The Washington herald., 1922-11-03
continned from Yesterdny.


lips smiling at young girl by her
side, sat Claudine Crayne. As she
listened to the chatter OF the girl
and studied the faces OF the players
ner mind was trifiing with her own
content. Things had been going
well lately. This spacious. richly
fitted house-the largest in Cornish
Terrace, Westminster was hers;
an ever increasing balance at the
bank was hers: cars and horses and
servants were all hers. CI1udine's
soul stretched itself. catlike, in this
dollhouse of prosperity. barring
:eeth and claws for one flashing
Instant. then sank IuNuriously TO
rest again.
MY dear Lady Nan" she MUIR
nured to the girl. society
debutante with p small measure of
beauty and an even smaller one of
brains. you surely see that it IS
every woman's duty to make the
hest of herself"
But ! have so little tn make the
best Of" simpered Lady Nan. Now
,or you. dear Miss Crayne. with
your lovely. lovely hair and those
wonderful eyes. for you 1t is so
different"
The wonderful eyes-=ray-green
in colOr-fiecked curiOusly with
orown-turned indolently toward
her. The carmined lips were still
:urving in that half-smile for
which Claudine Crayne was famous,
but behind their honey lurke ed
amused contempt. Not thus did
women lure her into confessing
that she owed her hair of richest
chestnut. her finely marked eye
brows. her dead white skin, more
to art than nature. There was a
heavy price to pay before Claudlne.
hat inscrutabIc siren of no age.
no nationality, no past or future.
would share a weapon with an
other. and that other a woman.
And this little fool thought a hint
would bring the condolences tumbl-
ing about her ears
You look so tagged she
drawled. sleep is a splendid tonic,
I have heard; personally I do not
need it. Why not try it,"
with a trailing Of moonlight dra-
Peries and gay little gesture of
Ter silver fan CIaudine rose and
wandered into the front room.
People were leaving. and she stood
for moment or two by the door.
smiling her farewells. A curious
watchfuiness was in her eyes. 1t
luickened perceptibly when pres
emily. edsing his way into the room
against the outgoing stream. came
Theed the solicitor.
She nodded a careless greeting.
end then pretended to ignore him.
EGt the green Of her eyes hao
de"pened till they giowed.
Thred made no pretense of Join
ing the play, but seated himself
on one Of the divans and whiIer
away the time by giving advice
"f II spiritual nature 1" dOwaGer
duchess who knew that she ought
not To- he there.
Vt the end Of half an hour
Claudine saw the last Of her guests
off the premises. She told the two
burIy men-serVants that they coukl
80 to bed. then drew Theed to the
alcove wher" she had effectively
snubbed Lady Nan.
The huge. disordered rooms. dim
with lowered lights and shuttered
windows. struck a strange note of
desolation. Even "Mam'seIIe "
vanished. Claudine. looking round
her. shivered as il with cold and
drew an ermine wrap over her bare
shoulder
Then. meeting Theed's soulless
gaze. she rallied.
Well she demanded. seating
herself beside him on the divan.
Light my cigarette for me and tell
him. of coursee. or you would not
be here"
My news. dear lady, is con-
tanned in nutshell. Henry
JarrOman-has no interest whatso-
ever in your movements. your mode
Of life. nor, I fear. IN your well be-
ing. IL l may say without hurt
ing your feelings. he was not in
terested enough to inquire whether
you were alive or dead. He has in
structed me to make a will in his
daughters favor. and-that is all
there Is to tell''
For moment Claudine was
silent. Relief, resentment. curiosity
flashed across her mind like lizards
in flight. Hot on their trial came
q cynical distrust.
"Theed. my friend. you are a
man who loves his bed. You did
not come here at . o'clock in the
morning for the express purpose
of setting my mind at rest"
The watery eyest OF the solicitor
now sentimental. now fishlike. were
turned on the woman by his side
Il thought to save you from false
hopes of stepping into his for
tune--as his wife" The last words
had a meaning stress.
You mean you've got a stunt
demanded Claudine bluntly.
HE instructed me to make a will
in favor of his daughter" repeated
Theed. "and further to find his
daughter with all possible speed. -
Claudine WINGED.
Did he-did he suggest that YOU
should apply to me for her where
abouts?''
The eyes were exceedingly fish,
like-cOld and Shiny as the depths
of the ocean-as the solicitor made
answer:
He knows that you abandoned
her at the time Of the trial. He
simply counts YOU out as far as
she Is concerned"