The Washington times., 1920-02-18

trtY WARNED you that 1T is hard
p to shake off your friends in
this country, said Sarfe,
aayly. May we come and sit with
you a little while? Sir Ronald tells
me that you and he are quite old
friends"
Her heart gave a leap. Instantly
she understood the sardonic humor
Of the strangers demeanor. II any
other man than Sarle had been
there. she would have thrown up
the sponge. But she could not bear
to have the truth stripped and ex-
posed there before him. 1t was too
brutal. If he must know, he should
know in q less cruel manner than
that She faced the newcomer
squarely, her features frozen to an
outward composure.
This is very pleasant surprise,
Lady d." he said. with courteous
familiarity, while his eyes expressed
the utmost amusement. 1T must be
nearly two years since we met"
"Oh. surely much longer than
that" she answered, and her smile
was almost as mocking as his.
They stood taking each others
measure, while Sarle dragged for
ward some chairs. A faint admira-
tlOn came INTO the man race Snt
was a fraud, and he knew that she
knew that he knew 1t, but he had
also to acknowledge that there was
fine metal in her, even for an ad-
venturess. As a duellist, at least
she seemed. worthy of his steel
Besides, in her. gown of faint lilac
and her orchid.laden hat, she was a
very enhancing vision. The duel
might be picturesque as well as
piquant.
II trust. you left Lord Sandilands
well2" he inquired politely. She
dug desperately in her mind for a
moment. 1t seemed foolishly i'm
portant to be truthful. even though
this man knew she was acting a
lie.
s.'He is never very well in the win
ter" she answered, without any ap-.
parent interlude for thought Sir
Ronald was even more pleased with
her.
i"That Is So" he agreed. 81 re-
member, when I left Bethwlck that
autumn, he was just in for his
bad annual bout of bronchitis"
The two men sat down, and, with
her permission, smoked. Sarle had
placed his chair where he could
look full at her, missing no shade
of expression on her face. His
frank, warm eyes EMBODIED her in
gaze OF trust and devotion that
was as patent to the other man as
to her. There was no peace for her
In that gaze-things were too
desperate for hat--tut 1t nervcd
her resolution to fence to the death
with THIS polished gamester
She had her back to the wall and
resolved to die fighting rather than
make. an ignominious surrender be-
foro the man she loved.
Sarlo looked from ono to the
other contentcdly. For once, his
Gar seeing weld eyes played him
false
"I am glad you two are friends"
he said. Then, addressing April,
odd that we shouldn't have dis
covered IL before, for, you know.
Kenna is my best friend as well as
my ranching partner"
They sat talking for close on to
two hours. and at the end of that
time April rose with a laugh on her
lips and many light and airy rea-
son why she could not stay. IL was
too hot: she must rest a little; she
had unpaoking TO do.
Even after rising from her chair
she fingered, ps ~ regrctful TO go;
but they could not persuade her to
stay and have tea with them. Pres
emily she sauntered off slowly, leav-
ing a promise thst she would dine
with them that evening. She did
not know why she promised. As she
walked away, ssuntering, because
<t... ..... g.. EOS e.. =.