The Washington times., 1924-04-07

sAASu6h]c al 4uldSS. IL was Lno
image Of two figures moulded as
one in a piercing and beautiful
grace--Edith Potter and Jimmy
the movie star, lost In each others
arms.
Chickie wished to speak of this.
And couldn't. But it Kept biting
at her mind. She grabbed things
from drawers, yanked clothes
T from the closet.
She was ready. She stood at
the bureau leaning on her lands.
"Will you kindly Gomez"
Almost pleading, Chickie asked:
"Will you tell Barbara? You
won't? Don't tell her."
Edith tapped her foot: IL shall
walk to the car with you. Hurry.
We shall not speak to anyone.
Do you understand? Leave the
suitcase. The chauffeur will
get It,"
Chickie remembered walking
from the. room; remembered the
dimness that was warm and
pulsed like waves about her.
She wanted to hold her head up,
pretend talking to Edith. But
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lower rooms notes of music and
ringing laughter. And the heat
G Gscame damp dam oppressive at
A moment she leaned against
the wall. But, seeing Edith pause
she drew herself sharply. She
hurried.
They went through a short hall
to the side door of the library.
Chickie was Just stepping into
the car. Someone stroIled across
the drive, came straight to the
machine, leaning On the door:
Taking q little drive? May
come, Miss Bryce?" It was Luis
Lamarck, a sleek gentleness In
his velvet eyes.
Edith cut in: Miss Bryce has
received bad news. She Is forced
to leave. Luis"
He rearched over for Chickie's
hand: bad news? How very un.
fortunate! Shall drive with
your"
The night seemed suddenly
crowded with open hands. They
bore against her. They pressed
heavily and with q fainting
warmth. She said barely: NO
no, Mr.. Lamarck."
And because he stood there with
a subtle question in Ibis look,
Chickie made a valiant effort to
smile; to say easily: 'Goodby,
Mrs. Potterv'
From the patio came clear,
bright voices; couples sauntering
through the gardens all glowing
now under a thousand lights.
Chickie sank in the corner. They
went flashing down the drive.
Chaotic images struck through
her thoughts, passing back and
forth in a terrifying disorder.
Leaving like this! Oh-and Edith
stripping the basket from her
arm. Chickie cringed as from a
whipping.
Then she was sitting bolt up.
right, the vision Of Edith and
Jimmy vivid in her eyes. She
should have said that thing Why
didn't she?
They sped along the road?
Trees massed against the win
dows. blurred and dark. She felt
their Vagueness, chung to it as
SAAONeSAA oAAO SSbAA A4ANO AACAlCA AAA
their shadows oh, lose herself
escape from thisi
The moon cut a wavering path
across a field. Chickie's eyes fol.
lowed it, and suddenly she thought
OF Lee Whitman and her promise
to meet him. She saw him stand
ing in the darkened room, the
pale look Of exaltation on his face
because she seemed SO beautiful;
a chasteness and a dream. Now
he waited at the broom trees.
Would he hear? Would Edith
rush to him, her thin lips arro-
CANT with their tale? Would she
tell it all, and how they had
come and taken her away; made
her stand up and talk about the
child-how 1t grew so cold; how
it lay so still; how she ran away
and left it there
Chickie's head dropped back
against the window. She was
going through the trial again.
The coroner reared his thick neck
as an animal does. his slothful
eyes on level with the table.
Brings a dead infant to the doc
tor; a child whose coming kept
her from the bedside OF her dy.
ing mother. An unmarried wom-
ana woman in hiding might
have many reasons for getting rid
Of her child!
Ah-Myra King knew this. She
remembered perfectly. She had
head them talk of "Chickie"
Bryce, and the whole thing had
come flashing back. The look Of
blank establishment, and then her
turning back, going over to Edith
Potter-whispering
The whole patty must know II
now; the garden would be alive
with it. Tense groups STANDING
about: low, excited voices-all the
details.
The world WOULD know the girls
IN the office, Eloise, Daisy
Oh-the papers again!
There entered now into Chick.
les mind thing that shivered
wildly; shivered a moment, then
grew heavy and still. It lodged
cold and motionless. She felt it's
weight. 1t was the deafness of
an utter defeat.
She sat with her eyes closed:
q ieelins That she was sinking
ana sinking. There was damp
ness about her and a chill.
She started suddenly when tho
chauffeur asked: Pardon, Miss
what's the address,"
1t was midnight. Mrs. Janis, a
earning bag over her arm was
Just turning out the light in a
little sitting room. She started
at Chickie's step: 81 didn't ex.
pect you back. Weren't You to
stay a few days?"
Chickie smiled: st changed my
plans"
She ran softly up the stairs be-
cause when she spoke her voice
had broken. Ho-what of ito.
morrow Mrs. Janis would know.
She locked her door and suy;t,,h.