New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-09-12
CHAPTER XIV.

her thoughts and she walked for a
mile or two up the deep ravine of
broadway. She dared not go back to
Mrs. Chivyis just yet with her bad
news. She thought of asking Clay for
IA loan. She swept the appalling idea
from her brain with a pun of deriaion.
Besides, he was out Of town, Bayard
had said. She thought of asking Tom
Duane for IL. 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 1t.
At length she grew so desperate
that she stopped at "A telephone booth
and brazenly called up DuaHe's num-
Der. He Glanced to be nj 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 n business
woman. offering you an investment"
She told him the whole story. The
name Of Mrs. Romilly made him whis-
tie. sold Gorgon Zola," he called her,
and added, you're II made woman"
But the clothes aren't made. and l
can't make 'em till | get some money.
Would you-could you advance NE n
little on the most excellent ~securtty?'
"How much do you want? Where
shall | bring it,"
Mail two-er-fve hundred dollars
TO the shop. will you? And | can Fever
thank you enough"
FLUSH. It's me hat thanks you.
Don't you want m0re7"
mo. thanks"
at will be there I'm the early mail
and | 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 n successful
business woman than ever.
Something made her think of Weth-
erell. She stopped of at Bayard's
floor and rang the bell. Leila's 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 n little shocked at seeing
Daphne. She was horribly hurt at
seeing them. but she c%hirruped:
Just come inl"
"Just going out" Leila answered,
kissing Daphne n%ervously.
alITt.u,g. D. ..t..l ..l.l l.
trepidity. as she shook hands with
Wetherell-a prize-fighter's prelimi-
nary handshake 1t was.
"Oh-er-Just motoring about u
bit"
"Thanks-Td love It," Daphne dared
10 say, almost as much amazed as
they were mt hearing her accept the
invitation that had not been given. !
She was quite shameless from their |
point of view, but she felt that II
would be objectionable to let her
brothers wife 60 %unrebuked or at
lenst unalded and unchaperoned on a
cruise So p%erilous to reputation If not
to character.
VIM Wv NhH NJ wv ullNtlhilt |
business she decided to make IA good
job Of II. When they went down To
the ear she squeezed in between Leila
and Wetherell. Leila blanched with
jealousy and cold rage.
They dined at Long Beach and
the dancers. in sullen mood.
Wetherell ordered much champagne
and would not listen to Leila's pleas
that he let II alone. He frightened her
"a little by his reckless mood. and
Daphne began to dread the journey
in the dark with champagned
hands on the steering wheel.
After Daphne and he had executed "A
funeral dance Leila was ~emboldened
To step out with him. They talked
very earnestly and he seemed Ia hor-
rify her by what he said to her.
could not imagine what 1t
Bayard had not told her of Weth-
downfall from power.
Wetherell confessed his disgrace to
Leila in the dance. and Leila was sick
med with the sordid outcome of her
She had played with fire
md got SCOT on her hands. She quit
he dance and asked to be taken home.
Wetherell felt hat she had turned
against him and he reached for the
Of the wine to fling 1t down his
throat. Leila grimly took II from his
myers and emptied 1t in the ice
bucket.
'Chauffeurs and champagne are a
combination" she laughed. but
here was a sheer on her lips.
"Oh. very WELL" wetherell sneered
n turn. He paid for the dinner and
tipped the waiter with the lavishness
# a bankrupt. He tipped lavishly the
nan who guarded his car. and swung
into the road with an instant
peed that would have been prettier
( there had been less danger.
Daphne and Leila were good sports.
ut they were not merry. Wetherell
furnished all the merriment. and his
vas from wine and despair. 1t was
he wine that brought out the truth.
Ie had To tell Daphne what he had
Leila. of his misfortune with his
old government.
He asked Daphne to explain to Bay
I'd how sorry he was that he was in
olved in the crash |
your broth Bayard's av'fy nice |
Ell. Miss skip. He's got incest lit
life in wor1'. Perf1y good lii girl. I
-kGw .@-s~Ls - Lw-