Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-14
The Woman Halter
BY Ruby Ayres

have ren,4nhsrnS ,,a, ,h.rso ouEmt., sn.,
woman In the world you'd cross the road
Yes, you might as well have remsm-
oessd ssntiS,s- that. said Fsysr.ham Sryiy;
arrested Tranter. He looked up quickly |
and he took a step forward.
And even--Lailie--is not an excep- |
tion to thatr he asked rather breath |
"Eyen Lailie as you call her, i no
exception, promise you," he said.
SO Ger. az our story approaches the end.
Or yGS *. Dy m.,i... ns oi' e ny g, " fr,snS
win her wanton eyes--or ms7
A. When Tranter had gone Miles paced
the room restlessly TIL midnight. The
whole affair had suddenly become in,
anything moan and underhaud, and the
evening had shown him his actions In
none too pleasant light.
He had been n yQuixotic fool ever to
For the moment he forgot that an iron
OF his own had been thrust Into the fire,
and remembered only that Mrs, Trantsr
had ~, urged him to prevent Philips mar
Philip. was his friend, and Philip
trusted him y trusted both--himself and
Mrs; Dundas and Faversham knew that
nsither OF them was worthy Of that
Miles smoked innumerabie cigarettes
as he paced up and down trying TO see
new solution to the tangle.
|. was the game worth the candle? How
much better on In the end would any
I of them belt the rupture between Philip
and Mrs. Dundas became final2 What
ever happened, his own position would
pc intolerable, though It. was not of
himself that he was thinking so much
as OF the betrayal of his friend.
She was not worth It! What were
few kisses and heartaches In compari-
son with years Of faithful comradeship2
!, 6 once % she had done Der best to ruin his
lose ali that It was a isft ' to hI himY SAKE 70
It's not worth IT," said Miles aloud
as he flung cigarette end flreward
and went of to bed.
He would clear out of New York to-
Of themselves, He left a note for Grey
son telling him to call him early and
have his portmanteau packed.
Flight was the only possible way. He
mirror as he struggled with his collar.
Lallie would think he was running
away from her Well. what did 1t mat
ter?
But the wakeful darkness was haunted
by the memory Of her honey-bee brown
eyes, and the wavering sweetness Of her
smile.
And in the morning his chains weie
forged afresh by a letter from Philips
mother.
For the last two days Philip had been
| more at home, she wrote, and there had
been no mention Of Mrs. Dundas.
Have I to thank YOU for II, my
really hope at last? I know you win
think am worrying old woman, but
you do not know what 1t means to me.
All my trust is in you and your prom
ise."
Miles frowned over the letter. Yes,
he had given his promise. How was
| II possible to break Il?
Greyson came to the door.
Shall we be out Of New York for
long. sir2" he inquired.
Faversham raised his eyes from Mrs.
Tranter's letter: for an instant the
whole of his future hung in the balance.
Then he looked away from Greyson's
I've changed my mind. I shall not
60 after all"
VERY good. sir"
II Greyson was surprised he did not
again and went about his business as
usual, but at the back Of his discreet
mind big wonder was growing.
| II took a definite shape when later In
the mornins Faversham told M him to &c get
distinct disapprovai in the mans face
' Modsiins To- Sing himself @ on his master. Grey,
son was persuaded that ne, too. was
woman hater 1t had been proud boast
Of his that no women ever interfered
with either Of their lives.
Apparently things were changing.
| There was note of stiffness In his
voice when he returned to, Faversham
Mrs. Dundas Is on the telephone. Sir.
| Faversham said, "Ah--thnrks." very
casually. He put down the paper he waa
reading and strolled acros to the re-
| ceiver.
Greyson was too dignifed to listen He
went away and shut the dividing doors
with great deliberation.
| Across tho line Mrs. Dundas's pretty
voice sounded a little nervous.
"Is that you, MileBT'
"Yes. I am coming round to see you,
Shall you be in in half an hour2" There
was the faintest hesitation before she
IF have an appointment for lunch
"Isn't It possible to break IT,
Again the little hesitation, then;
Miles. I promised Philip He came
yesterday, and
"I know, can't discuss II on the tele:
without waiting for further reply. He
The The tS~s old weary "'S sense Of dis.ssts was
upon him again. No woman was worth It
WY hHS 6unsss ne ssa.tss 70 KIM srvou
| Her brown eyes shot tmid inquiry into
Faversham's nrst words were:
Have you told Trsntsr you canno'
''Tsn The blood new to her cheeks ana her
sNo. it's impossible How can ! dis.
miss him like this - without - without
some tangible reason? TWO days ago he
hurt him dreadfully yesterday"
Fayersham looked at her steadily.
81 am not going shares with any
She raised her eyes quickly. then She
"That might mean anything-or moth
Faversham moved over. to the win
| dow. He was conscious or un1ustihable
anger toward her: In his heart he was was
he found himself, although all the time
he know he had only himself to thank
for II; ,,,,. vrow WIN, vou said to him
he bogsn, Nv Win n an tos sf0r e YOU
led him 20 believe that you lunched with
me yesterday as an offering Of friend
ship, for his sake. That is not the truth
She answexed rebelliously;
| don't know what the truth is. How
| can I II you won't tell NOR
She stood twisting her fingers together
her eyes downcast.
| Faversham came back 10 where sne
stood.
you mado q fool Of me once"
Il you think I shall allow you to repeat
the experiment"
what do you mean"
"You know perfectly we'll came here
two nights ago because you sent TOT me.
and for no other reason. II you sent for