The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-05-23
CHAPTER XIV.

l
her thoughts and she walked for 8
mile or two up the deep ravine OF
Broadway. She dared not go back to
Mrs. Chivvis just yet with her bad
news. She thought Of asking Clay for
loan. She swept the appalling idea
from her brain with 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 it kept drift
ing back like a bit of stubborn thistle
down. She could not outwalk it.
| At length she grew so desperate
that she stopped at telephone booth
and brazenly called up Duane's num-
Der. He CHANGED to be at home. When
he heard her voice he cried:
"Oh Lord, it's good to hear you.
Sing again, sing again, nightingale
I'm 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 get some money.
Would you-could you advance me a
little on the most excellent security?"
"How much do you want? Where
shall l bring it,"
mail two-er-fve hundred dollars
to the shop, will you? And can never
thank you enough"
''Hush. It's me that thanks you.
Don't you want nore?"
"No, thanks"
'It will be there in the early mail
and I may call round later to put
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 a 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
She was horribly hurt at
seeing them, but she chirruped:
"Just come in?"
"Just going out" Leila answered, |
kissing Daphne nervously.
''Where?' Daphne asked, with in |
as she shook hands with |
Wetherell-a prize-fighter's prelimi-
nary handshake it was.
"Oh-er-just motoring about a
bit"
'Thanks-rd 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 it
would be objectionable to let her
brothers wife go unrebuked or at
east unaided and unchaperoned on a
,ruise so perilous to reputation il not
o character.
While she was at the miserable
business she decided to make a good
OBJ OF it. When they went down to
he car she squeezed In between Leila
md Wetherell. Leila blanched with
ealousy and cold rage.
They dined at Long Beach and
the dancers, in sullen mood.
Netherell ordered much champagne
nd would not listen to Leilas pleas
hat he let 1t alone. He frightened her
little by his reckless mood, and
Daphne began to dread the journey
ome in the dark with champagned
ands on the steering wheel
After Daphne and he had executed a !
uneral dance Leila was emboldened !
D step out with him. They talked
cry earnestly and he seemed to hor- {
Ify her by what he said to her.
daphne could not imagine what it {
1as. Bayard had not told her Of Weth- {
relrs downfall from power.
Wethereli confessed his disgrace to 1
ei1E in the dance. and Leila was sick y
ned with the sordid outcome Of her
,mance. She had played with fire
nd got SCOT on her hands. She quit Il
le dance and asked to b taken home. q