Evening star., 1921-09-18
Hon. Billy stuck out his
long legs and stared at his
rather large. patent-shod feet

opposite him.
The man in the armchair opposite
was looking at Billy with eyes that
were not altogether friendly.
you'll have to marry a woman
with money, that's ALL" he said care
lessly, helping himself to another Gig
arctic from Billy's case, which lay on
the table between them.
Miss Eyed would have you any
day for the asking. and she's worth
a quarter of a million. 1t would oe
a BIT Of fat for you. my boy. WISH
I'd the chance" 49,.
The Hon Billy flushed. At that
letter lay in his breast pocket IRON
vi Challoner the woman upon whon
he had squandered his substance:
nicely worded letter. politely 1ntlmat
ing that she no longer had neeo Oh
The Hon. Billy brought his cienched
fist down with thump on his Dig
"Pl marry no woman for her ,ss
money" he said fiercely. Il may oe
a fool, but I'm not such cur as
that, Besides. I've done with wom-
The man in the deep chair looked
at his watch and hauled himself ia1-
.'Weil. you won't mind if I run
.way. will you? Promised to go to
dinner at the Challoners. So long
he said lightly.
and lounged out of the room
Instinct told the Hon. Billy that the
friendship between himself and Ralph
Furnivai was at an end.
He sat for a long time staring into
So Furnival was going to dine with
the Challoners! Billy could picture
the scene so well. vi Challoner ra,
diant and "ss;S1x ,aIk,ns II 1se Of Sm
and his downfall in the careless. cold
way in which he had heard her speak
of so many other poor devils.
Poor By He es e'qaa Ry almGss But heae he
always was so stupid with his money.
The Hon. Billy clenched his teeth
and swore in his heart that he was
not beaten yet
gone broke and survived 1t.
THE day should yet come when he
1 would show vi Challoner and
Furnival that his was not friend
ship to be lightly thrown aside. The
Hon. Billy thrust the pink. scented
note down in the flames. holding it
there with his foot till nothing was
left but powdered gray ash. He had
done with her-done with her. And
because Of her treatment OF him ne
had done with all women forever.
some one knocked softly at the door.
His man entered.
please, sir, a lady to- see you
The Hon. Billy turned round as
he had been shot
man went on almost resentfuiiy. but
she says as it's most important.
II can't see her." said the Hon
Billy snappily Il 8; cant i..snytb;ne see any Gns
"rve told her all that. sir. and she
says she will not go till she sees
you. u p;rv
He touched a switch by the mantei
shelf and flooded the room with light.
"Show her in," he growAed-
Billy's first impression was that tne
girl who entered was very young: MS
second that she was very beautiful.
far more beautiful even than vi Chai-
loner. whose portraits on post cards
adorned nearly every shop window
Good evening" she said
The Hon. Biliy bowed. but did not
move forward.
Interrupted: , ,
thing. if that Is what you think, and
7 don't want you to give me any
money" She paused, and added with
that little wavering smile: Il want
to give you some: DILL.
She laughed outright now:
'I know it sounds silly. ou'-may
I sit down." ,,,
He drew forward the chair which
Furnival had left. and the girl
The Hon. Billy stood looking down
at her with an air OF bewiidermsnni;
Are you engaged to be married.
The Hon. Billy stared.
"Oh. I say" he calculated at last
"of course. you think ! am out
of INV mind" she said cheerfully. but
indeed, I am mot. You see. II you're
not engaged I want you to De engaged
The last words tumbled over each
other peil-msIi; . flood of color dyed
ner :!whssi. nat shouted the Hon. Billy
Ths girl sat up suddenly uSd a.,a sravs at,;st,x
IT'S just this" she snda.9 SAID 9u'ef.y rm
bition is to get into society" She
spoke quickly now, not lookln9 AZ
him. II want to be some one: went
to one society woman and onereo 70
nav her II she would introduce me;
but her terms were exorbitant. and
besides. I'd rather you DID N. You
know everybody. you 10 everywhere,
and IL I'm engaged 10 you I shall De
asked too. sha'n't I?'
"How on earth began the Hon.
Billy blankly. who is going 10
chaperon us?''
Lady Mary" said the girl prompt
LADY Mary was the Hon. Billy
aunt. a woman who went everywhere
and knew every one: woman with
nassion for gambling, and VINO. IKE
the Hon. Billy. was just at present
broke! Ia, pu,v
declared. .Az,,.,.,v
we'll paid" said the giri. i've I've aiwaye h.rJ
b"t mt" r'ys We set money now. and my
chsnee has come. IL you Will neip
re" aho drew . long breath. well.
LII vo,, do it?' she demanded.
Thr Hon, Silly strode the length
~ the room aGitatedly, ana oack
Look here" he said abruptly: IT'S
not playing the game 70 o.,.oa" .ois. .na al
qtt.,,sss. utter ssssnsss nov is i.i Can't you see
how Impossible 1t is?"
No: nothing is impossible" she
sasa ;,:s sass evi's svery day Of the week. Do
Won mean to tell mo that no society
women are paid to ehePsron the
daughters Of rich nobodissi .at That .a,ao no