New Britain herald., 1923-09-27
CHAPTER l.


 Hsps Ranger walked deNa the hall e her mothers sitting room.
 The moment she had passed inside and eisssd the daar hshind her a
 msn servant stepped out Of the auta,
 mssle lIft . little further aleng the ecrrldeF and feilossd her noiselssslg. He had some letters on a tray, but it apparently sfas not his intention io deliver them st once, Instead, he paused close 10 the sitting room doeF. his head inclined, listening,
 Az Hope entered. her mother looked up with smile from some notes she wss writing,
 ''0oinE out, darling '" she asked,
 I'm 10 meet Lucia st tha Plaza, n Hope explained. Her mother will bs there with some people. but we ehsn't bother with them. After luncheon. they are sains on 10 a matinee-thst is. Lucia and her mother are-but it's 'Philander. and I've seen it three times. you know, so I begGed on. f'il pick up some wells ss1 . few thinss need. and then homs"
 rAe man outside had his ear against oAe dcer nov. unwilling 10 miss \ Woed of the eonversation; but at the eAme time his eyes were watching a,ertty along the hall and down the ofaircase.
 ' dopt kaow. though" Hope re. oonddsrsd. but that I'd better drop tnte 0lloott's and hurry him up with oose httings. If by any miracle he is ready. I could telephone you to come down. Or, better still. come to luncheon with uA and then go there with me. Do. mother" she urged.
 'Ne.o: I'll not tas. You and Lucia vii Isu1oy yousslves more alone. Desdes, I've no end of things 10 look afeeS. Arc you driving down dear?"
 T Assd the walk '" Hope shrugged 2gh1ay. My skin is crying for air anA sGeeslss." She scrutinixed her ss4sse1tsn in . dim mirror with d (us1nt, tarnished silt frame.
 evsyythins in this intimate room of Mrs. Rangers was old and faintly tar Aiahsd. In her day she had been beauty 0outhsrn as her name. Mary Leuiss Bsauohamp Carter-poor as peverty with generations of wealth be1ind her-born to . leaking family reef.tree. old family silver, old family piotures, old family servants. the lat tsr dwindled in number until none remained.
 Her mpthsr had pinned her last hope Co Mary Lou: but before the rash giri was 20 she had lost her head | over . rising young nobody at all. | Dc rlt Iaou ,lr, ,J than chipmunk and no particularly substantial foreground and had reck- lessly married him. Mrs. Carter shed tears steadily, and only aban- doned them for equally steady smiles when she realized the genius of her son.in-law for making money hand over hand-lucky hands that turned everything they touched into gold. Then, completely reconciled. she gave them her blessing, bestowed upon them the family heirlooms and de- parted this life in peace.
 Hope turned now from the inspec- ton of herself in the glass.
 Mischievously she ruffled her sleek hear, cuffing her first on one ear and then on the other, and, bending down, kissed her cheek. "Goodby."
 "oh, wait moment" Mrs Ranger caught her hand. T forgot to tell you, your father won't be home this Dvening. He's having some .out-of- own men at the club. Why shouldn't reu and I do play?" s'No reason on earth Hope nod i, lAd. Choose something neither of D6 hes seen. A slushy, weepy one Ae Kind you like" 0he hAd reached the door when AAr naogAsr stopped her again. l: sYou'll telephone from Sicott's, veu sAy, if he's ready for your fit- D6gsf That will be about o'clock, supposs7"
 Tor even earlier"
 ThA ,4Aan servant was at the head | the stairs with his tray of letters v Hope came out. Anything for me, Fitch?"