The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-21
preacher. Maud 2"

preacher Maud?'
 "Is that preaching I thought l was only answering a question. Perhaps my train of thought was caused bS the little comedy which you interrupt ed by bringing Miss Winston over here"
 "Please, please. you did not think that I knew that pig?" interrupted quickly.
 why, of course we didn't. you baby child, you" smied Theodore Stratten. That is the reason l walked over to get you"
 Tt was very kind of you, MT. strat- ton. I do not know what l would have done had you not come for me. Herbert is not yet back, and l did not want to make scene"
 DO you now Herbert Richardson well?" asked Maud Samson. It seemed to me that there was more than an idle note of questioning in her voice.
 T think I do," I answered. He was one of the first people l met when I arrived here. He is a great friend of one of my very best friends"
 What has become of that little girl he used to trot around with so much? She was very pretty. And if l re- member correctly, she was very clever. l rather expected, when l re- turned from New York, to find that Richardson had placed her some where"
 "I wonder if you mean Gloria sum mers?"
 Yes, that is the girl. Did she fall out with Richardson?" asked Ar. Stratton.
 1 didn't like the look he bent upon me. It amost asked: Has Richardson transferred his attentions to your 1 never wanted to betray a confidence so, much in my life. If only l could have told him that Ria and Herbert were married l think it would have | saved me a great deal of later unhao- piness besides giving me a momen- tary triumph.
 'Oh, no! Ria and Herb are very good friends. She is the friend ot whom I was speaking. Ria introduced me to Herb. She and had an apart ment together '.Had?"
 Yes. she has been called away and will remain out of town for quite a while probably"
 And so you are alone now?' asked Maud Samson.
 Yes"
 At this moment Herbert came back and seeing me at the Stratton table. walked over to us with a puzzled look upon his face.
 I brought Miss winston over here, said Mir. Stratton as he arose. be cause you had hardly left. Richard son. when Al Brown went pyer and sat down beside her. I saw thar the child was so annoyed and frightened that l could do nothing else but bring her to Miss Sanson.''
 What wonderful man he is? And how he beautifully put it." was my thought He wants me to under stand that I am under tfs protection of another woman-and such a lovely woman. I looked again into Maud Sanson's beautiful face. Some way if had changed. About her lovely mouth was a faintly sarcastic smile and an expression I could not. in my inex- perience. fathom.
 T think l had better go over and knock the head off that brute" ragged Herbert.
 Please don't Herbert. Neither of us wants to get into the papers. Was that who called your" I asked to di- bert his mind from Brown.
 Herbert looked at me and bowed his head. l caught a glance between MT. Stratton and Miss Samson and felt the color come into my face. For A moment it struck me that they might not have believed me when l told them that Ria was out of town, and that we were god friends.
 When do you start your new pie ture. Stratton?" Herb asked.
 "In about a week. By the way, Maud. don't you think that Miss Win ston is the type of that little ingenne who is always following you around in the script?'
 Perhaps"
 I caught my breath. The word seemed like ice.
 What are you doing now. Miss Winston?" asked Mir. Stratton, turn ing to me.
 q have about a weeks work start ing day after tomorrow at the Kalsey studioi'
 When you finish come around and see me-"
 couldn't speak. Theodore Strat- toms words opened vistas before me.
 Herbert rose to his feet and thank ing MT. Stratton for his kindness to me, piloted me back to our table. Al Brown and his party had left.
 Tomorrow-Men and Men.
 Copyright. John F. Dille Co.)