Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-24
CHAPTER XVI.
A Significant InUitdtiOn.

But the millionaire was certainly not
at all prepossesslng. His eyes were
rather sunken, and had a burnt -out sort
of look; his face was thin, and lean and
brown; and his mouth and chin were
strongly cut, and spoke ri great deter
minatiOn.
He seemed more at home with men
than with women. During dinner he
addressed most of his conversation to
Arthur Delay. and 1t was chiefly about
business, but from time to time Ninette
found his eyes resting upon her, and al
ways with a curious intent expression
in them.
After dinner, in the drawing room,
Dorothy Manvers was full of him.
He's not a beauty, Margaret, darling.
But with all that honeywell, ] think
I could put up with his ugly face"
Il don't think he's ugly" Ninette said
calmly. He rather interests me"
you rather interest him too, by the
way he kept looking at you Margaret
said, smiling. "Ninette, I wonder what
1t is about you that all the men like.
Even my Arthur, who isn't a bit Of a
woIaan's man, is quite taken With you,
know"
Ninette flushed
You're just fatterlng me-" she said
painfully. How can they like me? I'm
not bit good-looking, I'm never well
dressed, haven't got any money"
oh money" Margaret said with fine
contempt You think far too much Of
money. Nlnette I shall have to be really
cross with you about It."
ITS because I've never had any"
Ninette said simply. Perhaps II Id got
as much as / could spend ! shouldnt
want IL all"
"And here come the men! Gracious.
they haven't been long," Margaret said
Dorothy hastily rearranged her position
on the couch, and Margaret patted her
hair self-conseiously. Only Ninetts sat
on her favorlts footstool by the Ere with
out moving, her hands clasped round hex
knees.
The three men came into the room 60
gether-Dick Felsted talking nineteen 20
the dozen, and laughing boyishly; Ar
thur Delay smoking an expensive cigar,
and looking very immaculate in his din
ner jacket and the tall, thin millionaire
his grim face unsmllinE. and his eyes
little bored IN expression till they
rested on Ninette. Then his whole face
seemed TO change; he squared his
shoulders and walked over to where she
sat
DO you playi" be asked the question.
abruptly, and all the room heard II.
Ninette shook her head.
NO. I'm sorry"
do yo1 singf"
She shook her head again.
NO, I'm afraid haven't any accom-
plishments like that"
She spoke rather nervouHly; she looked
across at Dorothy.
Miss Manvers," she said
Cavanaugh seemed not to hear. He
went on In the same abrupt way
Then. IL you have no Hcomplishments
with which to amuse the company, win
you come and talk to me for a little
whilef"
Ninette stared up AZ him for 4 moDent
with blank eyes; then she rose slowly
from the stool
why, yes, II you want me-" she said
uncertainty.
The little silence which had fallen on
ths room was broken. Dick Telsted
plunged haphazard into soma story he
had heard that day, aud Margaret took
up her needlework again.
Only Dorothy Manners eyes narrowed
a little and she BIT her lip angrily as
she looked across the room to whers
NiLette and the tall, gaunt man sat to-
gether in the window
Il hate her-I hate her." was the BIT
ter thought in her heart.
When Ninette was undressing for bed
that night, Margaret Delay came knock
ing at her door
There had been no time for any con-
versation between the two girls all the
evening, and Margaret's eyes were
bright and curious as she entered the
room.
wei, now tell me all about III" she
said.
She had taken off her evening frock.
and wore loose pink wrapper hat made
her look particularly young and attrac-
tive and Ninettes eyes wandered over II
obviously before she answered.
Tell you all about what?"
Margaret raised her brows.
Why, what be said to you, Of course
My dear you've made a conquest Of the
man. We heard he was p woman hater
that he would never speak TO a woman
under sixty II he could help It, and here
he has spent the whole evening with you
We all noticed II. Of course Arthur was
quite cross about 1t. poor dearl He said
he thought 1t was bad taste OF CavanaEh
damned bad taste was what be really
said!" she added, laughing. How silly,
isn't ii Az II any one minds being made
&C nspicuous with a milllnoaire!'
Ninette flushed a little.
But he didn't say anything that any
body could not have heard" she pro-
tested. He asked me If I had ever been
abroad. and where lived. and If l had
any sisters or brothers, and oh. lot Of
questions like that" she laughed. II
didn't tell him." she went on. I didn't
see what business 1t was of his"
Margaret looked frankly disappointed
"But my dear he's so rich!" she pro-
tested. She got up and shut the door
carefully: she had left it half open when
she came in. Dorothy was ready to
scratch your eyes out, you know" she
confided lowering her voice.
"How silly!" Ninette said contemp-