The Washington times., 1924-03-29
The Sequel to "Chickie'' n.no,. By M.b.rn

to aid him. He interrupted his
own very graceful conversations
with a foolish: But where is my
hat, my darling! Come-let US
find my hat"
Edith ran her hand through
his hair: Never mind, Jimmy,
dear. Wen buy you new hal"
With the J, air of prince he
took her hand and kissed it.
Potter laughed. He said to
Chickie: Edith can meet any
situation. She makes every one
feel at ease
He kept mumbling such COM
ments, insisting that Chickie
agree. But she was absorbed in
the man next her. He was blond
and suave, with large handsome
face. She fancied him a glorified
grocery clerk. He was engaged
In a stupid Irritation with the
wife of another guest and had
now reached the stage of SEN
timentally squeezing her h4nd
under the table.
Potter said: do you think
Edith liked the emerald, Miss
Bryce? Did she speak Of 1t
afterward?"
He repeated this, touching
Chickie's arm and leaning down
to her.
'Oh, yes!' she answered with
9 hurried smile. I'm sure she
was. delighted"
Potter's long, sallow face suf-
fused with pleasure. Chickie noted
this and at the same moment per-
ceived Edith watching her hus-
band with triumphant hardness
on her mouth. She wondered.
The dinner was boring. At
Timmy's end of the table 1t had
suddenly become animated, but
Chickie could only catch snatches
of his conversation. For he spoke
deliberately in soft, throaty tones.
She was glad when Edith rose.
She came directly to her hus-
band. Her eyes shone. She
patted his hand: "Dirkie, dear,
1 know you're just aching for a
game Of billiards. Nell wants to
play with you. I've arranged a.
match. Miss Bryce won't mind,
will you? It's awfully fascinat.
ing to watch a good player. And
Dirkie. is that"
Potter Redeemed like a boy. He
said warmly: "Edie. dear! Are
you going to sing tonight?"
mo. Jimmy wants to see
those pictures. He's interested.
And he has to leave early"
When Edith advanced, he came
to meet her. The two of them
were of an equal height. They
crossed the room. Chickie had a
sense Of rhythm.
Potter felt this. too, for he
said, musing: "She walks like a
queen, doesn't she? Edith could
make a name in the films" He
waited till they passed into the
hall, then shrugged: IT suppose
Nell is waiting"
The billiard room was in the
extreme end of the south wing.
Nell was the blonde flirt. His
partner Of the dinner table accom-
panied him. She was a little
dark, reminding Chickie of a rab-
bit. Yet there was in her pinched
face a complacent slnugness; that
pugnacious eif-esteen obscure
girls sometimes acquire with mar
riage as though the winning IL a
husband has once and for all win
Dictated their charms to doubt
ing world.
Adding to her distinction was
her name, Betty Jane" She
came in on that tide of Betty
James about twenty-one years ago.
Betty clapped her hands and
called out: "A bird! "A birdr
whenever good shot was made.
Chickie grew tired of grinning
and agreeing. She was worn out
by Betty's vivacity. When an
other couple entered the room
and Betty proceeded to enlighten
them in the same manner, Chickie
moved with apparent careless
ness toward the door. Her alb
sence would not be marked.
Like all the rooms on the
ground floor, this opened on the