The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-03-07
A Story About an Ex-
pertinent With Life

fections. it is my opinion that she
would not hesitate. You seem to think
1t an outrageous thing that the prince
should have been her lover. To be
perfectly frank, I do not. I should be
very much more surprised at her mar
riage."
John made his escape somehow. He
remembered opening the door, but he
had no recollection of reaching the
street. A few minutes later, however,
he found himself striding down Pic
cadilly toward Hyde Park corner.
He found a taxicab and was driven
toward the Milan. He was conscious
Of wild desire to keep away from
his rooms. Every pulse in his body
was tingling. He was fiercely awake,
eager for motion, action, excitement
Of any sort. Suddenly he remembered
the night club to which he had been
introduced by Sophy on the first night
Of his arrival in London. The ad-
dress, too, was there quite clearly in
his disordered brain. He leaned out
of the cab and repeated it to the driv-
er.
The little place was unexpectedly
crowded when he entered, after hav-
ing handed his hat and coat to a
vestiaire. A large supper party was
going on at the farther end, and the
dancing space was smaller than usu-
al. The maitre d'hotel was escorting
John to a small table in . distant
corner, which had just been vacated.
when the latter heard his name sud-
denly called by a familiar voice. So
ply, who had been dancing. aban-
doned her partner precipitately and
came hurrying up to John with out
stretched hands.
"Johni" she exclaimed. you, Of
all people in the worldi What do you
mean by coming here alone at this
time Of night1 Fancy not telling me !
Ii anything the matterT
'Nothing." he replied. II really
don't exactly know why am here. I
simply don't want to go to bed"
"where is the prince7" he asked.
sophy. struck by something in his
voice, swung around and looked at
him. Then she thrust both her arms
through his, clasped her two hands
together. and led him firmly away. A
glimmering Of the truth was begin
ming to dawn upon her.
"Tell me where you have been since
you left the reception" she insisted.
when at last they were seated to-
gether.
"wait till have ordered some
wine," he said.
A waiter served them with cham
payne. When Johns glass was filled.
he drained its contents. Sophy
watched him with surprise. She came
. little closer to him.
"John," she whispered, ''you must
tell me-do you heart You must tell
me everythingl Did you take Louise
homer"
'Yes."
"whnt happened. thenf You didn't
quarrel with herf"
Nothing at all happened" he as
sured her. 1--WE parted the best Of
friends. It wasn't that"
'Then what7 Remember that am
your friend, John, dear. Tell me ev-
erything."
II will tell you," he assented. II
went to little club I belong to on
the Adelphi Terrace. I sat down in
the smoking room. There was no one
there I knew. Some men were talk
ing. They had been to the reception
tonight. They were comparing French
actresses and English. They spoke
first of the French woman, Latrobe.
and her lovers; then of Louise. They
spoke quite calmly. like men discuss
Ing history. They compared the two
actresses, they compared their lives.
Latrobe, they said, had lovers by the
score-Louise only one."
Sophy's hand stole into his. She
was watching the twisting of his $<<,
lures. She understood SO well ES e4-
element underneath.
II think I can guess" she whis-
pered. Don't hurt yourself telling
me. Something was said about the
prince"
His eyes blazed down upon her.
"You, too?" he muttered. Does
the whole world know of 1t and speak
as If it did not matter7 Sophy. is 1t
true? Speak outI Don't be afraid of
hurting me. You call yourself my
friend. I've been down. looking at
the outside Of her house. dared not
go in. There's a fire burning in my
soull Tell me II 1t is truel"
"You must not ask me that Ques-
uon, john" she begged. "How should
I know? Besides. these things are SO
different in our world, the world you
haven't found out much about yet.
Supposing 1t were true, john" she
went on, remember that 1t was be-
fore you knew her. Supposing 1t
should be true, remember this-your