Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-11-18
An Unexpected Adventure

| AL OucAptCJCu tAuF6utuLo
Malcolm Starmount gulped cur
of black coffee and pushed back the
food that his butler had placed be-
fore him.
HAS John brought the car around
this morningf" he growled.
eyes, sir"
81 am going out of town for the
week end. If anyone calls you tell
them that you don't know where l
have gone"
Yes, sir. Thank you, sir"
Starmount pulled the cap down
over his smarting eyes and blinked
in the brilliant morning sun as he
came down the steps of his beauti-
full apartment home.
mice day for a birthday" he
grumbled to himself and then he
swore softly but copiously. He
cursed the hot weather; he cursed
the bad liquor he had drunk the
night before; he cursed his seeming
inability to get out of the wild set
that had fastened its fangs upon
him; he cursed his birthday and
more than all the rest he cursed
Nadia Courteney.
For months the affair of Nadia
Courteney and Malcolm Starmount
had kept the gossips of the Bohem-
ian set busy. Bets were freely
made as to which would tire of the
other first.
At last evenings party, which was
painting the inside of Starmount's
mouth dark brown today, Theodore
Parker, Malcolm's friend and attor-
ney, had cynically remarked; "You
men are all wrong. Nadia will not
tire of Malcolm for the excellent
feminine reason that she cannot
break him as she has broken four or
five others that we all know. Her
affection will last as long as his
money does. Starmount has enough
to satisfy even that voracious little
golddigger." And Parker leaned
back well satisfied with his mascu-
line estimate of that branch of the
gentler sex typified by Nadia Cour-
teney,
"But Starmount's health may not
stand the strain of the pace she is
setting him. hazarded Dicky Ten
nant after a fit of coughing.
"Oh, yes it will, Dicky. He is
years younger than you are. At
twenty-six man can stand lot
Of the grief that would kill one of
your age"
well, perhaps" assented Dicky,
and he glanced reflectively down at
MS own once wiry but now enact
ated figure. Anyway" he continu-
ID, Malcolm is getting fine
,hance to prove it. Were you at
he party the Nifty club had last
hight, Tedl"
mo, but I heard that Nadia did
Ter famous dance and at its close
Starmount presented her with col
ar of diamonds"
"And it was good thing he
lid,' snapped Dicky viciously. Then
'e added by way of explanation:
She needed them-for warmth"
Everyone knew that Dicky Ten
liant was one of the men whom
Salda Courteney had ruined physi-
ally and financially.
"Dicky, if you are goi@E to knock
'alda you'll have to kn..6 alone. l
ant join you. 1t wouldn't t do be-
ause have accepted an invitation
0 the house party with which Nadia
) surprising Malcolm today at his
house. She has invited us
or the week end and Nadia can be
expended upon to make it some par
y. | must be hurrying for she wants
5 at Malcolm's home in festive
rray to greet him when he comes"
The house party came near being
-ithout its honored and surprised
uest for as Malcolm Starmount en-
cred his ear, he first ordered the
nauffeur to drive to the Tuxedo
ountry Club but then after he had
one about two miles he changed
is mind. II
IF I go over there, I win be bored
} death. I am sure to find some
ae know. / don't want to have
speak to anyone.
Turn around and drive to Sea-
right John. At least I can be
one there in my own home"
Even at eleven O'Clock in the l
orning the summer sun was terri- |
c on the uptown pavements and
hen the ear began to thread thru l
e city traffic down near the bridge 9
e stencil and heat became almost ,
tbearable.
What a fool a man win make Of
mself when hunting something he I