The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-09-25


heart beating swlfter.
Come In"
The door opened, and the light from
the windows revealed Miss La Rue
rather tastefully attired In green silk
her blond hair fiuffed artfully, and a
dainty patch of black court-plaster
adjoining one cheek.
Pardon me, please" the voice some
what high-pitched, but they told me
downstairs you were from New York"
Eyes, that is my home; won't you
come in?"
Sure ! will. Why | was so lone
some In this hole simply couldnt
stand it any longer I know your
name: It's Stella Donovan-well, mine
Is Celeste La Rue"
"a very pretty name; rather I'M
usual. Are you French?"
The other laughed crossing her feet
carelessly, and extracting cigarette
case from handbag.
French? Well, | guess not. My
dads name was Capley, and / an
nexed this other when | went on the
stage. 1t tickles the Johnnies. and
sounds better than Sadie Capley. You
liked 1t yourself"
1T is better adapted to that pur-
pose-you are an actress thenT"
well, nobody ever said so. can
dance and sing a bit, and know how
to wear clothes Tell me, when were
you in New York;
about month ago."
well, didn't you see the Revue?
'"The last one2 Certainly"
That's where l shone-second girl
on the right in the chorus and l was
in the eccentric dance with Joe
Stearns; some hit-whatY
Yes, remember now; they called
you the Red Fairy-because of your
ruby ring. What in the world ever
brought you out here7"
Celeste laughed, cloud of smoke
curling gracefully above her blonde
hair
"Some joke, isn't It? Well it's no
hall yonder, you can bet on that. The
fact is I've quit the business, and am
going to take flyer in miningY
Mining? That sounds like money
in these days. They tell me there is
no placer-mining any longer, and that
It requires fortune to develop. I
wouldn't suppose chorus girl"
"Oh, pshaw!" and Miss La Rue
leaned forward, bright glow on each
cheek. There are more ways of max
ing money in New York than drawing
salary. I've caught on to few
things in the last five years. 1t pays
better to be Celeste La Rue than 1t
ever did to be Sadie Capley. Do you
get me?"
Miss Donovan nodded. Her acquaint-
ance with New York fast life supplied
all necessary details, and 1t was quite
evident this girl had no sense of
shame. Instead she was rather proud
Of the success she had achieved.
II imagine you are right" she adj
mitted pleasantly. 80 you found
hacker? A mining MANI"
mot on your life. None of your
wild west for me. AS soon as some
business is Strengthened out here, it's
back to Broadway"
'Who Is it?' ventured the other eau
tiously. "Mr. Beaton?"
Ned Beaton!" Miss La Rue's voice
rose to shrek. "Oh, Lord should
say not! Why that fellow lever had
fifty dollars of his own at one time in
his life. He's only tin-horn sport"
Then it Is the other?"
"Sure; he's the real thing. Not much |
to look at, maybe, but he fairly oozes
the long green. He's q lawyer"
"Oh, indeed" and Miss Donovan's
eyes darkened. She was interested.
now feeling herself on the verge of |
discovery. "From New York;
"Sure; maybe you've heard of him?
He knew you as soon as Beaton men
toned your name; he's Patrick En-
right of Enright and Dougherty."
Miss Donovan's fingers gripped hard
on the footboard of the bed, her teeth |
to keep back sudden excla-
nation of surprise. This was more |
than she had bargained for, yet the
other woman coolly watching, in spite
of her apparent flippancy observed no
change In the girls manner Appar-
emily the disclosure meant little.
'Enright. you say? No, think not.
He claimed to know me? That Is
strange. Who did he think | was?"
Miss La Rue bit her lip. She had
found her match evidently. but would
strike harder.
"A reporter on the Star Naturally |
we couldn't help wondering what you
was doing out here. You are in the
newspaper business aren't your"
Yes" realizing further concealment
was useless, but on my vacation. l
thought explained all that to Mr.. Bea-
ton. | am not exactly reporter.
10 feature-stuff."
whatever that u.s."
"Human-interest stories; anything
strange happenings in every
lay life. you know"
Murders, and-and robberies."
Occasionally, If they are out of TIE
ordinary" She took a swift breath
ind made the plunge Like the Fred
rick Cavendish case-do you remem-
hat