The Omaha morning bee., 1923-12-30

Iowed-was grist to Patty's vamping.
mill: prep-boys. college-youths. young,
middle-aged and elderly business
men, senile. retired gentlemen, pro
fessional men, artists and-yes-arti-
sans. Even the tradespeople, Belaize
matrons complained Indignantly. saved
their choicest cuts and freshest yege-
tables for Patty.
And IL seemed true that she vamped
only to reject; that she was as heart
less as she was reckless and as care
free as she was both.
But Patty was really very discon-
tented girl. Often she was a very un-
happy one. At this moment, for in
stance, she was profoundly SO. One
Of the phrases Judge Dade had used
kept fitting through her mind, IA
great deal OF efficiency detected into
a lot of little abilities" Her father
was right and she knew 1t. She had
proved that to herself. Everybody
said, How hard Patty Dade worked
in the war;" Nobody but herself.
however. knew how hard she really
did work-and nobody had the faint
est suspicion why. In another thing.
her father was right and she knew IT..
For her the solution was marriage.
Oh, IL only out of the puerilities and
frivollties to which she had reduced
and debased-love. the man. her
man, would emergel She had never
found him-never, Monty came the
ah 81
Monty-and did curl him-as close
as a shaving about her little finger.
Poor Monty!
The tears blurred her eyes and for
an interval, she let them hang on her
lashes. Then a distant black blot In
vaded the tears-she winked them
back. A fiivyer was approaching from
the direction OF Belaize. 1t contained
only the driver--a man-young-a
stranger-no, familiar-Arthur Rae
burn! Laurian was right He was
attractive.
The machinery of Patty's vamping
mill began to function instantaneous
ly. She slowed up gradually, signall-
ed with "A pretty gesture for Arthur
Raeburn to stop. The fiivver came to
stand beside her roadster: but its
driver did not shut off the gas. How
do you do, DR.. Raeburn Patty
opened the conversation with her most
charming accent. when did you get
back?"
How do you do. Miss Dade. I've
been back-oh let me see-four or five
months, five to be accurate"
II hadn't heard" Patty lied with a
delicate malice. Then sweetly. Were
you in the war;"
mot in the line. I was in the Red
Cross"
"Oh, that must have been so much
more interesting" she paused-"and
safe"
Apparently. however, DIR. Raeburn
did not get her intention. His absent
grey eyes, set first under black lashes
then n deep frown. were studying the
distance, and his expression IL was
polite--no, civil. was the word--was
absent too. and family touched-could
II be possible-with impatence.
Eyes, IL was interesting" he vouch'
safed, in n preoccupied tone. His
fingers moved furtively In the wheel.
What are you doing now?" was
Patty's next thrust.
"Oh, I'm interested In a hospital
over in North Belaize.
Il hadn't heard OF It," Patty thrust
again. us 1t secret2"
Raeburn smiled. And his smile was
lag of light breaking through the
tanned cream OF his complexion.
mot deliberately So he replied.
Then, "You must pardon me-" he said
with a courteous firmness. but ]
must go on. | have a patient at the
Point"
And before the outraged Patty
could peep even n goodbye. the fliver
was making for the horizon.
The rencontre had, however, accom-.
pllshed one good. Even II 1t threat.
ened to effect many Ills, II had burn.
ed up Patty's melancholla.
In the whole course OF her life,
there had been but one person whom
she hated-Arthur Raeburn. II was
curious too that she should pick him
to hate, for Arthur Raeburns sphere
revolved in a different system from
hers
II was curious about Arthur Rae
burn. Jeered at by the boys avoided
by the girls. until he lived In vir
tual ostracism. Arthur had on the
whole turned out the most brilliant