Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1919-05-08
CHAPTER XIV.

Daphne wanted to run away from
her thoughts and she walked for q
mile or two up tile deep ravine of
Broadway. She dared not 60 back to
Mrs. Chivvis just yet with her bad
news. She thought of asking Clay for
a loan. She swept the appalling idea
from her brain with a puff Of derision.
Besides, he was out Of town, Bayard
had said. She thought Of asking Tom
Duane for it. She tried to blow that
idea from her mind, but 1t kept drift
ing back like q bit Of stubborn thistle
down. She could not outwalk it.
At length she grew so desperate
that she stopped at a telephone booth
and brazenly called up Duane's num-
ber. He chanced to be at home. When
he heard her voice he cried:
"Oh Lord, it's good to hear you.
Sing again, sing again, nightingale"
"rm no nightingale. I'm business
woman, offering you an investment"
She told him the whole story. The
name of Mrs. Romilly made him whis-
tie. "Old Gorgon Zola," he called her,
and added, you're made woman"
"But the clothes aren't made, and /
can't make 'em till I get some money.
Would you-could you advance me q
little on the most excellent securityT"
"How much do you want? Where
shall bring it?"
"Mail two-er-five hundred dollars
to the shop, will you? And I can never
thank you enough"
"Hush. It's me that thanks you.
Don't you want moref"
"No, thanks"
ut will be there in the early mail
and I may call round later to put a
mortgage or something on the place"
"Good-by," she chuckled, and hung
up the receiver. She was crying soft
ly as she stole from the blessed booth.
and she looked less like successful
business woman than ever.
Something made her think Of Weth-
erell. She stopped off at Bayard's
floor and rang the bell. Leila's new
butler admitted her with pomp. Daph.
ne walked past him into the drawing
room. Leila and Wetherell were
standing there in heavy coats. They
seemed to be little shocked at seeing
Daphne. She was horribly hurt ut
seeing them, but she chirruped:
"Just come in?'
"Just going out" Leila answered
kissing Daphne nervously.
"Where?" Daphne asked, with in
trepidity, as she shook hands with
Wetherell-a prize-fghter's prelimi'
nary handshake 1t was.
"Oh-er-just motoring about q
Bit
"Thanks-Td love It," Daphne dared
to say, almost as much amazed as
they were at hearing her accept the
invitation that had not been given.
She was quite shameless from their
point Of view, but she felt that il
would be objectionable to let her
brothers wife go unrebuked or al
least unaided and unchaperoned on O
cruise so perilous to reputation If not
to character.
While she was at the miserable
business she decided to make a good
job of it. When they went down tc
the car she squeezed in between Leila
and Wetherell. Leila blanched with
jealousy and cold rage.
They dined at Long Beach and
watched the dancers, in sullen mood
Wetherell ordered much champagne
and would not listen to Leila'S pleas
that he let it alone. He frightened hel
a little by his reckless mood, ant
Daphne began to dread the journey
home in the dark with champagneG
hands on the steering wheel.
After Daphne and he had executed 9
funeral dance Leila was emboldeneG
to step out with him. They talked
very earnestly and he seemed to hor
rify her by what he said to her
Daphne could not imagine what II
was. Bayard had not told her Of Weth
erells downfall from power.
Wetherell confessed his disgrace tc
Leila in the dance, and Leila was sick
ened with the sordid outcome of hel
romance. She had played with fire
and got SCOT on her hands. She quit
the dance and asked to be taken horne