Evening journal., 1922-05-24
oHr1 ~ Ls>sA Jossh v.n
(Continued from our last Issucl

Il only wanted to help you. II
could" Lucinda explained. gettinI
TO her feet. IF you're unhappy
I'm so sorry"
The movement must have beer
misinterpreted, for the girl spranl
up like a threatened animal.
Il don't want your help" sh'
stormed throatily. IT don't wan
anything to do with you--only I,
be left alone." She flung herself a
Lucinda as If to thrust her out by
force. "Goi gol gol" she screamed
Then the window slammed.
Poor thing" Lucinda tod her.
seif-"she must have heard :"
Xxx
There was at this time little
room in Lucindas inner life for
other peoples troubles. she was
much too agreeaibiy engrossed IN
doting on this radiant Linda Lee,
victress In a form Of duel Of which
Summeriad was reputed a master
who had never known defeat. Ru-
mors current Of his success with
women had found her credulous
and lenient: mortal vanity saw TO
that. II feeds on strange foods,
vanity Think as well as you will OF
yourself you shah not find unac-
ceptable the belief that one well
loved by many has been laid low by
love OF you alone.
That morning. as every morning
now. she woke with a smile respon-
sive to the smiling promise Of the
day. called for her car and Sailed |
forth
Her rooms were so situated that
TO reach the main entrance she had
10 pass the corner room now occu-
pied by Nelly Marquis; and mali
cious luck would heve It that the
two should meet.
The Marquis girl had been out
and was returning with a small
packet grlpped in a shabbily gloved
hand. A weil-made woman with a
graceful carriage. her face held
elements OF beauty Of a wild, sweet
sort but dimmed and wasted by
dependency and impaired health.
Today the dark rings under her eyes
were deeper, the eyes themselves
moro desperate than when their
ook had first appealed TO Lucinda's
symr athies. And seeing her so, Lu-
,inda with a solicltous cry-''Why,
Mss Marquisl"-paused and ex-
.ended an impulsive hand.
The girl swerved away from the
land. shrinking TO the wall; her
scant natural color ebbing TIL the
rouge was livld on cheeks and hps,
while her eyes grew hard and hot.
Weir" she said suIlenly--"What
do you want7"
Confounded by this proof Of
hostility as pertinacious as It was
perverse, Lucinda faltered: But
you are ILL.,"
We'll: and II am, what's that |
to your" The words uttered in a !
level tone nevertheless seemed 20
force explosively past the tremulous.
waxen lips. 'oh. don't worry your
head about me. think about your
selN Don't forget you can be con-
by a creature like me. |
don't forget''--she accomplished q
singularly true reproduction OF
tone--"I'm really not
he sort you can afbord to get mixed
ip with'i"
I'm so sorry you heard. Miss
Marquis. OF course neither OF us
lad any idea you were"
"EavesdroppingI why don't youI
ay It? I'm not ashamed"
But are you fair 10 me7 meant {
o harm, I didn't say-what you
esent-you know"
The girl gave a grimace OF pure S
ate. No" she snarled-''you a
idnt say anything unkind, you !
ere too busy posing as Lady a
ountiful 10 pass uncharitable re-
arksi But he-he said enough i
lough for me. oh. I'm not saying q
didn't tell the TRUTH I'm "a bad v
h. all right-a rotten bad lot, II y
u want TO know-and I'll be worse e,
fore I'm better. So you watch out 81
d keep away from me-d'you n
arr" NJ
Yes" said Lucinda coolly = e
early"-aDd went her way. y
Her car brought her to the zinn q
dios. III
Seither Lynn nor Joseph jacques.
director, was in evidence, but the
nera-man said the two Of them 20
/ retired to the directors Office ~
a conference. ~
TO the Office Lucinda and Fanny la
ntaine repaired and-their knock -
ng answered by a morose growl- l..
sre discovered Summerlad, in ca
evening clothes. a thought -
! scowl on his handsome painted =
ce. with Jacques. a mild-mannered 80 80
'ung cinema sultan, in riding 81
-eeches, ana boots. sitting on the - -
esk itself, and moddily drumming ~.
s sides with his heels oii
I'VE were wondering II you'd care d
o be an angel 10 us. Linda" said ~ y,
e'
Help us out OF the worst sort OF -.
hole. Miss Lee" Jacques added.
But what is it7" 4,
"Oh. nothing at ALL" summerlad h
ssured her with laugh that depre-
ated the very idea-"all we want =
ou to do is forget you're a star. or :
ding to be. and play a little part d
nth me in this picture we're doing t
ow." :
I'D love to-"
Knew she'd do IT." Jacques
owed.
You're a brick, Linda, and no
istake. You've no idea what a
ad you've taken off our minds.