The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-09
10 YES GAMBLE
By MAY CHRISTIE

gaze wandered necessarily to the lux urious stone mansion where tho rich and highly eligible David Burke was living.
 The chatelaine Of such place would have to be an angel, for she'd be in heaven! If it were only l." she unused Another knock came at her door. The little maid again! "A gentleman to see you, miss" note of intense. repressed curiosity was in the little maids voice. Heres his card"
 She handed Lucille a scrap of paste board. on which the magic words were ] printed;
 'Mr. David Burke" He's waiting in the coffee room," she added solemnly.
 '1'll be down in five minutes, tell him. please" Her heart was beating with excitement.
 | The coffee-room was all in shadow when she entered it. And David Burke's impression of Lucille-that i first impression which, of all others. is | so nightly important-was of a beau 1 tiful young woman with an interesting, 1 rather tragic face, a glorious figure and a magnetic personality. l Lucille, for the first time in many years, felt she was in the presence of very kindly gentleman. l He had come to her to help her--so he said. He spoke of Shirley Marsh He | wanted to hear the story of Jim Dal- i toms faithlessness from Lucille's own 1 lips. Would Lucille tell him all about it? Lucille both would--and could. She showed him the photographs of ! herself and Jim. Also the marriage ] rately.
 | And David Burke was immensely kind and sympathetic--as was his wont.
 'I'll do myautmost to put things right 1 for you. You've had hard time, Mrs Dalton-Mlle. Derange, 1 should say"-- he stammered a little over the words but you're among good friends now and don't forget itr' In his heart of hearts he felt im- mensely grateful to Lucille for turning up at the psychological moment and putting timely stop to Dalton's court ship of Miss Shirley Marsh He would | show his gratitude in some practical way, too, he decided
 "rll cable out to my agents in South Africa and verify her story" Burke re- flected. "Thatll confirm the whole af- fair-and Master Jim Dalton will see ! his little game is up for good
  less Dalton feliow-do you care for him?" he asked.
 Care for him? Lucille gave ner- vous little laugh. "Oh, don't know. l II used to think I did. But now'- She broke off looking rather mean ingly at David Burke. Again he mis- understood.
 Now that you fully realize the black | guard that he is, you can't care any more? Is that it?"
 1 Lucille nodded. She was quite in earnest.
 1 David Burke leant forward and patted her hand approvingly.
 That's sensible grill admire you tfor it. I haven't any patience with lot of sentimental bosh--the kind some women would display under the cir l cumstances, and in your position. We both realize that the fellow isn't worth a decent womans love-" Lucille's heart leapt at the intimacy of that we"
 The sympathy of this man was some- thing very precious.
 "Only," she sighed, Its sort of lone 1y, you know, knocking round the world alone. And-there are times when l hate the stage. It's rotten life for a girl when she hasn't friends, or money, or influence"
 But, my dear young lady, we must change all that" He was genuinely l grateful to Lucille for the good turn she had done him-and he meant to show it. I know lots of the theatrical managers and agents up in London-l could always put in word for you give you introductions-you must count me as a friendr'
 Indeed, willi" Lucille put out her hand and caught Burke's in a firm, de- cided clasp. q can't think why you are so kind to me-" she added frankly
 It was Burkes turn now to flush. He felt that the sympathy and the in- terest he had shown were scarcely gen uine--a mushroom growth towards one who had made his matrimonial projects toward another girl more probable. He rose to his feet
 There's a note I want to write-if iyou'll excuse me for a moment"
 He crossed to desk in a corner of the room, seated himself before it and took up pen.
 But a minute or two elapsed before he could collect his thoughts. Lucille had been more disturbing than he real ized.
 At last he made a start
 Dear little Shirley" His pen scratched across the hotel note paper. T have seen and talked with the young
 woman who calls herself Lucille De- range, and her story seems most plausl- ble to me. Although the marriage cer- tificate. and the photographs are ann pie proof I am cabling today to my
 agents out in South Africa to verify the whole affair I must also add that 1 James Dalton's behavior last night was most raordinary-including the fact that he has made no move to see this
 woman--nor indeed expressed any de-
 sire for meeting.
 T would ask you, therefore. to be- | lieve the worst-at the same time be- lieving that the worst is for the best Over his tangled sentiment David Burke frowned momentarily then continued
 You can always count on me- my
 dear, to remain the same."-- | A sudden honk. honk of motor horr
 outside the window made Burke look