The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-10-18
EXPLANATIONS
Chapter 81

CnapIef 81
Pan wondered how Gloria could get
around this.
For Gloria had built all her miser-
able theory on Santley's absence and
on the fact that she hadn't heard from
him. Now it appeared that he had
gone at once to New York-presuma-
bly, to her. This was the time for expla-
nations, and Pan did not want to be
present
She rose, saying with a smile,
ITS Frankie's bedtime"
Dear me, it's only $780," protested
Gloria, even before the boy could voice
his own objection.
Yes, but by the time he has his
supper and his bath
1T will be $50 or less. He doesn't
go to bed until seven. and he may stay
little longer today, in honor of re-
making the acquaintance of his old
friend"
"Of course" the child agreed. I'm
going to call you Santley-please can
i? / call George and the others by
their first Names
His candid dark eyes beamed upon
this new friend. Santley smiled at
him-his face was lovable when re
laxed into smile.
Il am honored to be classed with
the-others," he answered. The two
women caught the slight AGENT of the
last word. Gloria flushed the least bit
My son is spoiled, I'm afraid, he's
too much with grown-ups, and he picks
up odd ways. frankie, you shouldn't
say"
Please don't degrade me by having
. him call me Mr.. Collins-after Iva
been elevated by him and placed
among the Others" Santley protested,
the last word still slightly accented.
There was the merest tinge of sar-
2 casm, Santley was having revenge for
Gloria's greeting.
Pan began to see how he could be
an extremely clever lawyer She be-
gan to watch this conversational word
play with great interest This sort OF
thing Gloria was skilled in, she her
self could not do it all, she was too
simple and direct by nature, she said
what was in her mind or kept silent.
She began to suspect that Gloria had
met her match in Santley For SAINT
ley saw through her little mask i'm
mediately. For one thing, he knew
that Pan wanted to leave them alone
and that Gloria was deliberately de-
tanning her
Gloria steered the talk into safer
channels.
He shall call you what you please.
It's most charming of you to let him
use your first name" she said. Nov.
what's this about New York? You
know you have a unique position here,
Frn -
yer's reputation depends as much upon
the length of time he's been in one
place, as on ability. Why pull up
stakes?"
This was almost daring him to say
why, Pan thought. But he answered :
One grows seedy staying on in one
place too much Even success becomes
a rut, after a time. l was fascinated
by New York"
"Santley! Anyone as conservative
as youi have heard you rage against
high buildings and gaudy lights, hustle
and noise and nervousness and hustle
everything that makes our New
York the beloved nuisance it isl"
Probably you have. / may have
changed. Gloria-they say we shed OUT
skins completely once every seven
years. It's been nearly seven years,
hasn't it?'
y No" frankie answered calmly, hav-
Ding a child's uncanny habit of follow.
Ing perfectly talk he isn't supposed to
understand. For I'm not seven and
| remember you"
He had another trick, common to
serious children and to children with
vivid imaginations-he thought he re.
membered the things and the people
be had been told about. Gloria ex-
planned this to Santiey, who laughed