Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-11
CHAPTER XVI
A DELE and Arens had smiled
n politely at each other when
"A they met, nothing in the de-

|
n they met, nothing in the de-
meanor of either giving a
hint they had met before. There
was distinct novelty in the meeting
| for Adele. an unusual sensation,
therefore welcome.
They walked to the Lafayette,
paired off, Helen and Lansing, Adele
| and Arens.
1t was exactly year since Adele
interested in another, she took no
stock of him. But she now saw
well-set-up young man, taller than
the average, clear-eyed and tanned,
a wholesome looking man of the out
door type.
David Arens was thirty-five years
| old. But the years had been kind
to him and seeing him with Adele
one would have said he was twenty
eight, possibly thirty. At thirty
five a bachelor has reveries which
concern the future. And when Da-
vid Arens met Helen Westfield he
had been rather definitely hoping ne
would find his romance. Of sud-
den he had touched upon the mar
idea of womanhood; the sort he
would like for a wife; the mother
of his children.
Yet it had always been said or
Arens that he would never marry
because he could fascinate any wom-
an he cared to. 1t might have been
SANDER, yet because he had been
popular with women. and because ne
never had married. many believed 1t.
At first sight Helen hadn't espe-
cially appealed to him, but after he
had talked to her she appealed to
him a great deal more. Even If the
glamor of adolescent youth was abb
sent, he was obsessed with the IDEA
that he had at last unearthed some
one, woman, who would make a
| perfect companion for him.
| He had no sense of dlsloyalty to
| his host, Kirk Lansing, in this idea,
| because he had no notion that Ian
sing was at all interested save in
friendly way with either of the
girls.
| Among men David Arens was a
mans man. His manner was clip
ped, brisk, highly impersonal. Helen
thought him blase and went to no
pains to interest him. IF do,
she thought, ut will only flatter
him the more and his ego is suffi-
Gent as it is. Besides, it might
amuse him" And Helen had no in
tention to amuse a man as blase as
he seemed to be. Let him amuse her
| Lansing ordered the dinner. A
mans dinner, but just the sort to
suit his two women guests.
II didn't realize how tired I was, "
Hungry, too. When 1 am writing 1
never look at a clock. I had forgot.
| ten, but 1 ate no luncheon today
Arens overheard and said:
You shouldn't do that. You will
lose your health and incidentally
your good looks If you do"
| LAS If that mattered."
| does n19ftpr-tO VOur friends,
especially your health The look
with which he accompanied the words
was intended to convey to Helen his
personal interest in her well-being.
But she only smiled and turned to
the others. She had no wish that
this man make love to her.
1t was barely o'clock, when they
finished their dinner. Adele naively
| proposed a bus ride. Lansing ia
vored a roof garden. They left it to
Helen She sided with Adele.
Adele had seen the interest Helen
and wondered. 1t was evident they
never had met before. that neither
knew anything of the other. She
had as yet had no opportunity to
speak to Arens alone-to explain her
message. Once or twice she had
question, in their depths. But most
of his attention had been devoted to
Helen-enough to make Lansing
| peevish.
On the bus. however, Lansing sat
down with Helen, forcing Arens and
Adele to occupy the same seat.
| "Why haven't we met before? he
asked in a low voice.
| Because I wish it so. And l am
going to ask another favor. Please
don't mention your friends name
while you are with us-K. D. !
have a very special reason, one l
can't explain just now"
fair with him, didn't you?"
"Perhaps-and just perhaps that
is the reason |, don't care to have
him mentioned"
"Pll not forget. You're a good lit
tie sport and 1 never give a girl
| away
Adele Flushed hotly under the i'm
plication, but bit her lip and kept
silent. What did it matter what
David Arens thought of her. Helen'9
happiness did matter. And somehow
she had decided that this man.
| friend of the man whose photograph
had so disturbed Helen, might be a
menace to that happiness. ~
CHAPTER XVII
~ AVID ARENS remained in
| New York + three w weeks ais;s He He
text or other. If he could not see
Helen in the evening he would plan
something for the late afternoon
even the morning. They usually
make party of four-"a foursome.
Adele always called it-either KEEL
f friend Of Addeele's > making up the
! party.
Before he left Arens asked Helen
to marry him. She was amazed, al
though Adele had seen it coming
and had leased her about her con
quest.
Il shall never marry--at least,
haven't seen the man 1 would give
/ up my freedom for" Helen had re-
piled to his proposal, couched in
terms of passionate love.
He had pleaded, but finally Helen
had said so plainly that she did moi
care for him that perforce he had tc
accept her refused as final. But he
carried away with him a hurt that
that caused him to bury her name
in his heart along with that hurt
Had Adele known this she would
| not have worn so anxious an ex-
| preston when she thought of tbs
| photograph that had so disturbed
Helen, and Arens' acquaintance with
the original.
After Arens left, Helen and Adele
| were a bit more leisurely in their
good times. Yet they often wen,
out to dinner with Lansing or KEEL
logg, sometimes accompanied by a
fourth.
Helen seldom went out alonc
with either of the men. Adele often