The evening world., 1922-04-25
8lAobodyS lNlQEElzN
|>aNN by u PhIlps OppenheHimNSH%( % Y
She held out


her hand.
IL seem to have heard so much Of
you from my sister Jane,H she said.
You are neighbors in Devonshire.
aren't your"
point Of view," he answered. 81 live
halfway down precipice. and she
Ave miles away, at the back Of a
Stygian moor, and incidentally y.
thousand feet above me-"
you seem to have surmounted such
geographical obstacles"
Your sisters friendship it worth
greater efforts" Tallente replied.
Lady Alice smiled.
II wish that some Of you could per-
suade her to come TO town occasional
ly," she said. Jane is a perfec: dear.
Of course. and know she does q great
deal Of good down there, but 1 can't,
help thinking sometimes that she Is q
little wasted. Life must now and then
be dreary for her."
Tallente seemed for a moment to be
looking through the walls of the
room.
I'VE are all made differently. Lady
Jane is very self-reliant and Devon
shire is one of those counties which
have curiously strong local hold"
But when her moors and her
farms are under snow, and Wool
hanger is wreathed in mfsts. and one
hears nothing except the moaning OF
animals in distress, what about tho
local attraction thenT'
you speak feelingly," Tallente OBJ
served. smiling.
II spent a fortnight with Jane last
winter" she explained. "I had some
idea Of hunting. Never again! Only
miss Jane. She is such a dear and
/ don't see half enough Of her."
II saw her yesterday" Tallenta
said reminiscently. This morning
she told me she was going to ride out
TO inspect for herself the farm Of one
of the black sheep amongst her ten
ants. i looked out towards Wool
hanger as l came up in the train It
seemed like a miasma of driven
snow and mists."
Every one to his tastes" Lady
Alice observed. as she turned away
with a friendly little nod. 81 have
Just an idea. however, that this
mornings excursion was a little toe
much even for Jane
what do you mean2' Talents
asked eagerly.
Lady Alice looked at him over the
top of her fan. She was a woman Of
instinct
Il had a telegram from her Just be-
fore l came out, she said. "There
wasn't much In 1t. but 1t gave me an
idea that after all perhaps she Ia
thinking of a short visit to town.
Come and see me. Mr.. Tallente. won't
you? l live in Mount Street-Num-
ber II. My husband used to play
cricket with you. I think"
She passed on and Tallente stood
looking after her for a moment, little
dazed. A friend came up and took
him by the arm.
Unprotected and alone in the gid
ed halls Of the enemy!" the new
conner exclaimed. "Come and have q
drink. BY the by. you look as though
you'd had good news"
II have" Tallente assented, smii.
ing.
"Then we'll drink to it-Mum'TI.
Not bad stuff. This way" ts.
Tallente, for the first time in his
life, was dining a few evenings later
a. Dartrey's house In Chelsea, and he
looked forward with some curiosity to
this opportunity of studying his chief
under different auspices.
The house itself, situated In a Chel-
sea square of some repute. was small
and unostentatious. but was painted
a spotless white and possessed, even
k. N-tI a.. =
unassuming elegance. A trim maid
servant opened the door and ushered
him into a drawing room Of gray and
silver, with little faded blue in the
silks of the French chairs. There were
few flne-point etchings upon the
walls, a small grand piano in a cor
ner. and very little furniture, all
though the little there was was French
OF the best period. There were no
flowers and the atmosphere would
have been chilly but for the brightly
burning fire. Tallente was scarcely
surprised when Dartrey's entrance
alone indicated the fact that, as was
generally supposed, he was free from
family ties.
'T am a little early. I am afraid, %
Tailente remarked, az they shook
hands.
Admirably punctual," the other
replied. "I shall make no apologies
to you for my small party. have
asked only Miss Mall and Miller to
meet you-just the trio of us who
came to lure you out of your Devon-
shire paradise"
"Miller?" Tallente repeated. with
instant comprehension.
"Yes! was thinking, only the
other day. that you scarcely SEQ
enough of Miller"
"I see all that I want to-" Waz