The Washington times., 1922-08-26
BY Ann Lisle,
Whose Present Serial Has Scored
y q Big Popular Success.

a Big Popular Success.
Copyright. 1922. by King Features
Syndicate, Inc.)
A s she called Dad Lee by his
"a full name. Rosa Cordova
"A laughed with malice that
didn't try to masquerade as any
thing else. The fact that he has
come back to town stunned me.
sat inert and silent until Rosa
forced me to speak.
You are not very proud Of
your father?" she smiled with
half-shut eyes.
1.-THE woman who would deny
her father isn't worth much"
replied
Even to myself I sounded like
copybook maxim. The fact
that Jim doesn't know Of Dad
Lee made 1t imperative that
should not commit myself in any
way.
"a woman might try to deny
her father II he is not worth
much" smiled Rosa so knowingly
that I felt convinced she had met
Dad Lee.
"win you please speak more
plainly?" I asked quietly.
What is there for me to
deny?" said almost converse
tionally.
you don't deny'" she de-
manded.
The more she tried to play with
my feelings, as a cat does with
mouse, the more felt called upon
to meet her with the weapon OF
seeming suavity and imperturo-
ability.
you are cIever!' she burst
out suddenly. 1-how you say
always take off my hat to clever
ness-me, Rosa Vordova."
Thank you" I said holding
myself in leash. -.
THAT was clever. too. 1t 10
nice to have II recognized that
one is a conocedor-a good Judge.
give you a compliment. 1 say
you are clever. You do not deny
Helas! We go down to the busi-
ness for which we are met now.
Shall tell you my story from
the beginnings"
Your story interests me
strangely" l laughed. trying to
find my mental equilibrium by
pitching things in lighter vein.
II am not, as you know. much
alone. Mornings good Pat drives
me to the office Of Jaime. There
I have my hours with you and
the charming Mabel. the reliable
Mabel of whose fine record In
Tampico shall some day per-
haps tell you more"
"Waitv' I cried. II know Ma
bells side of the Tampico story.
believe her version is correct"
You doubt me, then?" demand
ed Rosa, interrupting with icy hau'
teur.
II do not doubt you in the least.
I doubt your informants. never
place my faith in circumstantial
evidence. Some day a proud and
foolish girl will tell you her side OF
the affair which cost her poor OLD
uncle's peace of mind, and life IT.
self. I have no right to say more.
please go on. i had to inter
rupt am sorry" / explained.
AFTER all, my personal interest
would naturally be in what you
have to reveal"
You confess It? Then l go on.
As I say, / am not often alone
For lunch, for the tea, l have al
ways the appointment. You can
guess. perhaps, how 1t Ia when
woman she Is attractive.
Yesterday when I am on my
way to the station, there comes up
10 me a funny little old man.
Then I think me, he may have
message. He may be SENT
She looked at me with eyes that
- words lashed across my raw feel
ings. / tried for calmness. But as
I thought Of Virginia, to whom
was so newly reconciled, had a
terrible moment. 1 felt that all I
5 am trying to build in readiness for
Jim's Homecoming was threatened
by this gay little creature who was
probing my feelings so mercilessly.
/ set my lips a bit tighter and kept
myself taut that might not ruin
- everything by letting her read my
fevered thoughts.
IT never think Of this man in
connection with the Harrison fam
ily." Rosa continued. II never
even think Of him in connection
with you. But his first words tell
me who he Is. He comes-how you
say?-shambling along after me
like the blind beggar OF the cathe-
dral who asks aims. He calls me
Lady and ask do not know him
70 by the resemblance to you. I ask
whv should, and he say because
he Is your father. And he say that
perhaps ! have a message for Dad
Lee
IT feel that he speaks true.
ask what mesaaae I should have
and he say he can tell me better
II we are not on the street. I do
not care to 60 to a hotel or into
my station with him. take me
q taxi and give him ten minutes
all have before the train. He