The Washington herald., 1922-01-01

Not in the least" Jeanne assured
her. I'm not dining until s, ana
an hour is more than enough time
70 dress"
Lucky girlr' Mrs. Parkinson se-
iected bon bon from the tray NJ
ner elbow. That's the joy of be-
ing xonngr"
Jeanne raised inquiring browa
sne nnng herself full length in
e cushions OF the chaise IonVu.
anu Grew a Ions. weary sigh.
Oh' I'm no chiekeni I don't pr.-
tend TO be. All, my set know iu.,
how many years AdeIe ParEtnson
has been on the carpet. ana non.
OF the women fail 70 inform each
new addition 20 our circle. psrticp-
larry IL IL happens TO be mai.
She cbuclied softly.
Z i hate women--alI except . ,.-
leet few who play the game a.
play it-right over the board a,
men DO. 4 have utter oontempt fo,
womenS weapons; fnnusndo. so,-
sip. knife In ths bach. ana coo,ns
swsstness faos 90 facs- Fsurhi
They ennk tAsy set away win it
jeanne suf1s1 sneeurassnent
NOV, like your" said Mrs.
Parkinson frankly. curing up com
fortabiy IN the cushions. 7 told
DICK 90. You'd think shouldn't.
wouldn't your Dick. you see. was
rather devoted 20 me once. Its
easy 10 see where his interest lies
now"
Jeanne nurmured something that
sounded like denial.
Don't bother" advised the young
widow. It's sporting OF you 10
want TO deny something inclined 10
make me feel passe- But / like Won
better when you're truthful You
and i, my dear" she leaned forward
and placed q 3eweIied hand or
| Jesnnes arm. ARE birds of a feath-
er. Were both out after something.
and. unless I've sadly missed my
guess, it's q rich husband"
Jeanne was startled was her
role as obvious as that1
Mrs. Parkinson smiled kindly
With Jeanne. she hsd dropped ell
affectations OF speech and manner.
She looked merely like a nice
American girl. . little past the first
| radiance Of youth. who clothed her
self In eccentr1cittes Of fashioun,
and had a good-humored laugh At
herself while she did t.
You don't have TO commit your
self by Affirmation or denial" che
went on easily. Don't trust me-
You don't know what sort Of q
game i may be playing. Don't tsust
anyone In this rotten town. I
mean that from my heart when I
say IL. And above all. don't be de-
ceived by the purpose OF my friend
illness. It's true that I like you, but
it's equally true that ! fear you.
As an adversary you would be pow d
erfuL The part OF discretion. thero
fore. is 20 come over TO the csmp
OF the enemy"
and reached out for another bon O., o.
which she tossed 20 the Peke.
/ Jeanne was fairly gaspinC. Mr.
Parkinson's frznkness was disarr o.
ing. She was torn between a d.
sire 10 confess the full extent 60.
her ambition, and a feeling th.'
she ought TO make q compreher-
sive and sweeping denial
In the end. she compromised hs
extending her hand with q charm
; ing smile
Whatever the odds and wha -
. ever the game. let's be go" {.
> friends" she suggested.
> But her eyes we're inscrutsblr
, They wore the same expressiCI
, with which she had been won't &C.
, greet the incesssnt questionings uf
, Aunt Emily and her friend. MI
y Jones. They were polite, Interest
y ed. but they told nothing.
y Jeanne was not yet ready @
y trust Adele Parkinson. But slr
wanted her as a friend. In that
, capacity. the young widow would
: be invaluable. Hitherto. Jeanne
8 had had to depend largely on mag
q azines. the advice of ssleswomen,
personal observation. for the seleC-
. ton OF her gowns. her entertain
e ments. the consciousness OF doinc
Z the right thing. Association with
Mrs. Parkinson would relieve hr1
y OF the necessity OF such subter.
fuges. II would also open to her
the doors OF new acouaintanceships
whose latchstrings were not con.
trolled by Candy.
7 must go now" Adele gathered
up her dog. I'm dining with the
e Forbes tonight-you're coming 10
= their house warming Friday. sren I
. you-and I'm not - fortunate as
you; have 70 spend hours at my
dressing table before I'll do. See
you there Friday IL We don't run
across each other before that. IA
- revoir"
Jeanne closed the door after her
last guest and went into her bed
/. room. She was a trife tired. aud
$ the thought OF the long evenin.
that stretched before her was not
: lconsoling. There would be 10
e eligible men at the party to which
Z she was going. And even il ther.
a were, had she not already picked
e Victor Barstowe as her victim
: Still. IL might be well to have mors
e than one string 90 her bow.
b Presently the maid came to d.
her hair for the evening and put
her into her dinner gown.
"A massage first, / think tonight
directed Jeanne. 1T will be restfu
perhaps"
Madame entertained this after,
? noon. n'est-ce pas: ze great Sisnor
Bonnicelli play"
Z Jeanne nodded wearily with close
eyes, as she lay on the couch. H.
head tilted back under the DEITY
I massaging fingers OF the maid.
The telephone rang. The girl an
swered IL. and extended the instru-
ment silently to Jeanne.
Il say" IL was BarStowe's voice
J you didn't think I could manage f.
did you? I've got that invita- ton "a
: the Forbes house warming And, besl
luck Of all. III be an odd man. 80
can choose INV efrlfs