The Washington herald., 1920-02-26
By May Christie

j stared At AlfSe Win CoHSiuCAaoiS
uneasiness. What could that little
harum- scarum mean?
"Tony's got me in his power"
she reiterated. dismally. Helene,
I'm frightened"
Deliberately i dried my eyes.
didn't care for Alice. But felt that
concentrating my mind upon her
problems might possibly relieve me
of my own-even IL such relief was
only temporary.
Alice had been foolish. doubtless.
In fact, the feather-headed little
blonde was seldom anything else but
foolish. More. she'd evidently been
indiscreet. Her rapturous. meeting
with Master Tony was in itself an
indiscretion. But ] couldn't believe
her capable of actual wickedness.
That she'd robbed the safe of
Travis Lloyd-or made an attempt
at such a robbery-was something
that l couldn't credit. Yes, despite
the fact that several of the guests
had believed her capable of the at
tempted theft!
Unless it was that Tony had so
bewitched the foolish little woma"
that no longer did she realize the
rights of property. 1 wondered
vaguely just what / was about TO
hear?
Alice. I've always acted toward
you as a friend" l said-with truth
fulness. Although l can't help criti-
cising Alice and her methods and
her selfish views of life, I've acted
as a real friend toward her-always.
And she knows it. too.
Yes. Helene, you've been a dear
Invariably. And I've been a spoiled,
inconsiderate little beast"
smiled. Extremes of speech are
so typical of Alice,
I'VE don't need to enter into that"
I said, patting her hand-for I felt
really sorry for her. Just tell me
what is bothering you"
''Oh, nothing! Merely debts! Like
the proverbial widows curse. they're
always with me"
felt relieved. For this particular
confession was no news to me, ex-
cept in so far as Tony was con-
cerned.
so you owe Tony money, do
your" 1 rejoined. non-commitally.
Well. he's only another on the list
Of your creditors, Alice! So why
worry"
She narrowed her blue eyes.
Hes getting rather obstreperous,
Helene"
Then snub him-as 1 do cut
In tartly. You surely don't take
Tony and his nonsense seriously"
Fair Alice frowned. This COM
ment wasn't fiattering to her vanity.
He's rather fond-of me Il
think"
Don't think a thing about it," 1
rejoined. 'Tony's just a butterfly,
hitting from flower to fiower-and
meaning nothing. Unless
frowned a little-"unless there's go
ing to be some money in the case!"
Personally, I believe that Master
Tony is quite capable of blackmail.
And I didn't wish to stand by and
see Alice's happiness shipwrecked.
as mine had been, from lack of
wholesome advice.
II thought that you were crazy
over him! He's certainly attrac-
tive" she volunteered, half tenta-
lively
/ shrugged my shoulders.
Listen, Alice! If / had a dear
adoring husband such as yours
/ forced the words with difficulty
for they hurt!-"rd cut every Tony
in the world. and all his kind, from
of my list I'd concentrate on what
"a SOti I'd make my husband happy
= nd incidentally find happiness
myself that way! I'd scorn foolish
meaningless fiirtations that are de-
rogatory to ones dignity and ones
Dosition-Id fling away the shadow
for the substance-I'd-"
stop. stop. Helene" Alice gave
her small affected laugh. You're
talking like a travelling evangelist.
not like a gay. pretty actress-girl
with heaps and heaps of beauxw
Having heaps of beaux' isn't the
chief aim and end of feminine ex-
istence." remarkekd. severely.
knowing full we'll that Alice's views
lay to the contrary! Your fiirta-
tions lead you nowhere. Alice, except
into awkward corners
And even there you interrupt
them" cut in Alice the incorrigible,
pertly. with her childish giggle.
please be serious" said. Sup
pose now. for a moment. that you
were to lose your husbands love"
The baby stare once more appear
cd in Alice's blue eyes.
'Oh. but couldnt-"
Yes. you could, Do you imagine
that he'd have been flattered, for in
stance, if he'd overheard your affec-
tionate greeting to Tony tonight, in
stead of me? No, don't get angry,
Alice! It's time you had n candid
critic! I'm so afraid you're going