The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1919-11-13

ance would have at once defeated.
And then Dave looked In her face.
1t was a pretty face, notwithstanding
its grease paint, and 1t smiled right
into his eyes. His heart thumpcd he
tween his shoulders as though II would
drive all the air from his lungs. She
smiled ut him-for him! Now they
were away again; there were gyra-
lions about the stage.
Then there was sudden break
away I'm the dance. and the girl dis
appeared behind forest. Dave sup
posed she had gone to rest dancing
like that must be hard on the wind
He found little to interest him now In
what was going on on the stage. II
seemed rather foolish. He wished the
girl behind the forest would come
down and rest there. Then she could
see the show herself. Then she co i'd
See
But there was whir from the for
est, and the girl reappeared, this time
all i'm red, right before him. And then
she looked down and smiled again at
him. And he smiled back. And then
he looked at Coward and saw him
smiling too. And then he felt 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 to
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 If we don't hurry"
Coward steered him to the stage
entrance, where little group was al
ready cOngregated. In 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"
| 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 a dark hall. A door
opened. Coward pressed a button,
and they found themselves in small
hut comfortably furnished room-evi.
IDENTIFY bachelor apartments.
| The girls threw off their wraps and
sauntered about the place, while Con
ward started IA gas crate and put some
water TO boil.
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 yawn. "And, believe
me, I've a long one"
The glasses We're filled and raised
"lIow said Coward.
Here's looking" said one Iof the
girls.
Dave hesitated, but the other cir
clinked her glass against his. Here.
looking at you" she said. and she mp
peared to lay special emphasis on thu
last two words. Certainly her eye
| II. IA. IL
to her lips. And under the spell o
those eyes he raised his glass an,
drained 1t.
Other glasses were filled an,
drained. The three were chatterin
away. but Dave was but vaguely cor
no connected meaning into It. Ill
head was buzzing with a pleasant
dreamy sensation. A very gratefl
warmth surrounded him, and with
came a disposition to go TO sleep. II
probably would have gone to sleep ha
his eye not fallen on IA picture on tn
wall. 1t was a picture Of girl pOin
ing her finger at him. No eli
could point her finger at him. II
arose and made a lunge across tn
room. He missed her, and with diff
Guilty retraced his steps to the tab
TO make fresh start.
6 "She's maxim fun of me-" he sal
Q IAN ! don't stand for that. Nobod
can do that with me. NObody-ses
i don't low It,"
d "Oh, you don't?" laughed one Of Il
e girls, running into corner and poin
+ ing her finger at him. "You don't?"
l. He turned his attention to he
= steadying himself very carefully b
It fore he attempted an advance. The
II with widestretched arms. he DO
down cautiously upon her. When
?. had her almost within reach she dan
IS ed along the edge of the room. /
n attempted sudden change in dire
e ton, which ended dlsastrOusly, and
n found himself very much sprawled o
r upon the floor. He was aware
d laughter but what cared he? lie W
n disposed to sleep. What better pla
.e to sleep than this? What better tin
.IA In T.