The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-12-04

down and rest there. Then she could
see the show herself. Then she could
see
But there was whir from the for.
est, and the girl reappeared, this time
all In red. right before him. And then
she looked down and smiled again az
him. And he smiled back. And then
he looked AT Coward and saw him
smiling too. And then he felt a very
distressing uncertainty, which brought
the color slowly to his face. He re.
solved to say nothing. but watch. And
his observations convinced him that
the smiles had been for Coward. not
for him. And then he lost interest In
the play.
They hustled into their overcoats 10
the playing Of the national anthem.
Hurry" said Coward. lets get
out quick Amt she some dame
There-through the side exit-the
stage door is that way. She promised
to have her chum with her. They'll
be waiting II we don't hurry"
Coward steered him to the stage
entrance, where little group was al
ready congregated. In a moment the
girl appeared handsomely dressed In
furs. With her was another girl, also
from the chorus, but Dave could not
recall her part. He was suddenly
aware OF being introduced.
This Is my friend Belton," Con
ward was saying.
Dave was about to correct him when
Coward managed to whisper
whist Your stage name. Mines
Edward. Don't forget.v
Coward took the first girl by the
arm, and Dave found himself follow
ing rapidly with the other. They cut
through certain side streets, up stair
way. and into dark hall A door
opened. Coward pressed a button,
and they found themselves in a small
ut comfortably furnished room-evi-
IDENTITY bachelor apartments.
girls threw of their wraps and
sauntered about the place. while Con-
ward started gas crate and put some
water to boil
Sorry I've nothing for you to eat"
he said. but I've some good medicine
for the thirst"
"Eating's poor business when there's
thirst to be quenched." said one of
the girls with a yawn. "And. believe
Inc, I've a long one"
The glasses were filled and raised.
"Ho" said Coward.
Here's lookingr said one Of the
girls.
Dave hesitated, but the other girl
clinked her glass inst his. Here's
looking at you" she said. and she ap-
peared TO lay special emphasis on the
last two words. Certainly her eyes
were on Dawes as she raised her glass
to her lips. And under the spell of
those eyes he raised his glass and
drained Il.
Other glasses were filled and
drained. The three were chattering
away. but Dave was but vaguely con-
scious Of their talk and could weave
no connected meaning into 1t. His
head was buzzing with a pleasant.
dreamy sensation. A very grateful
warmth surrounded him. and with II
came a disposition to go to sleep. He
probably would have gone to sleep had
his eye not fallen on a picture on the
wall. II was a picture of a girl point
ing her finger at him. No girl
could point her finger at him. He
arose and made lunge across the
room. He missed her, and with diff
Guilty retraced his steps to the table
to make fresh start.
"She's maxim fun Of me-" he said,
IAN ! don't stand for that Nobody
can do that with me. Nobody-seef
I don't low IT,"
"Oh, you don't2" laughed one Of the
girls, running into corner and point
ing her finger at him. "You dontT
He turned his attention to her.
steadying himself very carefully be
fore he attempted an advance. Then.
with wide-stretched arms. he bore
down cautiously upon her. When he
had her almost within reach she dart
ed along the edge Of the room. He
attempted a sudden change in direc-
ton. which ended disastrously. and he
found himself very much sprawled out
upon the floor. He was aware OF
laughter, but what cared hei He was
disposed to sleep. What better place
to sleep than thisf What better time
to sleep than this? In a moment he
was lost TO all consciousness.
Continued next week.