The Washington herald., 1921-04-11


Dinner that night was a strained
lfair.
Nancy dined at the hotel with the
Stanleys and Mai. Desmond, after
phoning the Langwen residence ard
being informed by Edith's maid that
Mrs. LangweII would not be dining
at home and that no word had
been received from the doctor,
Unwilling to risk a possible tete-
a-tete dinner with Langwell, Nancy
remained with the Stanleys, but she
did so without enthusiasm. She
was still resentful against Comics
attempted authority in ordering her
20 return to New York.
Connie herself was ostentatiously
digniaed as a sign Of her displeas-
ure' toward Nancy.
Maj Desmond also said little, and
his eyes were fixed questioningly
Tn Nancy. The latter wondered
what was really going on behind
that impassive exterior. Was he
BEGINNING to see the weak places in
that very crude yarn which Connie
had told him about the mysterious
Gerry?
The thought sent a little tremor
Of fear through her. as she realized
that she was more hopelessly in
voived than eve- by this latest oc-'
cuFrence.
Curtis Stanley, true to type. was
frankly sulking. 1t was always his
ha Aana NJ N Pdlv in
yolved in the denouenient of one Of
his practical jokes to seek safety in
resentment. His frst act was usu-
ally an attempt 10 foist the blame
on someone else, and failing that he
would become merely a peevish
small child.
Instead Of appreciating the grav-
ity Of the situation which his own
perverted sense of humor had
wrought. he wore an openly injured
air which was designed to make the
others Of the party feel like cul-
prfts.
Are you remaining in Chicago
long, Major?" Connie inquired po-
litely OF the young officer.
Her air of martyrdom irritated
Nancy beyond words. 1t said plain
ly: my time and services which ]
offered gladly and generously have
been spurned."
"Fhat depends" replied Major
Desmond, vaguely.
Connie raised her brows, ques-
tioningly. m
Il asked Nancy to go hack with
me tomorrow. but she refused"
Desmond glanced quickly at
,,dA
the strange request he had made at
lea that day. He had as good as
told her that the Langwells' was
no place for her and that it would
be. wiser IL she left Chicago before
anything unpleasant happened.
In the shock of hearing of
Gerry's loss and subsequent resto-
ration she had completely forgot
ten.
She looked at him bIankly and
said slowly:
How curious that two different
people should command me to re-
turn home and neither of you my
host" To be quite frank with you,
1 wish to remain. Very interest
ing things have happened here dur
ing my stay, and I'd like to clear
up the matters before l GO"
Did Maj. Desmond also ask you
to leave?" demanded Connie, turn
ing to Nancy. Il wonder IL his
reason was the same as mine?"
The major smiled.
Il doubt il very much, Mrs
Stanley. I've only been on the
ground a few days. but I've seen
some things I did not like, particu-
lar1y within the last twenty-four
hours And l think we could save
Mrs Burrard a great deal of un-
pieasantness IL she would take our
advice"
Nancy never took anybody's ad-
vice. not even Gerry's." snapped
Connie, without stopping to think.
The silence that followed was op-
pressive, and Nancy, confusedIy
drawing patterns on the tablecloth
with her fork, could feel the in
sistent questioning of Mai. Des-
mon6s glance.