The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-01
ClAiRE'S PARTY
CHAPTER 08


Claire picked up the receiver and
mechanically said Hello into the tele-
phone
'Hello--nello, Claire,"
"Yes?"
is that meek tone yours? Darlin
what's wrong with your voice, you
haven't gone and lost it-and the new
show coming on in no timer"
No, I'm all right, Maisie What is
~it?"
Maisie Mcmahon was a grey eyed
JeWess, originally from New York's
east side. who, in common with prize
nghters and other people before the
public, had found great value in adopt
ing an Irish name.
Maisie went on
"Dearie I'm in booth at the Moulin
Rouge. We've just come in for bite
TO eat, some of us-the regular bunch
and dearie, there, large as life and
not half as handsome, is our old friend,
Clarke
Claire's eyes widened. She hoped
Luther could not hear Maisie's rather
strident voice. She pressed the receiv-
er closer against her ear, and on pre-
tense of sitting down, carried the
phone over the room and perched her
self on the arm of a distant chair.
"Well?" she asked, not committing
herself
Well" Maisie echoed impatiently
Come along. Jim's been neglecting
the crowd-he's got a kid with him
never saw before. Dressed awfully
plain and looks like butter would melt
in her mouth. Laughs lot at things
here-I can't make her out, she may
be country cousin
Claire knew in flash who it was.
"Dearie," insisted Maisie," aren't you
coming?" In that blue dress you'd cut
her out in no time. You aren't going
to lose Jim to little thing that hash t
sense enough to marcel her hair, are
you?"
Claires brain was working rapidly.
To gain time to think she said:
But I'm not dressed. | wore my old
satin to the theatre"
"Oh, come on. You can change in
three minutes. If you haven't man,
we've got an extra one along tonight y
Il had intended to stay home quiet
ly, I've been running around so
much" this was pure affectation,
Claire had not been out a great deal
since Jim's departure.
More protests from Maisie, loud
voiced, slangy, affection. protestations.
"All right, I'll come" said Claire,
whose plan was now perfected.
She turned. smiling to Luther.
It's a party | promised to so to
some time ago, and forgot about she
fibbed. You know them, Loo, Maisie
and Ted and Mark and Floss and an
other man"
Il don't want to keep you from any
parties" Luther's voice was chilly.
mo, no, | want you to come" She
crossed to him, slipping her hands un-
der his coat and UP to his shoulders
her nose tucked away in his tie. II
was an odd little trick she used when
she wanted to coax, it made her lean
closely against him and made her seem
very small and appealing.
Loo, darling" she went on, come
on out on a party | haven't been to
one for ages" Swiftly she changed
tactics as better plan came to her
Loo, I'd rather stay home and talk
to you. But if we talk-well, about
everything that's past. we just might
begin to argue-she lifted her face tc
be kissed, land I don't want to argue
on our first evening together Be
sides | promised. Loo"
Laughing, she drew away from him
They think we've parted forever-anC
we'll walk in on them as calmly a:
though we'd never separated at all"
"Then-it is all right" Luther haC
not been sure
Claire's hands were in his, she wa:
smiling up at him.
Il love you so much / never can re
sist you!" Had Luther been less il
love himself, he might have doubted
this statement. but Claire's smilin!
eyes held him, and he wasn't thinkin!
anyway
"Cohe along" he laughed, and caugh
her again to kiss her.
In a moment. Phone for taxi
and Claire ran out of the room lightly
In no time at all she was bacl
again. in the clinging, cleaning blu
sequin dress that Mrs. Talbot remem