Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-26
MOONLIGHT AND MONEY.
By Marion Fubincam.
BUTLER TAKES A HAND.
Chapter XCV Ill.

Chapter xCV Ill.
Had Louise followed certain oi the
activities Of her fathers friend, Murray
butler, she would have been very much
surprised. For during the time that she
| was at the shore resting over period o,
hot weather, Murray Butler laid out .
| certain plan. and in his usual cain anu
methodical manner, started TO WORK ~
| out.
He wrote, first. to South America.
After few paragraphs about business
venture in which he was Interested "ith
Mr.. Driscom, he said-"Sincc you are
Lo,usc's father and since you have ap-
pointed me sort of temporary GUARDIAN
over that young lady's interest, suppose
I'd better tell you that intend to inter,
ierc little in concerns that, properly !
have nothing to do with.
you could do this better than l, since
you have a more intimate interest IN, and
knowledge of, her affairs. She has told me
a little OF why she broke with her husband.
can see in them excellent reasons ior no,
! having married as hastily as she dId, ana
for leaving him, for time. But ! don
think they apply now.
Il tried to show her this, but she would
not listen. She is making tar iittie IN
come herself now, enough to be inde-
pendent in n modest way-and what 1
want to know is. have YOU any knowledge
as TO how the chap Harry Morton--is
getting on2 I've tried To look HIM up
casually, but find no less than three Henry
Mortons in the directory, all IN one way
or another connected with the same sort oil
business. And | don't like to seem to m
tr,lde too much in his affairs or hers-so
thought you might have the facts | want;
"For ii he isn't getting on tairly well
himself. shan't even try to bring about
rcconciliation-in fact, | wouldn let
Louise 90 back to him, for it would be TO
the same problem she had before, but
with less patience than she had then
"Iour old friend.
Murray"
While he was waiting for an answer To
this letter. ne was not idle. He tried In
various ways to draw Louise out, but he
never managed 10 find her IN conilden-
tial mood At least, she would never tell
him whether she would consent TO 60 back
to Harry, or what the circumstances
might be that would induce her TO try 1t
again
One dav he tried a new plan. 'Do YOU
think vou are SUGGEST" he asked her
She had returned from the shore, and
was established again in her studio
In her summcry smock and daring color
ed snort skirt. with her skin tanned
healthy shade, she was looking unusually
well .
She considered the matter seriously,
tracing out the design of the rug with the
toe OF a perfect little buckskin pump.
'I'm making about fifty week, she
answered finally.
'I didn't ask that, Butler said calmly,
hunting about in one pocket after another
for his match box.
81 haven't been doing this sort OF work
so long" Louise answered pushing some
matches towards him. "No, don't think
I'm a success. but do think I'm success
full beginner. Annabelle has been working
four wears and doesn't make any more
than i. and the little artist above me who
does advertising Illustrations lives on
barely twenty-five"
"Do YOU measure success by money
Butler asked looking over at her. Louise
met his quiet, keen glance, and suspected
then that all this conversation had an
underlying purpose. Usually when Butter
tried to be serious with her, she took up
a frivolous attitude, but today she did not
want TO dodge his questions.
'sYou do think I'm mercenary, don
YOU. Murray?" she said. You've SAID IT.
once or twice Perhaps ! am, but you
know for awhile ] had rather hard time
because Of money or, rather, because ! did
not have it. And all my troubles and un-
happiness really come just because |
didn't have cnough-onee, when l needed
it." =,
'1n other words, you are, or are shortly
to be, q SUGGEST" Murray repeated hls
question insistently.
I'm beginning to he fad. Louise
answered. People are talking about
Louise Morton Nurseries as though they
we're desirable and fashionable.
"And is that success" Butler insisted.
This time Louise made no defence. She
looked closely at him, then sat silent,
staring without seeing, at the toe OF her
little shoes.
Tomorrow-Lorise Improves.