Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-10

BEGIN HERE d


Beauty. youth. wealth, social Do.
sition-these had failed to brins
happiness to
LUCINDA BRUCE, New York So
ciety matron, in the fifth year oil
her married life. She and her
husband,
BELLAMY Y, continued to drift apart
and now he was openly INDUCING
his appetite for promiscuous firta-
ton and heavy drinking. Just az
Bellamy was plunging into his
latest affair. this time with
MRS. AMELIA SEVERN,
! RICHARD DUABENEY, Lucinda's
old sweetheart, returns to New
York. On the morning when Bel
lamy promises reformation, Luz
cinda ~overhears him making an
appointment with Amelia Severn
for luncheon at the Clique Club.
GO ON WITH THE STORY
".
Frost in the air of that early
wintry day lent its sunlight the cold
b~rilliance of diamond dust. On Fifth
avenue the crush of motto cars had
hardly drive from the Plaza to
Thirxy-fourth street in less than
thirty minutes.
Bellamy fumed over every halt
dictated by the winking semaphore
lights Of the traffic towers. In his
understanding It raj essential that
the . should set him down In front
OF the sedate pressed-brick struc-
ture ON East Thirtieth street whose
entrance was fianked by an ever
stainless plate of brass advertising
in dignified black letters. OFFICE
OF THE BRUCE ESTATE neces-
sary for the planting Of what he
was pleased to term his "alibi."
1t was true, Lucinda had never
deigned to question a servant about
his comings and goings. he had no
reason to believe she would ever be
so far forgetful of her dignity. Still
IL n will f1irt with fire, the first
rule 10 to take out insurance.
Today found Bellamy more out Of
humor with himself than ever be-
fore, more disposed to consider turn
ing over a new leaf, a project often
mooted by his conscience always
when he was falling out of love),
often approved but eve seriously
tackled.
Thrice in the course of the scant
hour he spent at his desk Bellamy
nput out a hand to the telephone,
meaning to call up Amelie and call
1t on; and thrice withheld his hand,
partly because he hated the thought
of q wrangle over the wire, partly
because he was afraid the girl at the
switchboard might listen in.
In the end he left his office half
an hour earlier than he need have
and took a taxi to the Clique.
The Clique Club was a post-prohi-
bition institution Of New York, run
in direct, more or less open, and ia
mously successful defiance of the
Eighteenth Amendment.
Anelie Severn kept Bellamy kick
ing his heels q bad quarter of an
hour longer than she need have, but
his temper was obscured by the adj
miration which her undeniable good
looks excited. There was compensa-
ton in the knowledge that one had
made . conquest of SO r a crea-
ture.
Amelie had married Ross Severn
because he was well-to-do, uninter-
esting. middle-aged, of good family;
and had quickly repented because
ne spoiled her and showed no inten-
uon OF ceasing to be a good life
insurance risk.
She frankly owned as much while
Bellamy was helping her with her
wrap in the semi-seclusion of their
as yet uncurtained booth.
Thrilled to a jelly-bean!" she de-
clared. She shrugged out of her
furs. planted elbows upon the table,
Graded her chin upon the backs of
engaged fingers. and peered about
the room with quick, inquisitive,
bird-hke glances. Ross would be
furious"
Hope so. If he weren't. he ought
to be spoken to about it."
"Oh, why worry about Ross? He's
just a husband"
And husbands haven't n
rights worth considering"
I'D like to see Ross :" A
laugh of lazy insolence rounded off
Amelie's thought. Besides, I'm not
doing anything wrong :"
Not yet" Bellamy admitted
equally. He nodded to their hover
ing waiter. What kind of cocktail,
Amelie? Everything else is ordered"
"A INT, please"
The waiter noted down this fright
ful prescription with entire equa-
nimity. but fingered. EFT mon
Gieur-?"
Nothing. thank you"
Nothing, monsieur" Profession
n poise was sadly shattered for an
instant.
Bellamy tried to cover his annoy
ance with q laugh, but surprised a
Q OF dark resentment in Amelie's
eyes.
do you want the walters to think
you bring me here solely to satisfy
my appetite for liquor?"
Sorry, Amy. Make 1t a rule never
10 drink before evening"
Then why come here at all?"
Bellamy surveyed the restaurant
without bias. mot . bad little hole
for people In u position"
The melon, inedible and uueaten,
was removed. soup in cups was sub
otituted.
".People in our position! I'm to
understand. then. any little hole Is
good enough for me, so long as I
don't interfere with Lucinda's par
ties at the Ritz"
Bellamy Strengthened his spine
and put down his spoon. An UNDER
standing captain of walters read his
troubled ~ and made casual
occasion to draw the curtains across
IN front Of the booth.
ut IL because of Lucinda's lunch
ing at the Rits today, isn't it,"
MY dear Amy" said Bellamy
coolly: I'm unaware Of having done
anything to provoke this, and il I've
sinned unwittingly. ! beg your par
don very truly. Won't you believe
that, please, and let me off for to-
day? I'm feeling rather rusty myself,
dear. and this is b~eginniag to get on
my nerves."