Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-25
CHAPTER XYHI
Cynthia Tells Iyra

r YRA was just about to get into
bed when there came a knock
on the door, and Cynthia and
Corinne came in.
They perched on the edge of the
bed like gay, colorful birds, and Gym
thia was smoking, as usual. Both
of them were bright-eyed and as
fresh as though they had not been
dancing all evening.
With a laugh, Lyra. slipped out of
her negligee, and a moment later
was settled among her pillows
If you insist upon talking. in
tend to make myself as comfortable
as possible" she said lightly. And
if | drop off to sleep while you are
going through the post-mortems, you
have only yourselves to blame"
Cynthia struck a dramatic atti-
tude. WYATT till you hear the tidings
[ bear, fair lady" she drawled. "Dost
know that your fathers friend, the
mysterious stranger from the great
open spaces, has fallen a victim to
your charms? I'm ashamed of you,
Lyra. What have you been doing to
the poor man? He seems all struck
in a heap
What nonsense are you talking?"
Lyra said evenly. She was instantly
on her guard. She knew Cynthia
and did not trust her. Il would new
err do to arouse suspicion in her
mind.
mo nonsense, but the plain, un-
vanished truth. I saw him look at
you during dinner, and he wore his
heart in his eyes"
Lyra pretended a delicate yawn
and dropped her lashes But at Gym
thia's next words her lids flew open
and she stared at the girl incredu-
lousy, as though doubling the evil
dence of her own ears.
Yes, 1 did, 1 taxed him with it,"
Cynthia was repeating Il quoted
some nonsense about the desire of
the moth for the star, and he did
not deny it. Now what have YOU to
say?"
That Mr.. Hunter was extremely
generous" Lyra returned HE
couldn't very we'll say anything else,
could he?"
But 1 tell you I know!" Cynthia
insisted. And if the truth were told.
you know more than you're willing
to admit, III wager" The drawing
tones of her voice were suddenly
sharpened There was an edge to
her words, but although Lyra was
well aware of the fact she only
laughed
All right. II you know, Cynthia.
there's no more to be said. But it
can wait till morning, can't it? I'm
so deadly sleepy that l can hardly
keep my eyes open, and tomorrOw's
another day"
Lyra lids had again dropped and
Cynthia rose reluctantly from the:
edge of the bed She went slowly
toward the door. but Corinne stop
ped a moment and dropped a kiss on
Lyr&'s golden head.
night, old dear" she said
real affection in, her tones. Don't
mind Cynthia's joking: she must
nave excitement, you know. or she
isn't happy"
LYra smiled and moment later.
when she was alone, she reached up
10 snap off the light over her bed
Ihen she lay for long time staring
up into the darkness and thinking
over what Cynthia had said. If if
were true, what a way to get even
with Tex for what he had done, She
might play with him delicately, lead
MN on. Not too much, of course.
but in a careful. calculated way. 1t
would be rather fun, quite an adven.
ture' eliminating, of course. in, her
marriage to Peter, Again Lyra was
dramatizing herself She was the
heroine walking oN on softly light
ed stage. The roles PLAYED by the
other> characters were all subordi.