Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1920-07-17
The LEADER
By MYRTA ALICE LITTLE.

The great Duncan Plerce, lOlterlnS
near the mischievous creature whom,
q half hour before, he had nonchalant-
" deserted for more thrilling femi-
mines at the house party dance.
Sidney Norcott giggled. I'm not
writing assignments for the News
now" she said, and clasped her note
book against the mauve tulle Of her
gown, I'm writing things in this book
that will make someone sit up ana
take notice, Duncan Pierce" she chal'
lenged. when l have minute with
in ear-shot Of folks who are talking
on this pet subject of mine l listen H.
you know, and take down what hear
The end justifes the means, high po-
tentate!'
Thanks for the 'epithet," beamed
Duncan. Il am sort of the go here
Ell? Everybody falls for me, and no
mistake. Even Glen Lawrence and
her. set"
And Duncan Pierce strobe grandly
into the ballroom.
Here you are, Sidney. This dancer?
"You always do the rescue act when.
we little wallflOwers get too Willy,
don't you, Rob Long?" she smiled.
"It's pleasure to rescue yor.
You're so comfortable to have round
I've known you all my life. And you're
never in the way, and always sweet"
He wanted to sit out this dance. lie
wanted to ask the girl something.
Sidney's blue eyes were thoughtful
now. 'Those are the incest things
anyone ever told me, Rob-" she said.
Comfortable to have round? wish
everyone thought that way about me.
The man looked at her keenly. They
must dance then. He swung her onto
the floor.
$50 that's the way the land lies"
he whispered under cover of the VIC
Inns in the dream girl waltz. And it
was not what he had hoped to say.
Sidney stared. "Why-I haven't
| said-anything," she stammered.
Rob and Sidney did not speak dur
ing that dance and encore. When the
number was half through Duncan
Pierce came on the floor with Glen
Lawrence, with his air of possession
| and the smile, well trained, ever-prac-
ticed. Sidney overheard q comment
on the couple, looked up to see if Rob
had heard, too. He had, and he was
gazing into her eyes. with revelation
in his own. He led her back to the
corner by the palms. and spoke quietly.
$50 it's Duncan Pierce who is the
everyone Sidney girl. He's all right.
Plenty of money, and good mixer. I
hope-he appreciates your-caring the
way your eyes told me when you look.
ed at him."
Sidney Norcott was trembling. "You
are uncanny, Rob, the way you under
Standard you're g real man."
'Thanks," said Rob Long. Il must
be off. I'm taking the a. N. back to
town."
Il thought you were staying the
month out. See Inc before you CO.
said Sidney. How did Rob Long know
what Duncan Pierce did not suspect
1t was uncanny. Sidney reached be-
hind the palm in the Japanese bowl
for the red leather notebook. She
must add that criticism she had over
heard. If Pierce would do something
Let keep incoming around house par
ties" She must tell him that. Sid
ney gasped. The notebook was not
there. Someone had taken it. What
if it should be Duncan? After three
awful minutes there was no mistakine
the fact. It was Duncan Pierce who
had appropriated the fatal book. He
suddenly swoOped down upon the girl
holding the red monster triumphantly
before her eyes.
who's all this about? Sounds like
a maniac you're describing in y0ul
book, Sid. Tell fellow. Got two
minutes before l go back to Glen"
$50 you've read it without leave?'
said Sidney with alarming GOODNESS.
"Sure!" Duncan told her. "Who's
the victim? Say, but let me tell YOU
| l
round"
'Give me that book, If you have Onl!
two minutes, Duncan Pierce. I'll siz'
it up" cried Sidney N0rc0tt. She reat
swiftly at random, from her jOttings
watch Ills right eye crinkle like
squirrels when he talks. It's the dis
appointment of his young life not t
be able to watch himself 60 by. Hi
posing sticks out like burrs. He's go
the most simpery cut-and-dried expires
SONS. If he'd do something, like Rol
Long, Sidney stopped second
They're all about you, Duncan Pierce
things that folks have said about yo
every one, and put them dOwn-be
| cause" she said.
"We've both been mistaken, Duncan
A girl can think she cares lots abOu
!, man If she's doing things for him 70
his own good. But when she finds on
he's hopeless and likes himself as h
r is better than he can ever like anyOn
{ else, of course her eyes are opene
. and she's unhypnotized. She just see
his colossal cOnceit."
sounds like another joke to me,
laughed Duncan easily. Must go bac
to Glen"
ROB-" said Sidney NOrcott at 1875
a. H., Il don't want you to take tha
train"
Rob Long stared into Sidney's eye
"What's happened, girl?" he gasped.
II followed-the leader" whispere
Sidney. "And it was the wrong on
Please, lead. You're real"
"I'n stay" said Bob Long.
Then he told her what he had hope
l ~ e<isl IL