The Washington herald., 1922-11-19
(continusd from Page 14)

Mrs Waring paused by the half
suffered window, and dropping
into a chair smiled up at her COM
panion.
-"This is delightfulY she muir
INJURED. "No-don't bother about
getting me any tea yet. / don't
really want it, and I'd much rather
talk to- you've hardly seen any
thing of yorS nee Pvc been backw
Dan murmured something con-
ventional, and for moment there
was silence. As Mrs. Waring be-
gan to speak again, the red head
ON the black cushion stirred trifie
,restlessly.
"By the way" Brenda was say
ing. 81 haven't congratulated you
properly, yet-bave II
She stopped, and began sud-
denly to laugh. Dan looked at
her sharply, frowning, flushing,
and making little impatient
movement of his hand.
81 confess" he began rather
stiffly, "that fail to see any cause
for amusement.
I'm sorry. But it is just little
amusing, isn't it? The way you
Revells keep an eye to material
advantages, and snap up all the
luck that's going! It's awfully
clever of you, really. My dear
boy, don't look so angry! Miss
Hicks is quite charming of course
and | don't doubt for a moment
you'll be quite moderately happy,
especially as she's obviously head
over ears in love with you. But
it's hardly worth while trying to
keep up the pretense that you
share her affection with me-now
is it," .N
Dams lips had become
straight, rather grim line. Mrs.
Waring stirred trifle uncomfort-
ably beneath his regard, though
she kept her eyes on him in half
malicious smiling. From the couch
in the corner there came the faint
est possible stir. The red head
was no longer resting on the pill
low.
""Pretensew Dan spoke sharply;
Mrs. Waring stared again inn
q patiently.
"Oh, come, Dan! We may be
all ostriches, but we don't live per-
petually with our heads in the
sand. And I'm not more stupid
than most people! Of course it's
nothing-really-to do with me!
Only | can't help being amazed at
the blind trust you Revells man.
age to inspire in your-er-vic-
tins! Look at Fancy-that ro-
tund mass of amiabiiity who calls
himself her husband has set her
on a pedestal it would take an
earthquake to shake. He's quite
content to adore her-and to pay
for the privilege! And now you
have followed her example, All,
well. When we can't get the
moon we must be content with the
star that is nearest to it-eh, nv
friend? And after all, there are
always compensations where there
is plenty of money"
She paused deliberately, shrug-
ging. Then she drew a rather
sharp little breath, involuntarily
shrinking slightly among her cush-
ions. Dan had swung round upon
her, and his eyes had become mar
rowed to two hard points of steel.
49," he said affef 3 moment,
people are saying that, are
they?"
Mrs. Waring shrugged. 'Tt is
not so wonderful" she retorted.
"that they should say it-or think
it! You're certainly not going to
marry the girl for love, are you
any more than Fancy married Billy
Fanshawe because she cared for
him? Oh, come, Dan! For good
ness sake don't let's quarrel, /
didn't mean to make you so angry.
Let's talk of something else-and
forget it-and be friends"
She dropped a coaxing hand on
his arm, vaguely conscious that her
audacity had carried her just a
little too far. Dan flung off the
hand roughly and turned abruptly
on his heel.
"Friendsr'
He uttered the one word with
something OF such utter contempt
in his tone that Brenda Waring
flushed scarlet. For one instant,
breathless, furious, she stared after
him, then she sprang up. An in
slant later her hand was on his
arm again, clinging close this time,
and as he turned unwill;ngly to
face her, he saw that there was
more now than malice in her eyes
A moment she was silent, then,
very quietly she spoke.
81 don't want to descend to
mclodrama," she said smoothly,
"but really should advise you to
remember that I'm a safer friend
than-otherwise, Dan! 1t isn't
wise to make enemies of people
who-know too muchw
She spoke impulsively, defiantly.
Dan stared down at her for a mo-
ment in utter incomprehension.
Then his lip curled contemptu-
ously
al xl