The Washington times., 1924-04-07

in his voice.
Come into my office at any
time tomorrow that suits you" I
answered.
"For tomorrow it cannot wait"
answered Manuelo quickly.
But I'm just leaving the office
now for an important appoint
ment.
"She cannot be break for what
Is great need by me?" urged Man
uelo.
hesitated a second. Then
said firmly.
IT must keep my appointment
"Then you must have dinner
with me-" replied Manuelo earnest
ly. "It is that like you 10 ]
cannot see-I am. say, you must
make to meet me today. For din
ner-yes?"
The boys tone left me no doubt
that it was vital for me to see
him with all haste.
Pm glad you turned to me in
your loneliness, Senior Ortiz.
That's the logical thing to do,
since I'm your friend as we'll as
your advertising director" re-
piled to young Manuel's insistence
that he must see me this very day.
IN be glad to meet you for din
ner and talk things over.
"Where may call for your"
I had a sudden inspiration.
I'm keeping an appointment
now with Miss Ruth Gregory, the
sculptor" 1 said quickly. "Will
you call for me there at $50 to
the minute?"
mo, no! That cannot" flash
ed the boy with strange intensity.
And then in the next moment he
changed to a formal, yes. OF
course. / call for you wherever
1t is you say. 1t is-of course
no trouble for me at all. That I
shall come to Miss Gregory for
you. Adios.''
To my amazement and satisfac.
ton, when l arrived at the studio
building where Ruth Gregory lives
I felt entirely at my ease. AS
went up in the elevator l realized
that 1 had not given young Ortiz
her address. For moment I felt
frightfully worried, and then
realized that Makuelo knew per.
fectly well that Ruth Gregory's
studio Is in the building where
Rosa lives. l dismissed the prob
lem l would have to meet in an
hour and prepared myself for the
situation which was ready for me
now.
When l got to Ruth Gregory's
door it was Hospitality open AMI
a clatter of voices greeted me. 1
did not pass through the open
door, but rang the bell and wait.
ed for some one to invite me to
enter. The hubbub continued, but
after a moment a familiar figure
advanced toward me.
1t was Gracia MacAvoy. Her
presence completed my feeling of
ease.
How jolly to see your she cried.
I'm so glad to be here to get your
first impressions Of the statue, Mrs.
Harrison. I'm sure you'll love
it,"
1t was Gracia MacAvoy who led
me into the studio and presented
me to the guests, most of whom
bore names which labeled them
as belonging to the families which
had once made UP the Harrison
set.
Ruth Gregory lounged at ease
behind big tea urn which almost
hid her thin and rangy figure.
There were silver and garnet
hoops in her ears, and a heavy
chain of silver and garnets hung
down over a smock Of dull green
embroidered in silver and red. She
looked barbaric and her thin face
with its loosely piled, almost un.
tidy hair had a sort Of cruel, thin.
Tipped charm.
II thought you'd all know Mrs
Jimmie" she said with easy inso.
lence. Otherwise I'd have bun.
died the lot of you off before she
got here. She has things to dis.
cuss with me and all you nice
folks are an embarrassment of
riches"
In a clamor Of laughter and pro.
tests the guests got themselves
off. No one seemed to mind the
calmness with which the celebrity
dismissed her guests as If she
were a queen.
ITO BE Continued Tomorrow