The Dolores star., 1919-07-25
CHAPTER xIl-continued.

-
Satan or Raphael had whispered to
her an invitation to revisit the scene
of her late humiliation with Clay. With
Duane's magic purse there would be
40 danger of a snub from the walters
with his own car there would be no
risk of footing 1t home.
Then an imp or mischief spoke for
her and said, "All right"
Duane told the chauffeur and the
car shot like u javelin from the lighted
street into the deep forest-night of
Central park.
What would Clay say2 But, after
all, he had failed her in crisis. Per-
haps he had turned his heart else
where. Men were impatient. vindic-
tive, tickle.
When Claremont was reached and
Duane handed Miss Kip out he noted
that her hand was hotter than his own
and little quick to escape, her face
was flushed and her lips parted as If
with excitement. He assumed that
the speed Of the ride and the tang of
adventure were to blame.
While the walters were serving the
supper and while he was attacking 1t
with the frank appetite of honest hun
ger she recounted the evenings dis
hster as calmly as II 1t were the story
of somebody else. In fact, she was
standing Off and regarding herself with
the eyes Of an alien. We change so
fast that the persons we were yester-
day are already strangers, and their
acts the acts Of distant relatives. Her
calm was really the numbness of
shock. The anguish would come to-
morrow.
II can't understand myself at ALL"
Daphne said. 81 went through every
one of the motions, but I couldn't
reach the audience once. I was like
singer with a bad cold singing in
foreign language-you don't know what
the song is all about, but you know
that 1t never quite gets on the key"
You mustn't be discouraged"
"Oh, yes, / must! I couldn't be an
actress in thousand years. Mr.. Bat
terson told me SO himself
Duane felt the truth Of this, but 1t
hurt him to have her feel it. 1t Of
tended his chivalry to realize how i'm
polite fate could be to so pretty girl.
he hated to see her reduced to the
necessity Of proving how plucky she
could be. He tried to find an escape
for her. He said:
You're far too good for the stage"
i don't believe that for q minute"
She protested. "But I've got to find
something can do"
May l help you to declde?"
If you only would! But I'm getting
to be nuisance"
You are a-a-to me you are a
well, you're not nuisance"
lie dared not tell her what she was,
especially as the waiter had set the
Dill at his elbow and was standing off
IN an attitude Of ill-concealed impa-
uehce for the tip, which he knew
would be large. Mr.. Duane always
gave the normal ten per cent and a
DIT extra. He tipped wisely but not
100 well, knowing that an extravagant
up wins walters contempt almost
mofe than none at all. The head waiter
tairly cooed "Good night" and almost
Save them blessing.
Inc starter had Mr.. Duane's car
waiting for him at the curb and lifted
MS nat with one hand as he smuggled
quarter away with the other. He
stepped in to lay the linen laprobe
oVer their knees with reverence, closed
.I .ne door exquisitely and murmured,
Good night!"
Ihe car was an aristocrat; 1t float
Gu from the curb with a swanlike
sweep.
daphne thought Of Clay and herself
mouuing homeward. She seemed to
see Them or their wraiths staggering
sslsconsolately along. She felt very
sorry Tor them. Here was a chance to
saVe one Of them-both Of them, in
acl Tor in taking her financial bur-
en from Clay's shoulders she would
70 twice strengthening him. II she
we're to accept Duane as her husband
nen her problems would be solved
uu Clay would be free OF her.
w. 40 De Mrs. Tom Duane; to step into
ne me society Of society; to lift her father
'ao mstAer from position of meek.