The Washington herald., 1921-06-30
cxLyIu. RELIEF ON SIGHT.

cxLyIu. RELIEF ON SIGHT.
In the excitement of Connie stan
ley's Homecoming. Nancy forgot TO
wonder how the card DR.. Langwell
had restored to her had been torn.
Whether it had become SO acci-
dentally-perhaps Peggy had en-
deavored to wrest it by force from
LangweH at the time when she had
FIRST showed it to him fearing that
he would retain it and thus spoil
her plans-or whether his initials
had been designedly removed
either by him or Peggy. II was i'm
possible to say.
For safe keeping. she tucked Il
into her vanity case again along
with Philip Harding's card, which
she had not yet answered After
meeting him that day on the ave-
nue. and telling him the prodigious
falsehood ABOUT Gerry's not want
ing her to marry again, she thought
that IL discreet interval were per-
mitted to elapse before continuing
the acquaintanceship 1t might have
the desired effect of discouraging
his attentions-
She spent a busy afternoon see
w<z that the house was in such per-
ect order that even exacting Con-
would have no cause for COM
.-.aint. After a bit of difficulty. she
succeeded in rounding up Carts at
his club and extracting from him
a promise to be home promptly at
and to forego all stimulants in
the interval.
She even ordered flowers for
Comics sitting room, knowing full
well that Curtis would forget to do
so and brazenly contrived to have
one of his cards tucked into the
bouquet
Her work done, she looked about
the room with a sense of satisfac-
ton; the fire burning cheerfully in
the crate; the Gobelin blue dra-
psries at the windows. drawn to
shut out the chill afternoon; a low
couch filled with pillows, invitingly
Lose to the hearth; a golden-shad-
ed lamp above the cleaning ap-
pointrneats on Comics desk; and
the great mass of long-stemmed
roses exhaling their fragrance in
its warm air.
Comics daintiest negligee lay at
the foot of the couch and her satin
slippers toasted by the CRATE. The
tea wagon was there, ready tc
supply a warm cheering brew for
the Homecoming invalid.
Nancy experienced the comfort
ing glow of work well done. The
weeks. during which she had man
aged Comics household and taken
ConniC's place at the charity ba-
zaar, had not been easy. Moreover.
there had been the problem of Cur
tis-keeping track of him, enter
tanning his boisterouS friends act
ing as buffer between his loud jo-
Vitality and Oonnie's nervous sensI-
tive condition-had required every
ounce of her tact and concentrated
effort.
Added to this, was the ridiculous
story for which Peggy Lewis was
responsible-the story of sent.-
ment existing between her and Cur
tis
Well. it was over now, she de-
cided with a shrug. Connie woul1
be home again. She, Nancy, would
be free for a few days and then
she would go to the mountains with
Connie for a little rest. When she
returned, she could summon all her
courage and determination, eject
the Harding's from her apartment,
cut OF her acquaintance with the
disturbing Peggy and her erstwhile
husband. and settle down to await
Gerry's return.
But, even as she made her res"-
luton, there arose before her a
vision. not of Gerry, but of DR..
Langwell. smiling, complacenr,
compelling. with that curious mag
netism against which she had no
defense.
Here was a problem which she
cpuld not dispose of so easily. Here
rRs a factor, which could not be
Iesated to a place conveniently
4 mote in her scheme of life.
Desmond was cones Harding was
discouraged-but the doctor re-
manned. a disturbing and threat
ening figure.