The Washington herald., 1922-02-02

nOUng again Inc tnlE fringe OF
hair on the bald head. the shrewd
malicious little eyes. the prom
inent teeth that made him look
like an inquisitive squirrel,
Are you never happy. Mr.. North,
unless you're stirring up discord?"
He laughed good humoredly.
1T amuses me to watch the an
ties of the worlds puppets" he
replied easily.
Jeanne said nothing. She was
wishing the taxi would make swift
progress to the club where she
could drop this obnoxious person.
Have you any relatives In
Iowa." he startled her by asking
suddenly.
Certainly not" she retorted
sharply. What made you ask"
Obnoxious Relatives.
"Oh, nothing. Isdle Curiosity per-
haps. l think you said that chap
who brought you to the Evans din
ner had something to do with your
property out West-Iowa, WASN'T
it?"
Il can't recall ever saying So"
Perhaps it was Mrs. Parkin-
son who told me. She rather liked
him, I believe"
Jeanne made no reply though she
was eager to draw him out further.
to find out what had prompted him
to that question about her Iowa
connections.
Curious coincidence" he went on,
drawlinGly, after a minute. During
the war, when Pullmans were
I
day coach all one way through
Iowa. Beastly country, Ny seat
mate was a funny old character.
| Quite a native son, you know. Had
his lunch in chip basket and heav
ems. how it rocked with the scent of
limburGer. He was a garrulous old
| duck and insisted on entertaining
me with the story of his life and
telling me the age, names and quail
| itlcatiOns of his offspring"
Jeanne felt a sickening Fremont
ton.
Said his name was Dare, or his
vlfe's name was-can't recall Rath
er proud of it. Must be quite a
family! North was drawing.
Toasted about a beautiful niece,
| recall. First thing 1 thought of
when l saw you and heard about
! your Western rancn."
Uncle Charlie" thought Jeanne.
She realized that North was eyeing
her keenly.
| I have no living relatives" she
shrugged with a well-feigned air
OF indifference. II was sent abroad
| to be educated when my last relative
ton"
North looked disappointed.
Quaint old character. the fellow
with the cheese" he persisted. Good
old Middle West stock"
The Family Tree.
Jeanne smothered a yawn obvious
~. She indicated that she was fear
luIIy bored. But she was inwardly
disturbed. 1t was patent that North
old not accept her at her own vaIua-
| ton as did the rest of her set
you're really interested in nv
lamIIy tree, you will find a fully
detailed account Of it in this weeks
Iown Topics she told him careless
/ ~. Here We are at your club. So
glad to have seen you. Au reyoir"
lie climbed out of the cab and bent
low over her hand.
Ihanks for the lift, fair lady.
The more 1 look at you, the more
l envy young Vic"
She controlled her Impotence long
enough TO bid him a serene fare
well. He waved his hat. and disap-
peared into the club entrance and
the cab drove on to Jeanne's hotel
bearing a much exasperatcd young
woman.
She loathcd sclby North, She
mated Candy! Vic was the only de-
told herself.
She knew quite well that North
suspected her social antecedcnts and
the wealth TO which she seemed. nv
i s.er hlode OF living, to have access.
Sne wondered why she could So
cieverly dupe the rest ana fail to cot
away with her elaborate fabrjca-
ton with linn.
b"nnirctu was waiting for her
when she arrived at the boteI Sbo
detained him fifteen minutes Iongcr
while she changed her gown. but
when she came down to the res
taurant where they were having
thelr tea at n table by the window
oNeriooklns the avenue. she bore no
trace of her earlier vexation.
'i'iihiSt ndu Drought her an
engagement gift. 1t was a wonder
fully wrought little jewel cabinet
with secret sliding panel,
Jeanne exclaimed with delight
over it. Secretly she smiled to
realize that the Jewels which
adorned it were worth a hundred
times the amount of the poor
oaubles she had to put in it,
Soul Kindred.
1T belong to the Borgias," ex-
planned Bonnicetti. "T bring IL
from Venice and 1 give it to you,
Signorina. because you are beauti-
ful' and you make me think of the
Borgia women"
Jeanne laughed and gave a mock
shudder.
Isn't that rather a dubious COM
pliment. Signorr'
He spread out expressive hands
You are beautiful, YES. Yop
look soft and innocent and guile
less like a baby. But underneath.
! feel that fierce will. that flame
of passion. Oh you do not know II
yet" he went on as she would have
interrupted. put it is there. If the
time ever comes; Signorina, you
viii sweep all obstacles. all people
all things. out of your way before
that grand desire.'A
How well he had read her. Jeanne
thought!
She looked about the fashionable
tea room: her glance went to the
avenue outside where smart equip
ages sped through the rain She
looked at the great virtuoso op-