Evening star., 1921-09-05
Continued from Yesterdays Star.)


The latter glanced at him in sur
prise. but obeyed without comment,
his eyes wandering to the others as
they took their places Dennis Rior-
dan marched to the chair Rt his other
side, next to that of Cutter. while
Terhune in turn seated himself on
Cutters left and Inspector Druet on
cant chair between himself and the
criminologist. Waverly looked about
him, shrugged and, pulling out the
chair. dropped into it. AS he did so
his face twitched for an instant and
his hand went again to his heart.
'Ten-dollar limit, gentlemen" Cut
ter raised his eyes. rs that agree
able?"
Dennis shot an agonized glance at
McCarty, but met with an answering
one which made him quail and add a
hurried assent to those of the rest.
The game began. 1t went slowly at
! first, O'Rourke taking the first jack
pot on three queens, with two of
| which he had opened.
McCarty eyed Waverly curiously as
the latter fumbled clumsily with the
cards in dealing; the fat man was
| breathing heavily and his voice had
| seemed thicker than on their first
! meeting. Had he fortified himself for
| the evening by an overindulgent in
curSion into his private stock, or was
| he laboring still under the agitation
| Of which O'Rourke had spoken?
AS he laid down the pack to take
up his hand the door behind him
| opened once more and high pitched
| ripple of laughter came to their ears
with a little hysterical note running
| through it.
That stupid Gregory tried to keep
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.
Mrs. Kip" Cutter left his place as
| the others rose and advanced quickly
toward her. This is is an an unexpected
! Tell him to let her stay!" McCarty
whispered in hasty aside tc
| ORourke. and passing Cutter bowed
before her.
Good evening, Mrs. Kip. You've
"Mr McCarty." She laid an icy
hand in his for moment. Il had no
| idea that you were a friend of Mr..
! Cutters. nor that I was intruding
| upon stag affair. l understood that
| evening and 1 fancied that some of
| the other ladies were coming"
| Wont you stay. anyway" Cutter
| drew away from O'Rourke and flashed
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 it really doesn't matter. Choose
one of us to chaperone you. and join
US, do
| "We-ell" Mrs: Kip flushed and
dropped her eyes. Il wouldn't think
of intruding in the game, but if you
! are quite sure l shall not be in the
way. 1 might be persuaded to look
on for little while. l know it is
horribly unconventional, but 1 was
| bored to tears at home"
| She came slowly forward and Cut
ter presented Terhune. the inspector
and Denis Riordan in turn. McCarty
criminologist her eyes passed swiftly
to those of the inspector as though
! seeming not to see the man who stood
between, and she turned with un-
mistakable relief to bow to Dennis
who was gaping at her in fatuous
| admiration.
O'Rourke, at gesture from Nc
| Carty, had drawn a chair up behind
his own and to the right of that OF
the fireman, and he patted it invit.
ingly.
he begged, II won the first pot, but
that was because you were already
| almost here, l am convinced of it,
Mrs. Kip smiled in acquiescence and
made a laughing rejoinder. but she
l
tance, for she was directly across the
! table from Waverly and could nc
| longer attempt to avoid the gaze he
! bent upon her. 1t was curiou:
mingling of warning and questioning
and before it her color ebbed. but
she held her head high.
The rest seated themselves and th'
game resumed. All passed until Den
mis- was reached, when that individua
suddenly became galvanized into lif'
and opened for three dollars. Cutte'
stayed, and Inspector Druet ant
IO'Rourke, but the rest dropped ans
McCarty sat back in his chair. study
ing the faces about the table.
| O'Rourke seemed intent upon hi
cards, Mrs. Kip was looking down a
iher tightly locked fingers. Dennis
was preoccupied and Cutter inscruta
BILE; Terhune, too, leaned back will
detached, slightly bored air. Wav
erly chewed sullenly upon his un
lighted cigar and Inspector Drue
moved restlessly in his chair. Will
over all of them a nameless suspens
brooded. a tensity as of relentles
bands tightening about them.
1t was slightly leavened when Den
mis- with naive glee raked >in the po
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