The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-08
NEVIS EVENTS AND FEATURES FOR WOMEN READERS

Jim's tones held a tense anxiety. Why cant you speak to me?"
 With a little stifled cry, she sank down on the wide divan and hid her face in both her hands.
 Burke stood in front of her, lion like, ready again to roar.
 stand back, you fool-I want to speak to her" Anger glinted in Jim Dalton's fine, dark eyes. I've had enough of all this melodrama" He tried to push Burke aside
 You haven't got the right to speak to her--you. a married man.
 "A--a what?" cried Dalton, vastly taken aback He stared at Burke as though he hadn't heard alright. What what do you mean2"
 Miss Shirley here has told me- Burke began. He paused a little un- certainly, glancing at the girl
 "Yes-do go on-this becomes vastly entertainingw An unpleasant smile lowered round Dalton's lips. His tenn per was about to rise again. 'If Miss Shirley had been good enough 10 tell you anything. no doubt she'll be good enough to say it once more in the presence of us both"'
 Shirley made.a supreme effort to pull herself together. She got up slowly to her feet and faced them both.
 Tt was this afternoon woman came to me she said. Here Shirley flung d piteous little look at Dalton, as though imploring him to help her to contradict the tale. She said that out in South Africa-about four years ago -you--you had married her. But, of course, you didn't believe her" The words rang out from Dalton like a pistol shot. Why. the woman must have been crazy, Shirley" "Oh, no, she wasn't-though at first I thought she was" Shirley's tones were dreariness personified. Her sad eyes fixed themselves on Dalton's face as she continued; She called herself Lucille Derange thongh' her real name was Lucy Smith She was very handsome and-and she cares for you-a great deall"
 'rhe deuce she does, But I've never heard of the woman in my life before"' X perpleXity that was almost comical mantled on ,Dalton's forehead. He 1 stared at Shirley unbelievingly. "oi course, there's some ridiculous mis- takeW
 IT thought so. too-at first The girls voice was very low. And then she showed me photographs--taken or ! the honeymoon. she said-four year. ago.
 I But I wasn't out in Africa foul years ago." suffered Dalton, thorough | ly taken aback. Let me see. was ir London--no-hang it all can't re. member''-.
 His sudden embarrassment seemed tc ! the other two veritable proof of guilt
 SYou donr remember where yot were?" sarcastically inquired Davic Burke. Doesn't that seem trifls odd?"
 It was then that Dalton lost his tenn. per.
 Mind your own business, and don'i interfere with my affairs! This is matter entirely between Shirley aut myself'-.
 'Oh, no. it isn't-upon the contrary A combative gleam flickered or Burkes face. Its very much my busi- ness. Anything tha, concerns Mis-! Shirley is my business"
 The dickens it is!- cried Dalton that right! He swung around or 1 Shirley. q want straight answer tt a straight question-are you or are you not-engaged to me?"
 IT thought I was" muttered thu young girl Tears stood in her prett, eyes.
 You thought you were? What d, you mean by that? Don't beat abou the bushl Answer me, Shirleyr' Sne HIted up her heaa, brushing th tears aside.
 "It--it's only a travesty of an en gagement-for yot pelong to some on' else,' she said.
 I Jim Dalton recoiled as though he had received an unexpected blow. | You surely don't believe the tar. ! radiddles of a crazy woman?" She wasn't crazy, Jim" l 'An imposter, anyhow"' ! But she had proof"
 You take her word-against my l own?"
 1 IT don't want to--but I have to She-she proved 1t all"
 Jim Dalton took 2 step backward, i and surveyed the other two, bis eyes l travelling from Shirley's small set face l to David Burke.
 "A pretty little plot. engineered be- l tween the two of you. to get rid O. | me!' he sneered. but 1t doesn't de | ceive me in the least" He swung around on David Burke. T alwayl I knew you had a sneaking, underhant determination to get Shirley away iron me. you cadi" His voice broke huskily Well, you can have her--for Tn through.'
 He wheeled around. without a secon, glance at Shirley, strode across tn