Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-12
CHAPTER XIV.

Daphne wanted to run away from
her thoughts and she walked for a
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
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 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 a telephone booth
and brazenly called up Duane's num-
Der. He Glanced 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 a 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 a made woman"
''But the clothes aren't made, and
can't make 'em till 1 get some money.
Would you-could you advance me
little on the most excellent security?"
Show much do you want? Where
shall bring itT'
mail two-er-five hundred dollars
to the shop, will you? And 1 can never
thank you enough"
"Hush. It's me that thanks you.
Don't you want more2"
"No, thanks"
'It 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 a successful
business woman than ever.
Something made her think of Weth-
erell. She stopped off at Bayard's
floor and rang the bell. Leilas 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 at
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 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
least unaided and unchaperoned on a
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 to
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.
WetherelI ordered much champagne
and would not listen to Leila's pleas
that he let it alone. He frightened her
a little by lis reckless mood, and
Daphne began to dread the journey
home in the dark with champagned
hands on the steering wheel.
After Daphne and he had executed q
funeral dance Leila was emboliiened
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 it
was. Bayard had not told her Of Weth-
erell's downfall from power.
Wetherell confessed his disgrace to
Leila In the dance, and Leila was sick
ened with the sordid outcome Of her
romance. She had played with fire
and got SCOT on her hands. She quit
the dance and asked to be taken home.