New Britain herald., 1922-08-16
How Allen Drake Contriyed to
 Get His Own Way.


 To all appearances Allen Drake had not moved a muscle since I had entered the room With his long wonlanish but undeniably beautiful eyelashes almost yelling his keen eyes, he stood erect, yet with the curi- ous effect of languid indolence which he always affects As l approaehed d him I had the eerie feeling Of one attempting conversation with a statue And for a long. rude second after I had greeted him he neither moved nor spoke.
 Then, Just as q curtain is drawn swiftly up from before a stage set ting, he lifted his eyelids and I saw q sardonic geam of mockery in his brilliant eyes.
 Your kindness is too overvhelna. |. ing, miladi," he drawled. T feel sut- located in so warm and fanboyant 9 welcome By the way, just in pass ing, as f were" he stressed the banal phrases, might l inquire if the fair and goodly youth opposite broke any bones in your hand when he c!asped il just now?"
 He made the outlandish inquiry with so unmoved face, so matter of-fact q manner, that involuntarily I took the bait and replied indignant ly:
 Why What do you mean?"
 An unholy mirth danced in his eyes for a second, then fled as he drawled his answer
 \ Hooking Conversation.
 t. feared the hand had been disabled but I see there must be some other reason for your penurious attitude concerning it. I trust that it is not"
 l interrupted him ruthlessly, for knew that he was capable of keeping up his nonsense indefinitely if it SO suited his nlocking mood, and l was psychically conscious of Lillian's amused eyes and of Tom Chesters wondering ones fixed upon me.
 If all this rignarole is because I haven't shaken hands with you"
 Marvellous penetration Wonder ful deduction :" he interrupted softly
 Til tell you now" went on as if had not heard him, although I was furiously conscious that the tell-tale color was creeping into my cheeks, that I really thought you were asleep when I spoke to you, and hated to startle you by offering you my hand"
 I'm awake now" he retorted sig nifcantly
 Very well" swept him a mock ing little curtsey, to make the be- lated handshake appear less conspic- uous, and held out my hand to him. I knew that if I did not, the teasing devil which looked from his eyes would never have given up its pur- pose to compel the handshake.
 't.As a Quoter-"
 If my father and Lillian had been the only persons present I would have made an issue of wills upon the trifing incident, so strong wa. the antagonism this particular lordly manner of Allen Drake's always rouses in me. But Tom Chester had never seen Mir. Drake before, and he was a stranger to our circle. It would be rudeness to guest to carry on SO silly a contest. Besides
 My introspection ended suddenly, | for Mir. Drake, instead of shaking my hand, drew 1t upward and bent his head toward it as if to kiss it in old world fashion. With an adroit twist I slipped it out of his grasp and left | him abruptly for Lillian's side. From this vantage point l saw him look quickly not at me, but at the face of young MT. Chester standing opposite, | and staring a him with something primitive, challenging in his gaze.
 That Lillian notced the oddly an tagonistic exchange of glances be- !! tween the polished man of the world | and the boyish young ex-soldier was sure, for she spoke quickly and decisively.
 Come folks, let's sit at the feet of !! Gamaliel," she bowed prettiy to my father, and get this business out of the way before Katie comes down. | Here, Allen stand at my right hand !