The Washington times., 1922-10-15
(coptinu,d Iron P.ss It)

tonie ooft o. warm wrap out 81
th1to, and look sharp about II
She,s half froSen There, there,
erY away; I RneGS TN do you good.
Vne o. YOU servants 90 and ind
some brandy. IT, Al right noVi
svefythlne,e al right now LADY,
bird, Lady Denning, telephone
for 4 doctor, and tell one Of the
women 70 get another room ready
! for Miss HeVoI|. Thanks n
he took the big fur coat, that
Bonny obedicntIy and quite me-
chemically handed him, threw Il
somewhat cIumsiIy over Fnncy,s
ehiveripe shoulders, and still keep
Ing bis arm about her and her
face hidden against him turned
her away from tie open door.
With his free hand ne gathered
the hnthrobe more closely about
him. He was serenely obliviOus
Of the quite ludicrouk figure that
he cut, his hair runpled about hig
bald crown, the rough tOWeling
revealing each ample curve Of Ms
tubby, yet singularIy bcylike and
supple person, and his unslippered
fest padding pinkly over the thick
Nor did Ii strike any one else Il
that moment that there was any-
thing unusual Or funnv q his, ap-
pearance. Lady Denning had
stopped crying and was giving or
derS quickly and decikiyely; Bonny
had already pulled the door of
Fnncy's bedroom 70 and locked IL
The servants were hurrying on I
their various err4nds; the group
Of bewildered guests had dispersed
to collect IN smaller groups IN
each others rooms and discuss the
situation.
When next Fancy was fully
aware Of what was going on about
her she was lying back ina deep
chair IN the comfortable smoking
room, Q rug about her feet, and
the blaze ora newly stirred fre
warming and softening the
How she had come there she did
not rightly know. Nor did she
care. Billy Fanshawe's arm was
still about her. A. at last she
stirred. checking the wild rush Of
her tears, she became aWare that
he was rubbing his cheek gently
against her throbbing temples
while he Inurmured to her, fool
isfly, monotonously, e. he might
have done to-a very little child.
Ass somewhat abruptly, she
withdrew herself from his hold
and began fumbling for . hand
kerchief q servant entered with
q tray on which there was brandy,
with little twolhandled cups Of
hastily heated soup.
Billy gave her his own hand
kerchief; then, pouring out Q
liqueur glass Of the brandy tipped
y into one Of the little steamins
cupe.
Drink Il slowly" he warned
her, and added cheerfullys
There's nothing like food and
drink to restore one to q normal
view Of things. ! defy any one to
Be really tragic on . well-lined
stomach r.
After q moments hesitation she
took the soup; then, as Fanshawe
turned In the direction Of the door
ehe set It down again on the edge
of the table, stretching out an
inpulsive, appealing hand.
HPlease"--she said on o caught
breath please don't leave me-
not vet. -
She broke OF, biting her lips.
She had begun TO trenible again,
and he took her fingers quickly
into his ample palm.
Fl won't be d minute,n he as-
sured her. "And I'm not going
further than the hall--to send q
telephone message. ] shall be
gone Just long enough 10 let my
soup cool. / want you 70 drink
yours while I am gone"
His CHEEKY voice was steadying,
quieting. Fancy withdrew her
hand, sighed and leaned back.
While she waited she sipped the
soup, scarcely aware that she was
doing %. But Il sent glow
through her chilled body; q faint
color came back into her cheeks
and lips, and her little pointed
face grew less tense and haggard.
But -she watched the door with
eyes that still were strained and
overbright. Presently she set
down her cup and began tapping
her fingers festlessly, nonotonous-
lyon either arm Of her chair.
She would not allow herself TO
think. She dared not. She was
afraid alike Of what was past, and
Of what was yet to come. There
was something Of the desperation,
Of d cornered animal IN her soul.
She felt sick ct heart, and intoler-
ably lonely.
Il seemed TO her, waiting there,
that Billy Fanshawe had been
gone . very long time. Presently
she heard the sound Of opening
doors. az steps, and then Of voices.
She paused IN her tapping to
listen, her lips little apart,
niingiing Of dread and eagerness.