times., 1918-09-06
MADGE sEES GRACE DRAPERS
ATTEMPT TO WIN DICKY.

had promised 10 give as before
leaned forward in Dreathless amaze
ment az the audacity OF the girl
The dance she was giving was
something ike the old Spanish
bolero, but the languOrous steps.
the seductive posturings which the
girl had added made il a most dar-
ing spectacle.
a had 10 admit. however. that she
made a most aIluring picture as she
swayed 20 and fro. now throwing
her arms wide in abandon. now
deftly plrouetting. with hel scarlet
sash iuttering from her hands like
a Gagged bird trying 10 escape
Dicky had swung the piano slight
ly 20 one side, So that as he played
he was playing without notes. evi-
IDENTITY music with which he was Ia
miliar so that his whole attention
was free to be given 10 the girl who
was 80 openly demanding II.
have attended many theatrical
performance, both with Dtcky and
with my brother cousin, Jack Bick-
EFT, and, OF course. have seen many
Of the modern dances, which, 70 say
the least. are not marked by any
particular repression.
Ny imagination may have been
fired my judgment warped by my
jealousy OF the dancer, but il seemed
20 me as I watched the girl that
never in my life had 1 Witnessed a
more daring and bizarre exhibition
than she was giving.
As utterly regardless OF me as il
had been miles away. she kept her
face turned toward Dhky watching
him constantly. and whenever she
passed him throwing back her head
with concentrating gaze of her
wonderful eyes upon him through
indolent. half-closed lids.
recalled Lillian's warning that
the girl was as hard as nails and
would stop at nothing TO win Dicky.
Il saw that the alluring dance the
effect OF which she had so shrewdly
calculated, was the weapon she was
pitting against my tennis prOweSs Of
the afternoon
Diclly's NuschieVOus Wink.
As she swayed past the piano for
the fourth time she smiled at Diclly,
and he returned it with a mischie-
vous wink She drew the end OF
her silken sash across his cheek
with the effect Of caress and
danced on.
could not bear 70 look at her
any longer. turned my eyes away,
wondering If my guests also we're
noticing the fagrant breach of good
taste on the part of Miss Draper.
Hllian's face appeared devoid Of
any emotion whatever. She sat
scrutinizing the dancer with mar
rowed eyelids. as though she was
some new species Of animal in a
museum. Only a slight tapping Of
her foot upon the rug made me real
ize that she was with difficulty re-
pressing the angry contempt she
felt
But II Lillian's attitude held ap~
narent apathy. her husband 5 was
that OF eager enthusiasm. He was
leaning forward, his eyes watching
every movement OF the dancer, his
face. startled out OF its usual lines
of indOlent indifference. betraying
astonished approval Of the girls
skill
Only a woman can understand
how through all my jealous misery
concerning Dicky there crept a tiny
thread OF pique that Grace Draper
should have been able also 10 win
the admiration OF Harry Under
wood
As the dance came 20 close Mr..
Underwood sprang 20 his feet
clapping his hands. waving his
handkerchief, and crying bravo, ="
as If he were witnessing the tri-
umph OF some world famous bal
lerina at the Metropolitan.
Where have YOU been hiding
yourself?" he demanded extrava-
gantly. Why aren't you on the
big time? OF course, you're not an
amateur. any one can see that, but
why is il I've never heard OF you
before I thought I'd seen every
dancer worth while in the cOun-
try"
Il was on the road last year with
Number Three Hornets Nest COM
I DaANr AAAc NAAA ANNNA AANN NeAA4AA%
Harry Underwood looked startled
for a minute. then he pursed his
lips into a low. long-drawn whistle.
"Graydon, the manager, and Mrs
Graydon, leading woman? he de-
manded
Yes" the girl returned. shortly
while Dicky looked impatient at the
cclIoquy. and Lillian and I gazed at
each other in wonder as TO what it
all meant.
so When did YOU quit The
question was sharp. incisive This
was a nev. Harry Underwood I was
seeing. He had all the air Of a bus
I mess man engaging a stenographer.
II the girl resented his question
! ing she did not show il.
Last winter" she said laconical-
|ly
\ Hint OF Trouble
Z remembered the day I had frst
seen her. when she had returned 20
Marvin and her sister had hinted OF
some troubled experience she had
had. She must have jus. left her
. professional engagement on that
day, found myself mentally
echoing the next question which