Evening star., 1924-05-11

had called Chick up so early. 1t did
not look as though he would have
another chance He hadn't Mar ga
ret kept him by her side all day. HI
wondered himself how she accom-
plished it
At 6 o'clock she left him to dress
Then he returned to his room. There
he found his father awaiting him.
Peter was surprised. 1t was the first
time so far as he could remember
that his father over sought an inter-
view.
Dean was standing by the window
when Peter entered. He had switched
on the lights and has bathed in their
warm, yellow glow. 1t softened his
face.
"Oh-you," said Peter. closing the
door behind him
Dean grunted. '-Sft down"
Peter remained standing. however.
He waited, then said. softly:
"Yes, sir"
Dean. reminded OF where he was.
jerked himself up.
Had a nice day?" he asked.
Tho method of attack was so diff
ferent from any Peter had steeied
himself to meet that he stammered:
'Why-why-yes."
Margaret steer your
Yes, she did. rather"
Zine girl"
So that was It His father went on
Healthy and strong. That's what
she is-healthy and strong"
A brief pause, then Dean cleared
his throat.
"See here, I'm going to talk plain
to you"
Peter did not answer.
You made a rotten bad job of it
so far I've given you every chance
in tho world Spent a pile OF money
on you and yet you turn out this way.
Won't work Won't learn. What in
the devil do you think I laid out
1000 for since the day you were
horn?'
my money. You won't mako a mining
man nor a business man. Now. then.
I want to hook up with Farwell. Ra-
dunn. Millions"
At this point Peter interrupted.
You want me to marry his daugh-
ter; isn't that it? Provided Miss Far
well will have me-"
Want you to? You're going to-,
She'll have you, all right Farwell
will see to that"
Well" said Peter, slowly. speaking
the words carefully, almost daintily.
II won't bring Miss Farwell into this.
1t isn't necessary. but you and Far
well and your plans for what 1 am
going to do or not going to do can
can go to the devil.
And he flung out of the room.
X r
LIE went to the Follies- He bought
ticket counting on finding
Chick there.
There was music and girls and
laughter and applause. He did not
see any of it. He was wondering how
one earned twenty thousand and
whom he could marry to displease his
father the most When the curtain
fell Chick found him staring gloom
lily at the stage.
We'll, for the love of Mike" he
doomed, why so merry
Peter murmured something and
Chick thumped him on the back
Come on around and meet the baby
doll Of the show. She'll cheer you up,
old horse"
Peter had never been behind the
scenes before. He liked the smell of
it and the hustle. 1t was be ewildering
lights and noise and the heavy,
sweet odor OF perfume Peter felt
suddenly faint. Everything seemed
miles away. 1t was not eating, he
supposed.
Follow me-" sang out Chick.
They crossed behind a scene-shifter
and a pirouetting girl on her toes,
and came to a narrow hall with an
iron stairway winding up. Opening
on to the landing were tiers of doors.
"oh. Bobby" shouted Chick Come
down and see who's here"
Then Bobby swan into Peters line
of vision. She was tiny and dark and
elflike, with violet eyes that laughed
up at you and an adorable red mouth.
who's your friendr she demanded
of Chick
Were coming around for you and
May after the show, then we'll all go
up to my place and get acquainted"