Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-10-27
CHAPTER CONTINUED.

P
Take the gentleman's bag to the
blue room, Sexton" she said calmly,
land then lay out his evening clothes"
"Yes, miss"
Il will be in the hall when you come
down, Captain, but there is no hurry"
West followed the servant up the
softly carpeted stairs, finding the
apartment assigned him not only ex-
tremely comfortable, but even elegant
in its furnishing Evidently he was in
a home of wealth and refinement. Who
could this strange girl be? this Ma
talie Coolidge? And what could she
possibly desire of him? He stood inn
mersed in these thoughts, when Sexton
spoke.
"Shall I assist you. STRIP
mo; it will not be necessary. What
Is the hour for dinner?"
"Seven o'clock, sir"
II have ample time, then. That will
be ALL"
The man retired nOiselessly, closing
slowly to dress, rather amused at the
care he took, that all details should
be as correct as possible. Unquestion-
ably the girl interested him oddly,
He endeavored to analyze what con-
stituted her peculiar attractiveness,
but without arriving at any definite
conclusion. She was young, of course,
and undeniably pretty, with eyes really
remarkable, and smile not to be
easily forgotten. Then she was so
self-poised, so confident of herself, so
naturally informed. All these things
had their charm, and, coupled with
her undoubted beauty, left his brain
In whirl.
He was satisfactorily dressed at
last, and descended the broad stairs,
conscious of a thrill Of expectancy;
nor was heSdoomed to disappointment.
Miss Coolidge met him in the dimly
lighted vacancy of the hall with smil-
Ing eyes Of welcome. She was in eve
ming dress, creamy satin, revealing
white shoulders, and rounded, beauti-
fully nodded arms, visible beneath
folds of filmy lace. If he had dreamed
the girl attractive before in the plain
ness of street costume, he now beheld
I'm her a new vision of loneliness. His
heart throbbed at the sight, every
nerve tingling to the intimate tones
of her voice She was apparently In
the highest spirits, eager to overstep
all conventionality.
again you please me-" she said,
surveying him critically. Really this
IS too much, the wonderful way in
which you meet every test"
"You mean in clothes?"
'In everything, so far Clothes
yes; do they not reveal the very soul
of a man? l hardly think I could
ever have forgiven If you had come
down not looking the part you are to
play"
"Nor could / have forgiven myself.
II I am to enjoy the pleasure OF tax
ing you in to dinner"
''That privilege Is yours even with
out the asking. But" quizzically, and
glancing up frankly into his eyes,
>"You may not care when the time
comes. For the great test arrives first.
So, buck up, Captain, for you are go
ing to have the shock of your life.
Whatever you do. even If you feel that
you are about to faint, don't, for my
sake. let your face show it."
But" he protested, ''give me some
warning, some opportunity to prepare
for such an emergency"
NO" she laughed gaily, "there is
no time; it Is ordained to fall upon
you like a thunderbolt. They are all
in there waiting for us now. You will
offer me your ARM
He accompanied her, amused, yet
bewildered, through the wide archway
into the more brilliantly lighted draw
ing room. 1t was a magnificent apart
ment, containing a half dozen people
The one nearest the entrance was a
man of middle age, exceedingly pomp-
Gus and dignified, who Immediately
arose to his feet, expectantly. Miss
Coolidge cordially extended her hand
I'm greeting.
$50 glad to learn you could be out
Judge" she said, the least perceptible
hesitancy in her voice. Permit me IL
present Judge Cable, of the Supreme
court; Captain West. my fiance."