The Washington times., 1919-11-19
The LOUe Gambler



laws hand longer than was abso-
lutely necessary.
You will dine with us this eve
ming, OF course" he said hea rtily.
Then the father returned to his
office and called up his daughter on
the telephone.
II cannot say much over the
wire" he told her. But I Just want
you to knew that ] agree with ali
you said last night about a certain
chap. And. by the way. there will
be three OF us to dinner. tonight"
oh. thars you. Dadp came the
answer. treklalous With JOY. You
are such a DEAR
Samuel Leighton hung up the re.
ceiver with q smile, but also with q
little sigh.
For. after all he was very human
and Desiree was his only child.
This morning he had almost hop
ed he could discover somethins
asainst this young DeLaine. even
while he lonEed to have his glrl
happy. Now he found himself uh.
derstaBding, - nearly a. another
man could, why she cared for David.
Leighton had never wanted hia
daughter to Harry--yet. since she
n1ust. he waa thankful that her
choice was an honorable gentleman.
always liked the chap. even
when he succeeded In fooiing me-"
This little girl knew what she was
about. | guess, she usually does.
she is like her nU her"
II was o'clock on that same
afternoon that Desiree, walking
along Fifth avenue. met Helen
Goddard :,
"Oh. my dear, "that young lady
greeted her with characteristics
enthusiasm: how perfectly lovely
you look! The last time | saw you
you looked so tired You are pref.
tier than ever this afternoon. Are
you quite rested Dow?'
Yes, entirely rested Desiree
smiled. Shall We go into MALL
iards and have a cup of choco-
later"
Yes want a chance to tell you
something I have just learned"
Helen said.
When the two we're facing each
other across a small table, she ut
tered an exclamation.
Why Desiree! You have your
pendant on. heard il was lost.
Who found it-and where was it?"
Il found it-put into the wrong
Il am 30 glad" Helen said. of
course was sure your chauffeur
had not stolen it-althouel your
aunt was worried about it,
A "wondrrfuI" Thing.
But, Desiree, my dear have
heard the most wonderful thing
about that man. His name Is not
Smith at All"
Who told you"
walter JefTerson-in strict con-
fdence-that night at your house.
And I kept mum about 1t, Then 1
met him-Walter. mean-only a
few minutes ago, up on Forty-sec-
ond street--and he has found out a
lot more about your chauffeur. He
told me that. confdentiaIIy. too
but. OF course. you have q right to
know and you are so cIose- e-mouthed
anyway.
Well. Smith - no other than
David De Lame. from baltimore.
Daisy Dakin-W Walters cousin. YOU
know-renembers all about him.
"" went to France and was wound
cd. Then h" came back here and
must have decided to make his way
under another name. And this is
the most wonderful thing OF all
only this morning Walter Jefferson
heard that he SMITH mean De
I.aine-has fallen heir TO large
fortune. Isn't il romantic: But.
my dear. / suspected all along that
he WAS an unusual personal
though you never seemed to agree
with me about him. And ] saw q
big ID" on his cufT-Iinks and the
other night at your house. and I
'TDesiree! How queer you look!
What are you smiling about! Ny
dear. aren't you surprised,"
AT what7" Desiree asked de.
murely, although her eyes were
dancing.
AT learning that Smith Il really
David De I-siAe. Aren't you awful
ly surprised?-
why, no." Desiree said slowly.
mot surprised, Helen. dear, for, you
see, Am engaged to be married TO
David DE Lame"
the Ead.)