The Washington herald., 1920-03-01
Helene $ Married Life
An Awkward Interview.
tcopyrtsht 1890. Mcclure syndics

I have never yet been able to
athom Tonys motive in introduc-
hg Alice into our wayside-inn tea
Iarty.
Never at any time has he offered
ne an explanation. And naturally
have not asked for one.
But 1 was furious-simply furf-
us-that I'd allowed myself to be
ed into such q situation!
What was it he bad written
Dearest Helene-why not arrange
10 have a meeting with me, in some
luiet, cosy spot where we can talk,
lndisturbed? There's such an In
ernal mob of people around An
struther Lodge. And mobs bore
me-
Bore him, indeed? And there he
was, deliberately preparing, doubt
ess. to be more bored than ever.
For what reason had he planned
this three-cornered interview?
As for Alice, truth to tell, She
looked a little disconnected. I'm
pertain she was totally unaware
that 1 was to prove a second guest.
She flushed awkwardly as / en-
kered the parlor of the inn.
ALL" she stammered, 81 had trouble
with the car. / met Tony, and we
came on here for a quiet chat"
A quiet chat? I could have
laughed aloud at the similarity of
phrase. Tony's long suit lay in
quiet chatting, it appeared!
Well, l must make the best of It!
But 1 wasn't going to spare the
adroit Tony.
Il got your note" 1 said prosaic-
ally, fixing him with a steady eye.
"And here 1 ami Now, what is it
that you wish to say to me?"
These direct methods Tony didn't
like. He gave an awkward laugh.
''Oh, just wanted the pleasure
Of your company
Alice poured me a cup of tea.
She became enormously preoccupied
with the cream jug and the sugar.
1t occurred to me vaguely that
Tony wished to play US off each
against the other. Alice and 1. The
thought was almost ludicrous!
Alice's unexpected presence did,
of course, prevent any chance of the
tete-a-tete that 1 desired with To-
ny. 1 couldn't force him into any
confession concerning Jim.
And yet 1 longed to bait him."
He deserved 1t.
Mrs. st. Aubyns tells me that
she's pretty certain that she knows
you," 1 plunged boldly in. She
caught glimpse of you, you know.
And her news rather startled mel"
Tony paled. As for Alice, she
paused in the act of measuring out
the sugar and pricked up inquisi-
tive ears.
Whats this, Tony?" she asked,
sharply.
"St. Aubyns. did you say?" Tony
tried to infuse an air of casualness
INTO his voice, but lamentably fail
ed -St. Aubyns-"
You ought to know the name
we'll" 1 said, pointedly, gazing at
the young man with raised brows-
His eyes narrowed a trifie.
Il know several people of that
name.
And one family in particular
rather Intimately" / suggested.
Alice looked first at Tony, then at
me.
why all this mystery, Helene r'
she said. Her babyish airs had
quite evaporated. There was a vast
ly curious gaze in her blue eyes.
shrugged my shoulders, lightly.
ASK Tony-don't ask me-"
She turned to Tony.
That young man was making
great efforts to pull himself togeth-
or. He looked very far from being
at ease.
"one family called st. Aubyns-
up In town-were rather interested
In me, once upon time" He spoke
iamely, haltingly. "But-well-we
Tatner disagreed. Then, after that,
1 went abroad. And we lost sight
OF each other. II haven't cared
TO look them up again"
L smiled a little grimIy. know,pe
Mrs: st. Aubyns' version of the af,
ialr! Tony really was quite naive
And is our interesting invalid A
scion of this ilIustrious house 9'
asked Alice pertly, eyeing TONY.
NY dear boy, you saw the Young
man on the night of the accident, If
you knew him, why on earth didn't
You tell us who he was?'
didn't see him properly" stam-
mered Tony, Il didn't recognize
him" -e'os ni%e
Alice is no fool. SSe became si-
lent, staring pensively out to the
oid-fashioned garden of the inn.
But IL seemed to me that there
was look of real relief upon bar
lace. That she owed Tony money.
1 ALREADY knew. To a certain ex-
Tent he'd got her in his power
: Rerhaps she was calculating that.
lnrough this gleam of knowledge.
she might gain some hold on Tony
mat hlght even up the situation?
She no longer wore the diamond
NPracelet that-without a doubt-Tonv
had given to her Parbons .ka,l -,
II. to pay off some of her lesser gam
bling debts! Importunate MARY Hia-
gins. for instance.
But-did Alice know that Tony had
forged check in order to purcbase