Cheyenne record., 1920-02-05


on the stsamsr the next-day-but-ons
after seeing my suitcase slowed the
frst person my eye lighted on WAS
Clairel
Claire tripped up to me. delighted
but . little embarrassed. and In her
wake followed q lady whose face was
very familiar. ~ mine was to her. and
smile Of recognition broke out ON
both Of rs ut once and We exclaimed
at each other, "Why. you're the Lady
Of the Slippers"
Now "the slippers" were tho top
notch Of my wild extravagant life in
Paris AM. I'd never mentioned them
to Ann. came by them in tbis wise:
Just az I was leaving for vevay I had
passed q little shop on a funny little
street and In the window was pair
Of slippers. They were high over the
instep-so they'd keep my feet warm
and decorated with the queerest orien.
tai pattern you ever saw, and they had
low heels.
/ bounced into the shop to ask the
price, and at the counter stood an
other American lady. with an identical
pair In her hand. I demanded the
price.
zone hundred and twenty-five
francs" beamed madame. "and most
reasonable"
The other American woman and I
dropped the slippers like hot cakes
wasn't equal to twenty-five dollars for
a pair Of slippers. Madame came down
ten francs and inveigled us into trying
on the slippers. There was q Differ
ence Of half . size In the pairs and
they lifted ~ though they'd been made
in heaven. Madame came down ten
francs more and then Knocked OF hve.
and We bought them at q hundred
francs . pair. laughingly telling each
act and promising never to give each
other away.
had liked this American woman
and should have been glad to zee her
again; and hero she was. She was
pleasant and unaffected. q woman Of
possibly forty; dark hair. black eyes.
waxy ~ to complexion; not what
would call handsome but with . dis
tinct air.
Claire had. introduced her a Mrs.
Delario and later the child coniided
that her father had found her By &C.
cident ~ he had me. That he paid
her fare over ~ an inducement to her
to come on this steamer-with me. ]
even then surmised. Claire and she
shared the largest stateroom o.
board.
There were two other women going
over. but Mrs. Delario and seemed
the only ones able to keep our sea
legs. while Claire stayed In her berth
for almost the entire passage.
But the really friendly acquaintance
between Mrs. Delario and me began by
our being nung into each others arms
when our frisky little craft took an
unexpected dive, trying to see II she
could hit bottom with her nose. We
made profuse apologies and dropped
for safety into the nearest chairs. ]
was clutching vigorously ut the arm
Of mine. when she fastened her gaze
on ring I wore. reached out and took
my hand.
1 She said. 'what q very curious
ring-it looks as though 1t had q his
tory" turning 1t for different angles
and fumbling at 1t as though she meant
to draw it OF.
said it had. and she asked me to
let her take It OF and try it on. had
curled my fingers over hers to prevent
1t. for hate to have people trying on
my rings. So I shook my head and
replied. "That would break the SPELL"
She dropped my hand instantly; !;
said. Excuse mel didn't know It was
that. though I felt the spell-the occult
influence before I touched 1t. You
know think felt it that nrst time
we met when we bought the slippers,
though I didn't see the ring. felt
something occult all around you. You
are under the protection Of very pow.
erful influences"
II