The Topeka state journal., 1919-07-05

shoulders, exquisite as chiseled
marble.
The stream of guests commenced to
flow and kept up a steady influx until
the huge house threatened to become
inundated with the food of people.
Mrs. Van DUsen had already begun
to feel a pain in her right arm SINH
lar to writer's cramp, but, undaunted,
she held her post until she heard the
b tlel stentorian voice:
MIR. Lawton."
All the social training Mrs. Van
Dusen's mother had lnstilled in her
and all that she had in turn trans
mitted to her daughter was brought
iLto play, and it would have required
a far more worldly wise young man
than Victor Lawton to have pene-
trated the thoughts behind the hos
tess's engaging smile.
To Cecile he offered his arm, and
they passed into the drawing room,
the center of which has been cleared
for dancing, and to the strains of a
soft, mystic melody emanating from a
stringed orchestra cleverly concealed
behind some palms they circled the
smooth floor.
With her own purpose and her
mothers entangling financiering in
mind. Cecile shortly complained OF
the close atmosphere and led the way
d
done service as desk space for her
father until one night thieves had
broken in and stolen valuables locked
IN the escritoire, their presence unde-
tected owing to the seclusion of the
corner. Cecile had chosen the loca-
ton wisely.
"And as you make your entrance
into society,"" ventured Lawton by way
of conversation, 81 had hardly antici-
pated how charming a debutante you
would make.
Cecile smiled. womanlike she liked
compliments to be paid her, and new
er sought the motive prompting them.
But his remark was her opportunity
"Oh- ! have other worries besides my
coming-out." Lawton laughed. eyes,
I have" she reiterated, 'for now 1
must get married" And in the sophis-
t1cation of her twenty years Cecile
modestly dropped her eyes; knowing
how lovely her long lashes appeared
resting on her cheeks.
Lawton shuffled his feet uneasily
and ran his finger around the inside
of his collar. Cecile was sitting peril
ously close. well, why not?" he
ventured.
Cecile pretended to be taken by sur
prise. "Oh. I could never find anyone
who could understand"
what is there to understand? ?"
AuCSlAOiACu AdMAOAAt CANOAoAyt
ing at his watch without seeing the
time.
Cecile was anticipating her enjoy
ment as she rehearsed for her mother
how cleverly she had managed-not
only to win Lawton. but secure his
assistance in unraveling their finan-
cial knots. "Oh. money n everything" 4"
she answered in whisper. trying to
convey her trust and confidence.
"MOney7 How so >"
I'VE haven't all the income we
seem to have"
Lawton switched. around to face
the girl squarely. your half-sister-
can't she contribute from her inheri-
tance?"
Cecile fidgeted. There's the trou-
ble." she answered in a lighter vein.
to appear as if the matter were a
light one. Mother has been borrow
ing from Madge's inheritance. and
well, We thought you might help to
straighten out the tangle."
"So-borrowing from an inheri-
tance. eh? What's the deficit?"
Practically everything"
Thank you" Mr. Lawton arose
with an air OF finality. 1--WE, needed
this bit of evidence to abrogdte your
stepfather's will"
Mrs. Van Dusen, having intuitively
sensed danger in her daughters pro-
longed absence from the center of fes-
tivities, swept into the scene, her fea-
lures puckered with reckless disre-
gard for wrinkles. whats the mean
ing of this?" she demanded, having
caught tho tail end of his words
by a secret codicil to your hus-
bands WILL" he informed her. "the
estate reverts to his daughter Madge
If her Inheritance is misused by her
trustee"
Mrs. Van Dusen sank Imply onto
the divan. But what-what have
you to do with all that?"
"Only this: Madge and were mar
ried a month ago."
AS in a dream Mrs. Van Dusen
heard Cecile murmur, The fisher
caughti''
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)