Evening star., 1919-03-09
ArX YOU'RE q bit Of a Bohemian,
West"
Most men are" was the
answer, spoken somewhat

2hld Iauderdale. 'I've found a place
n Soho where they give you an excel
l6nt dinner at a ridiculous price.
Mhere you can rub shoulders with
Genius as yet unrecognized. and look
II beauty, the real thing. not the kind
that must wear an expensive frock to
get 1t into the beauty class at all.
win you dine there with me tonightT'
ut sounds attractive" West said.
tParis without the trouble of cross
ing the channel. Meet me at the Cri.
terion, that will be handy for YOU.
Seven o'clock"
Right
They had met in whitehall. Lauder
dale was in the war office and was re-
turning from lunch; West had just
left that building and was not in the
best of tempers. Ofiicialdom had be-
come annoyed that he had not per-
formed a miracle. A night off would
do him good.
The place in Soho called itself lie
Chen Rouge, and was not quite up
10 Lauderdale's eulogy, The genius
was OF the long -haired and rather dl-
lapjdated sort, and might never re-
ceiye recognition nor deserve ii, while
the beauty was a little vulgar ard un-
reserved, Other men had discovered
the place as well as Lauderdale and
had found 1t very good start to an
evenings frolic. Certainly the dinner
was excellent, the entertainers above
the average and the sense of relaxa-
tion was rather pleasant.
ut Will soon be spoiled said Iau-
derdale; but at present / like il. And
1t is rather amusing TO speculate
what the history of some of these
people is
Most Of them would he delighted
to tell you Il you asked, fancy
said West mot the truth, perhaps,
but something probably with u ro-
mantle note in II"
II dare say; but ! should back my
imagination. Genius often travels
sordid road and beauty, well, the
way is fairly, thorny for beauty as
rule"
Didn't know you were a philosopher,
Iauderdale."
Live and learn, my dear chap. Now
X that girl at the table IN the corner
yonder, what's her history"
by the way she has been watching
Es i should say she would willingly
change her place at the present mo-
ment."
Fed up with her present company.
ELI. ] don't wonder; still, don't feel
like that sort of entertainment this
evening, do your" e.
Not bit. I seldom do"
1--WE are birds of a feather, West. |
like to watch the passing show and
keep aloof from the crowds. This Is
the kind of place to meet some of the
beggars you are always after
you've been reading sensational
fiction, Lauderdale"
mot /. Life is quite sensational
enough without that. We are full of
il at the war Office occasionally. We
OF ha There iS
q rumor going about that some plans
of quick firing gun have disappear
ed Heard anything about t?"
He had lowered his voice. but West
glanced quickly around him. ,.,a
Not quite the place to talk about
1t, is it?'
mo, ] suppose not: but, my word,
West, you give yourself away. It Is
evidently not only in fiction that
such places as this are of interest to
hunters of your game"
They fingered over their coffee and
liaueurs, talking art, which was Lau-
derdales hobby. The girl from the
table in the corner smiled at them as
she passed out with her companions.
The room was emptying.
II was speaking of prints just now,
said Lauderdale. IF you are not keen
on going to show, what do you say
TO coming to my rooms and looking at
some prints Of mine. ! have got
quiet little nOlG over SHOp On ohlofu
street. 1t is really rather jolly, and
suits my pocket
certainly I'll come. Theaters and
music halls are off just now. have
been having a round of them"
They helped each other on WIN
their oyercoats in the yestibule--Le
I,hlen Rouge was deficient In service
of this kind--and, going out, hailed
passing taxi.
Lsuderdale's hole off Oxford street
was cozy enough, but somewhat pi-
zarre, The shop below sold second
hand furniture, and his sitting room
suggested that some of the pieces for
safe had been stored here There was
no scheme or arrangement worm
mentioning. The walls were covered
with prints, mostly bad ones, west
thought but he was not quite certain
enough of his knowledge to stop MS
companfon's enthusiasm.
"a drink won't hurt u.s." said Lau-
derdale. "and you'll find those cigars
nufte good. There is a fellow in the
CITY gets them for me, and the price
1 pay suggests humbug somewhere.
+ don't believe they've paid duty.
every wrong, but 1t shall not prevent
nv sampling them" said West.
..See IL that is to your hking, ana
T.a,lderdale passed him WHISKY anu
soda. "And going back to the rumor
of that quick firing gun--by the way.
yoii didn't say whether you had heafd
anything about it." = ,,,o
s'No. Forgive me, but shop is the
one thing / never allow myself 10