Evening star., 1921-10-30

You smoke, of course" said Tully.
onering q cigarette case. .
never have. But I think tonight I'd
like to begin. They say it's SO sooth-
ing" Whereupon she smoked one.
and thereafter several additional
cigarettes. with q savoir faire that
did not smoke. Nathalie did not talk
much.
Some time after midnight Nathalie,
unable to sleep. arose and dressed.
going out of her room to the veranda.
On all sides mountain peaks hulked
into the night with Its close white
stars and that silence Of vast noun
tain spaces. 1t was as though the
girl were a part of it all. So still
mood. that Tully's voice came to her
from around the corner of the house
as as. though from another world. She
I'm sort Of a queer chap" he WAS
saying.
She didn't hear Miss Danes reply.
"Oh. I really am." he went on. Live
pretty much alone out here. Go east
IN the summer. but here's the place l
hard for Hester Dane" He paused
again. Il mean. Of course. in the
out she meant more to me than any
Rlri nao known in the flesh. l sup
pose I'm talking like a fool"
NO. you're not. Mr.. Tully."
You don't mind my saying that it
wasn't your baby-dol1 stuff I cared
for? You see. I'm frank. And the
social stun didn't stand out"
asperfty in Hester's voice.
Well. your scenes in action: your
sweep, your horsemanship. your poise
In the welter Of action. There was a
girl Tor you! In my room 1 have two
portraits; one Is of Hester Dane in
Hester Dane in-well, in just the
clothes you are wearing now"
How interesting!"
isn't 1t! Time and again I've stood
| IN 'front.' or those two portraits, the
one in evening gown. full-face. the
| other with head turned so that you
could only see the fine line of neck
and chin: 1t was enough. the poise
satirical about the ballroom portrait,
but in the other I had faith. What
1 want to know is thfs: which is the
real Hester Dane?"
Hester Danes peal Of laughter had
This is serious" Tully spoke with
grim patience. 1.-TWO months ago
wrote you letter asking you that
question. You never answered it."
If 1 answered all the letters ! got!
l
"All right. answer now. Which is
| the real your
"oh. you! How should I know"
| will you give me the opportunity
Of knowing you better SO that ! can
interest me 80 much"
Il am going to New York next
week. III send you my card Love to
have you come around when you're
| east-except l may be married. then.
4
have been bothering me to death. one
pretty old. the other young. Both
rich, of course. What shall 1 do? Do
you. want me to watt. just because
DO you love either?"
What Is love? Name it. What's
that got to do with it. anyway"
There was another pause.
at length: His voice changed. Tell
me something about that girl. Miss
Bell. She seems rather a corker.'
"Oh. Nat Bell. She's one Of the sort
you see hanging around movie
company; Seen better days. Don't
Nathalie Bell had sprung to her
feet when from the valley below
three ] zane Startling fn.fa fasi1ade hv o,
many Of the buildings below broke
suddenly into flames.
Tully and Nathalie almost collided
Il The .nn mans nG'f face sUs was set. set 'e ''Se
"Those Mexican devils have jumped
the camp" he said. They're licking
lus. See, the battle is coming up the
trail. Well have to get out OF here"
1t was a running statement which
led into the hall, into closet. into
which Tully dipped, throwing out
rifles. revolvers and belts filled with
ammunition.
Hanes and Sheridan. half dressed,
were in the hall. Hester Dane stood
faltering in the doorway. Nathalie,
who had picked up bandolier OF
rife cartridges from the floor was ad-
tusting it shout 1,, her sh1u,deT' shoulder .. ,.r
admiringly. You chaps grab guns
and put on these belts. Come on
hurry" o ~ .o;n9., Hester
through the transom: sending
! shower of glass about her. >.
up the trail. Follow me. We can't
defend this place-too easily sur
rounded and burned" He seized the
shrinking girl by the arm and half leo, Lee
Two of the mine guards came up the
trail, firing as they retreated, just as
the party from the house came down
They've scattered the rest Of us
said one of the guards to Tully:
Don't know how many they've Killed
All right. Go on up to the shaft.
You fellows keep firing. Wen save
0 II can't walk one bit further" cried
Hester Dane Historically. IT know
rye been shot They say you some,
times can't feel it until you drop de-, dead
or something" She sat IN nt..tns, .ns 'Ii ,s,, !.
without a word Tully turned back
handed his rifle to Nathalie. and slung
the actress over his shoulder.
5y r. the on: se,t up tn f tss foi,o@ sa.s you
But Nathalie Boil seised him by
Inc you % can't do that. Mr.. rully
, They're gaining on US every second
Give her to me-"
Il +
NATHALIE literally pulled the girl
~ to the ground. shaking her until
. the stars teeth ratified and her curls
straiRhtened out over her head.
you'll walk-do you understand
said Nathalie In a low voice. You'll
walk, you disgusting little coward
or we'll leave you here for these
. iMexicans to handle.
Il And the actress. cowed and fright
i ened, turned and Ned up the trail az
nathalie released her with push
like q panic-stricken wrath OF the
night: =. 8. ru,,v said coo,ly, well
have to fight back bit to cover the
retreat. We've lost too much time