The Dolores star., 1919-07-11

She flung herself free. mo, no; I'm
Those big hands were at her shoul-
ders again. That soothing voice was
ministering courage and praise:
You are not no good. You shall
succeed! I'll make Reben take you
back. I've helped Reben out when he
was in trouble. I've lent him money
and I'll make him give you your
chance. promise that, on my word I"
She stared at him through her tears.
They blurred him In dancing flashes
Of light as II he were a sun god. She
caught his hands from her shoulders,
but she had to hold them in hers. She
was drowning. and she must cling to
whatever arms stretched down to her.
She must not question whose they
were till she was safe again on the
solid earth.
Duane was laughing now and pat
ting her on the back as If she were a
frightened child. She felt no right
to rebuke his caresses. They were
such as a brother might give a sister.
His arm about her was that of COM
rade, sustaining another in a battle.
he was the only one in the world
who offered her courage and praise
and help in her need.
Duane said, with a matter-of-fact
briskness: 'I'll call Reben up at once.
No, I'll go see him."
But you put me under such obliga-
tions. I'm afraid"
"Never be afraid of an obligation"
'I'm afraid I can never repay it."
"Then you're one ahead. But you
can repay me and you will"
"How?"
"Let's wait and see. Goodby. Don't
worry"
He gave her a hand-grip of perfect
good fellowship and went into the hall
She followed him to tell him again
how kind he was. AS she was clasp
ing his hand again Leila opened the
door with her latchkey.
Now there was triple embarrass-
ment. Tom Duane had paid ardent
court to Leila before she married Bay
ard. Here he was in Bayards wife's
home, apparently flirting with Bay
ards young sister.
Leila felt all the outraged senti-
ments Of jealousy and all the indig-
nation of chaperon who has been cir
cumvented. Duane retreated in poor
order. Daphne stammered an expla-
nation too brief and muddled to suf-
fee. Then she went to her room.
There her mother found her when
she came in later. Daphne had only a
faint hope that Duane could work his
miracle twice, SO she told her mother
that she had failed as an actress. She
told her bluntly:
Mamma. I've been fired"
To her comfort her mother caught
her to her ample bosom and said: "rm
glad Of it. I'm much obliged to who
ever is to blame. Not but what you
could have succeeded If you had kept
at 1t. But you're too good for such
wicked life. A person couldn't be an
actor without being insincere and a
pretender, and my little girl is too hon
est. So now you come along home
| with me-"
mo, thank you, mamma"
Mrs. Kip gathered herself together
for vigorous assault when the tele-
phone rang and the maid brought word
that a gent'man wished to speak with
| Miss Daphne.
1t was Duane, and she braced her
self for another blow. But his voice
was clarion with success.
1--WE seen Reben. It's all right. He's
promised to keep you on and give you
a chance. He says for you to report
at the theater at seven-thirty tonight"
And now again Daphne was more
afraid of her success, such as it was,
than of her failure. But it was pleas
ant to carry the news to her mother
and Leila.
1t disgusted them both. They were
still trying to dissuade her from con-
tinuing on the downward path when
a telegram from her father came for
her mother:
Taking beaver arrive Grand Cen
trail tomorrow don't meet me love.
YVES"
Bayard was late, as usual, and
Leila's temper had just begun to sim
mer when the door was opened stealth
lily and hand was thrust in. 1t prof
fered small box Of jewelers. size and
waved it like flag of truce.
| Leila rushed forward with cry of
delight, seized the packet and then
the hand, and drew Bayard into the
room and into her arms.
"This is your apology, I suppose
she said.
Eyes, the apology for being late, and
that's what made me late"
Leila was enraptured. She adored
gifts and she had the knack of inspir.
ing them. The little square parcel
provoked her curiosity. She opened
it so excitedly that the contents fell
to the floor. She swooped for them
and brought up platinum chain with
delicate plaque of tiny diamonds and
pearls on device Of platinum.
Leila ran to Mrs. Kip and Daphne