Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-21

boring still under the agitation or which
O'Rourke had spoken?
AS he laid down the pack to take up
bis hand the door behind them opened
once more and a high pitched ripple OF
| laughter came to their ears with little
hysterical note running through It.
That stupid Gregory tried to keen
me out, Nickie-Oh ~ Mrs. Baillie Kip.
in an evening gown which displayed
her full blown form to perfection,
paused in seeming confusion on the
threshold.
the others rose and advanced quickly
toward her. This is an unexpected
pleasure: I-we-you-see--
''Tell him to let her stay!" McCarty
whispered in hasty aside to o. 'Rourke,
and passing Gutter bowed before her.
Good evening, Mrs. Kip. You've not
forgotten me?"
"Mr. McCarty." She laid an icy hand
in his for moment. II had no idea
that you were friend Of Mr.. Cutters,
nor that I was intruding upon a stag
affair. understood that Mrs. Waverly
would be here this evening and fancied
that some of the other ladies were con =
ing" -.
won't you stay. anyway" Cutter
drew away from O'Rourke and flashed
a strange glance at McCarty, who re.
turned it with an almost imperceptible
nod. This is quite an impromptu af-
fair or we should have telephoned to you
and Mrs. O'Rourke and the rest, but 1t
really doesn't matter. Choose one Of us
to chaperone you, and join us, do
"We-ell." Mrs. Kip flushed and
dropped her eyes. II wouldn't think Of
intrudiiig in the game, but IL you are
quite sure shall not be in the way,
might be persuaded to look on for a
little while. l know it is horribly un-
conventional, but l was bored to tears
at home.''
She came slowly forward and Cutter
presented Terhune, the inspector and
served that after greeting the Grimm
ologist her eyes passed swiftly to those
of the inspector as though seeming not
to see the man who stood between, and
she turned with unmistakable relief to
bow to Dennis, who was gaping at her
in fatuous admiration.
O'Rourke, at a gesture from McCarty,
had drawn a chair up behind his own
and to the right of that of the fireman,
= and he patted 1t invitingly.
4 Come and give me luck, Mrs. Kip
he begged. ~ won the first pot, but
that was because you were already al
|
Mrs. Kip smiled in acquiescence and
made laughing rejoinder, but she
seated herself with obvious reluctance
for she was directly across the table
, from Waverly and could no longer at
, tempt to avoid the gaze he bent upor
her. 1t was a curious miagling OF
warning and questioning and before il
her color ebbed, but she held her head
high.
The rest seated themselves and the
, game resumed. All passed until Dennis
was, reached. when that individual sud,
! denly became galvanized into life anG
, opened for three dollars. Cutter stayed
, and Inspector Druet and o 'Rourke. but
, , the rest dropped and McCarty sat bacl
; in his chair, studying the faces about
! the table.
O'Rourke seemed intent upon hi
cards, Mrs. Kip was looking down a
her tightly locked fingers, Dennis wa
> preoccupied and Cutter inscrutable
Terhune, too, leaned back with a de
tached, slightly bored air, Waverl!
chewed sullenly upon his unlighted ci
: gar and Inspector Druet moved rest
e lessly in his chair, while over all of then
!. nameless suspense brooded a tensit,
i as of relentless bands tightening abou
= them.
s 1t was slightly 'leavened when Den
i mis- with naive glee raked In the pot OF
o a bluff and proudly displayed his open
( ing pair of aces.
"Gad, I'm thirsty - Waverly ran
t fat finger around his collar as though 1
were choking him. 'Tell Gregory t
o get some water, will you. old MANI"
y The man servant was at his elbow fl
: an instant with a slender crystal CARAT
J, and glass upon mirror lined tray, ant
n ba n 81, "a
e them as he picked up the cards to deal
e Waverly drank deep and cleared hi
= throat, but his voice seemed thicke
g than ever as he addressed remark Il
v their host.
d McCarty looked down at the card
d in Inspector Druet's hands.
n odd design, aren't they?" Cutie
had followed his gaze from across tn,
g table. '"They We're made especially fo
:, n me in Austria some years ago, and
laid in good supply. l must have
, hundred or more fresh packs identica
to them lying around the house,
J. "I've never seen any just like them.
McCarty studied the grotesque patterl
e picked out in green and purple and golt
u upon the backs of those he held in hi
hand, and then raised his eyes to Cut
i ter's. '.They must have cost lot o
IS money!"
/, "I've forgotten. / believe I pal
= around twenty five dollars pack TO
t. them," the other responded absently
re you couldn't get them now at an
price, of course"
" "Think of that now!' marveled Nc
10 Carty. II lost hundred and sixty
le five dollars one night on trip fror
Kansas City to Milwaukee and the dec
= l played with only cost fifty cents
is HIf you'ce openinV, Mac, say tf