The Washington herald., 1920-03-18
HIelene's Married Life !:
xLVI.-A Scene With Tony.
BY MAY CHRISTIE
scopyrIsht 1889. Mcclure syndicate.

mentary. Tony DOUBTLESS had been
IN more awkward corners than this
before and had emerged triumph
ant.
"Yes, IT'S II The proverblal bad
penny, chr quoth he. with appar-5
ent lightness. But don't blame me
for being here--blame MiAs Hel.
This was too much. was about
to voice an indignant protest when
Jim's: mother said with an air Of
gentle dignity:
I'm afraid I mustn't stop and
talk with you--or allow you to re-
main here--because my son In In no
At state for any excitement. must
therefore. ask you to please leave
the room"
She didn't look at me. She only
looked at Tony. A whole world OF
reproaeh lay In her sweet, kind
eyes. Tony must indeed have act
ed strangely in the past. to sum.
mon forth that look.
''Oh, very well. Come on, Hell
enc" Tony grabbed me by the arm.
mad no wish TO make a. scene,
there in Jim's sick room. Perhaps
scene" was precisely the de-
nouement Tony wished? 1t would
be so bad for Jim, and It would
hurt his mother.
Thereforc-frst dragging my arm
away from Tony's grasp--I slipped
out to the hall. Tony followed.
I turned and closed the door Of
Jim's room very gently. Then
head held high--I marched OF, fu-
rious.
Helene! Listen. just one mo.
ment" Tony pleaded.
Listen? You cad! You unutter-
able cad! almost Kissed the
words.
Helene, oh. It was crazy of me,
I'll admit! But II was the only
bad, Helene-there in that room
at that hour"
"A sick room" I Interrupted, cut
tingly. IF you're taking any vir-
tue unto yourself for shielding me,
then drop the idea. You'd no earth
ly business to creep in-just like q
sneak thief"
Helene. had to talk to you! 1
had to"
ITO compromise me?'
Well. I didn't mean to! Although
now"
'Oh. bosh" 1 cried. "I'n tell the
whole house what has happened"
I wheeled around on him. '.And I'll
Also tell them about your ridicu-
lous, impertinent announcement of
an engagement that does not exist
that never will exist"
Helene. I had to tell her thatw
Tell whom?"
Mrs. st. Aubyns" He caught me
by the hand. II had to tell her we
were engaged. How else could I
have explained my presence in that
! room-alone with you?
by telling the whole truth for
once in your life!" I retorted, quite
beside myself. by telling her the
low, mean motive that led you to
do such thing. Maybe you meant
to murder Jim? Maybe you're the
man who half-killed him on the
lonely road the other night? May
be"
Your Imagination flies away
with you." sneered Tony. And
aren't you very familiar with the
patient. all of a suddenr
Familiar? How?"
: 'Oh, holding hands-and calling
him by his first name, as you did
just now. Jim,' indeedw Tony's
smile was very crooked, like him.
self.
II have more right to call him
Jim than you!" 1 answered, quick
as lightning. For /, anyhow, am
real friend to him. And you have
never been his friendw
A cruel light cleaned in Tony's
queer. champagne-colored eyes.
who's been talking? That old
woman" He nodded towards the
door which barred the room we had
just vacated. Saying things about
me, was she?"
Yes, if you want to know the
TRUTH! Contempt was written on
my face, and sounded in my tones
Il guessed as much" said Tony,
imperturbably. "Well-shoot! What
did she say?"
I stifrened. Tony's fiippancy was
quite maddening.
| She said things that would make
you ashamed to look an honest per-