The Washington herald., 1922-03-08
Continued from Yesterday.


When Jeanne came out Of the
fashionable jewelry shop half an
shour later, her gold mesh bag was
empty Of jewels, bur in 1t was a
substantial cheek.
There was enough to repay Adele
Par<inson's loan and something ION
account at Madam jules.
She held her head high in spite
OF her flushed face. There was
nothing in her carriage to suggest
the embarrassing thirty minutes
through which she had just passed.
1t had not been easy for her to de-
clare her Jewels for sale before the
coldly appraising eyes Of the shop
manager. 1t had been another bitter
Pill when she had been forced to
order a duplicate necklace Of paste.
But she carried Off the situation
with a superb sort OF poise. and when
she walked down the velvet-carpeted
shop between rows Of shining show
cases, bystander would have
thought that she had just purchased,
rather than sold, a few trinkets
worth a kings ransom. No one
could have guessed that she had sold
: the only Jewels she ever possessed in
desperate effort to save the wreck
which she had made Of her ife.
But in her heart the ordeal had
taken its toll. Her superb pride was
bruised and broken. Her ambition
was shattered idol The zest for
life and luxury was gone She had
tasted Dead See fruit. and she
1onEed desperately to get away
from everything. to bury herself IN
some forgotten, secluded spot. and
let the glittering procession pass on
without her.
She was Jane Dare again, the
little Western school teacher:-but a
new Jane Dare. not the ambitious,
unscrupslous youngster. who had
come out Of the West determined to
conquer, but a subdued and chastened
woman, whose beautiful eyes were
loveher than ever with their tragic
depths of sorrow and knowledge and
disappointment.
But. she thought bitterly, her
awakening had come too late. The
deluge was already on Its way. In
I her greedy effort to plunge both
hands into the treasure chest of life
she had lost home. friends, kinfolk,
position-and love.
While a taxi whirled her up
the Avenue toward Adele Parkinson's $
hotel, she wondered what her next
step should be- That parting word
Of her mother-in-law's was ominous:
when we return from Hot Springs
I wish to talk to you. There are a
number Of things which require ex-
plantation
Jeanne wondered why Vic had
made no reference to that remark
Of his mothers? why. too. he had
not asked about the ruby necklace? Z?
After that frightful dinner, when
Vera Dayton had cleverly brought
against her an unspoken accusation,
Vic had deliberately avoided her. 1t
was obvious to her that he could
say nothing which would not be re-
proach. and he was too fine and too
proud to question her.
She determined to see him that
very night and make a clean breast
Of the necklace affair. 1t was better
to admit having lied to his mother
than to remain silent under the
charge which Vera Dayton's insin-
uations had brought about
AT the hotel Jeanne was informed
to her amazement that Adele Parkin-
son had checked out that very morn
Ing, but the clerk gave her Adele's
new address Jeanne recognized it
as 2 modest residential hotel in the
upper Seventies.
She was crossing the foyer to the
taxi entrance when she heard a quick
step behind her. and a hand was
placed on her arm.
Turning quickly. she found her
self face to face with Henry Harri-
SON.
Good Heavens. you here" she
gasped. why only last night re-
ceived letter from you written in
Iowa"
He nodded. 'T guess I came on the
same train II did. Business and-er
other things. Say, where is Mrs
Parkinson
Jeanne shrugged. and held out the
card on which the clerk had written
Adele's new address.
Curious. her leaving like this,
She dined with US last night, and
made no mention of going. In fact
she made an appointment with me
for today, and 1 happen to know
that the situation is so desperate
that. :"
Harrison gripped her arm.
What do you mean?"