The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-26
Chapter XVI SHIRLEY AT WORK


 In the days that followed Shirley led the simple life in the big Chelsea studio. She had dedicated herself to carving out career, and found joy in her work.
 Each morning she would go to her desk and plan her writing for the day, working on the stories which she hoped would bring her fame and success.
 It seemed hard to her that she should be so busy here, almost within sound of Jim Daltons voice, and still be sep arated from him by such an insur- mountable wall-a wall self-made by their misunderstanding.
 But meanwhile many things had hap pened to straighten out the sad tangle in which the girl found herself Broken, beaten by life's game, sick in body and mind, Jim Dalton, the dope fiend, had died, ending in a noisy ward the sad story of his misspent life.
 But by his death he had done one good deed. He had freed Lucille from the burden of his name. He had given her nothing but unhappiness, and left her only unhappy memories.
 But with Lucille free again. 1t be- came evident that David Burke felt a strong interest in the fine faced wom- an who wore her widows garb so be- comingly.
 He was often seen with her in res faurants and was a frequent visitor to her homo.
 Mrs. Arnold, had she known of this, would not have looked on 1t with fla vor, for she still hoped to engineer a match with Shirley.
 In these days, however, David Burke was farthest from Shirleys thoughts. One by one her stories were selling, che was meeting with the success she 50 greatly deserved
 Miss Shirley's head, however, wasn't to be turned. She was much too sensi- ble. She took these things at their proper valuation, and didn't burn the candle at both ends, as so many tall ented young folks are apt to do. She took her pleasures in decided modera- ton.
 And she studied. too. from books as well as from real life.
 After her early morning work was over she would sally forth toward 10 o'clock, armed with string bag or basket, and do her marketing for the day. During her absence the daily char' would clean the studio out and prepare Shirleys breakfast.
 And Shirley would return from her peregrinations with very hearty ap- 
 put in another two hours work till lunch.
 THE SUPER DREADNOUGHT
 In the afternoon she would explore the neighborhood. Writers, artists or diiletante Chelseaites would frequently escort her. but the one man that she really cared for seemed deliberately to avoid her, and they didn't meet.
 One afternoon she was shopping in the region of Sloane square when she en- countered Mrs Arnold.
 Shirley, my dear. how are you?" Mrs. Arnold was immediately all gush How fortunate to meet you just at the mo- ment when I'm dying for cup of teal! Shirley couldn't truthfuly echo the sen timent She knew that Mrs. Arnold still clung tenaciously to the idea of her marrying David Burke She wanted tc avoid an intimate chat, and yet il wasn't in her to be rude.
 Shall we go in here, then?" She indi- cated a large teashop, mentally calculat- ing how soon she could get rid of the obnoxious busybody.
 But Davids sister. apparently, had other plans. She was all playful cu- riosty.
 NO. no. my dear. Let's have Bo- hemian little tea in your own studio in Chelsea. I'm longing to pay you a visit--to spy out your retreat" Here the determined lady hailed taxi