The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-19
The By MAY CHRISTIE
 Disturbing Kiss
XXIII.-DELIA AT HER BEST Copyright 1921. by The Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.

Natalie was delighted. For tn pawnbroker's offer was far better than she had expected.
 With five hundred dollars shs could pay her debt to Farrel GaIt, and quiet her importunate modiste Thereafter, she would think up ways and means to raise the wind. Not later than a fortnight, she would redeem the necklace.
 Meantime, she would wear tho clever imitation, and no one would la a jot the wiser.
 Life was really very simple, if yod approached it in the right way, cobf- ageously.
 T accept the offer" she said calm ly laying her five thousand dollar string of pearls upon the counter. She received the ticket, and put it carefully into an inner pocket of her purse.
 A pile of greasy bills was counted out, and handed to her. She pockete q the bills and hurried off. It wasn't pleasant to finger in the shadow of pawnshop. How awful, if anyone she knew should see her herel But the thoroughfare contained no familiar face as Natalie drove off. That night Della Desmond camo to dine--a sweetly fascinating Della, clad in the gorgeous Premet frock that enhanced her bizarre beauty till it literally scintillated. Natalie felt thankful that she her. and -diamante gown. (Now that she really had the wherewithal to pay for 1t, a load was lifted from her mind.) Around her neck she wore the marvellously clever limitation" pearls.
 When the new secretary shyiy pre- sented & sheaf of Gloire-de-D jon roses to her, she stammered out sur. prised thanks.
 T hope you won't mind. Please &C., cept them with my good wishes. Ever since you gave me Pongo, I've | been lucky" His heart beat consld- erably faster as, jerkily he got these , phrases out.
 And I've been unlucky ever since!" She could have bitten her tongue out for the tactlessness of this statement, but 1t was too late. His young face clouded with q real concern.
 Miss Ducane, I'm sorry. You must let me give you back your mascot" Pongo hung from a little fob at the waistcoat of his dinner jacket, and he touched the tiny figure, as though he were about to wrench it off.
 Natalie stopped this maneuver.
 Please don't l was only joking. in sort of silly way. Of course I'm lucky. I'm downright spoiled"
 She fastened some of the roses he had given her into the belt of her chic corsage. They looked very sweet, but rather out of place against the elaborateness of the French crea- tion.
 But Captain Maurice Danby was well pleased.
 MT. Ducane took Mrs. Desmond in to dinner, and the new secretary, with a conventional little movement, offered Natalie his arm.
 Smiiingly she took 1t. She felt that she was going to enjoy herself tonight.
 'The rose shaded, goldlined lamp above the dinner table cast becom- ing, kindly glow on the two women Both were at their best.
 The dining-room itself looked most attractive, the light centered on the table. and the polished mahogany, gleaming silver and cut glass reflect ing every ray
 Mr. Ducaen was attentiveness it. self to pretty Mrs. Desmond. She could play her part well, when she chose. (Tonight she chose)
 Her conversation was not merely witty It showed depth of knowledge As a matter of fact. she had learned in advance of some pet theories of the rich man, and had studied up her part.
 She succeeded splendidly. Moro important than mere talking and the display of her own knowledge, she could listen, with an air of absorbed attention to his views.
 q adore old china and Venetian glass" she was saying now, enthu- siastically, leaning towards her host with really flattering interest. "Of course, I've heard about your famous collection for years and years, and longed to see it."
 Capt. Maurice Danby heard this statement. He gauged it's value. He had summed up Mrs. Desmond fairly accurately.
 But tonight he could not take his -