The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-11

certainly, glanclng at tho girl
 .Yes--do go on--this becomes vastli ! lowered round Dalton's lips. His tent per was about to rise again. If Mis- Shirley had been good enough to te you anything. no doubt she'll be gooS enough to say it once moro in thH presence of us both!'
 Shirley made supreme effort to put herself together. She got up slowly q her feet and faced them both Tt was this afternoon a woman camS to me-" she said. Here Shirley fun piteous little look at Dalton, al though imploring him to help her tA contradict the tale. She said that ou8 in South Africa-about four years agl -you--you had married her..
 But of course, you didn't belieI her" The words rang out from Daltoi like pistol shot. Why, the won i,. must have been crazy. Shirley!" M
 oh, no. she wasn't-though ata<.rs thought she was" Shirley's tone were dreariness personified Her sa eyes fixed themselves on Dalton's fac as she continued:
 She called herself Lucile Derans4 though her real name was Lucy smitI She was very handsome. and-and sbs cares for you-a great deali-
 The deuce she doesI But I've neye heard of the woman in my life beforet | perplexity that was almost cou,icz ] mantled on Da1ton's forehead. H stared at Shirley unbeIisvingly. .c course. there's some ridiculous mx taker'
 IT thought so. too-at first" n Giris vo4ee vas very low. And the she showed me photographs--taken the honeymoon, she ssid-four yezz ago"
 But I wasn't out in Africa fsu years ago. suffered Dalton. thorouxh " taken aback- Let me sea was London-no--hang it all--I can't rv naember"-
 His sudden embarrassment seemed the other two veritable proof of eni1
 You donN remember where ycs were?" sarcastically inquired Davi odd?" w It was then that Dalton iost has tssu per.
 Mind your own business, anh acus interfere with my affAirss This h matter entirely between Shirley an myself'-
 "oh, no. it isn't-upen ths eansz.<y. combative g1eam nickersA . Burkes face. Its very much my buu5 ness. Anything that concerns Mss Shirley is my business"
 The dickens it isl" cried Daltpv furiously annoyed. wen soon puA that rightn He swung around O Shirley. T want straight answur straight qnestion-are you or ars 70 not--engaged to me?-
 TT thought I was.~ muttsrea t1 young girl. Tears stood in her Dr>tx eyes
 You thought you wers,. Wxa4 d you mean by that? Don't beat aAsu. the bush! Answer me, ShirleyY
 She lifted up her head. brushing al tears aside.
 Tits only . travesty of aa sn gagement-for you belong to some un else" she said.
 Jim Dalton recoiled as though hs ha received an unexpected blow
 "You surely don't believe the tar radiddles of a crazy womanrs
 She wasn't crazy, Jiml"
 An imposter, anyhow!-
 But she had proof"
 You take her word--against m own?" <
 TT don't want to--but I have te She-she proved it aIlr' &
 Jim Dalton took step backward and surveyed the other two his eye~
  to David Burke
 "A pretty little plot engineered be tween the two of you, to get rid Q me" he sneered, but 1t doesn't de ceive me in the least!" He suun around on David Burke. q Alway knew you had sneaking, underhan.4 determination to get Shirley away fror me, you cad.' His voice broke huskil, { Well, you can have her-for I'r throughw
 He wheeled around, without a secon glance at Shirley strode across tn music room. the door slammed violsntl and he was gone! K
 Before her mirror in her room at th' little Surry Inn. wearing gorEeouH silk kimono, somewhat soiled ansH frayed around the edges. stood MlleF Lucille Derange, eyeing her earl morning complexion (which vas sal low) with distinct disfavor.
 "As yellow as ducks footr sAe rs marked, sotto voce, with all the frank ness of solitary communing.
 At that precise moment q crnAl n. of morning sunlight sshone asiant he features, as though corroborAting hs'' statement. \
 She rubbed little cream iuks As!, face. then dexterously applied the pow der-puff with the sure touch of an artI tist
 Next came hint of rsugsttl merest "soupcon" on the cheeksAn a penciliing of the eyebrowh
 A little on the lashee. toe. i
 Next picking up the stick Uf l4p nnfvsl. she executed an Artistic ea<mine ourve
 There" She drew . breath of sat E isfaction. T don't look auite anch sIl hagr'
 A sharp knock sounded on tAs assr.
 Breakfast is ready. naadaneF
 "Oh, I'll take 1t up here. Br1ng1e ee tray" ].
 Very well. madame"
 the open window. sl
 How fair and beautiful lay <1n aurs rey countryside, the fields aglittsr vlt1 their share of morning dew! l
 In the nearby woods q cuc1rpe wasI ,eallina-softly, archlyt-and fr0m (, reedy marsh close to the inn la<8 wA&a rising, enrolling her heart out in 4| flood of golden melody.
 These mingled sights and sUundfi aroused in Lucille mood of gentifl melancholy--not unhappy--chief1y phi losophicai.
 How different I'd have been n rt only had the chances some have had. Her thoughts wandered to the dainty sheltered Shirley Marsh. -Nfce straight little kid-pity I hurt her co but she1l get over it.~
 Her eye. inquisitive roved aeross th{y fields to a fine old country mansion set like gem in exouisitely cultivated grounds.
 ITO whom does that belongr sho in quired of the maid when that damse brought in the beiated breakfast tray.
 "To MT. David Burke. ma'am-he's very much liked. hereabouts.~
 Married or single?" laugufdfy fnM