The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-11-23

A casual remark about a certain dashing
musical-comedy actress who had sprung
into sudden prominence set the bali rolling.
II say, you know, I'll give you an intro
duction to her like shot, old chap, if you
really do want to know her." young Raynor
impaired to him in deep confidence.
"Really?" said Cleek with every appear
ance of boundless delight "You know her
you actually know herr"
Eyes, rather! Know the whole blessed
shoot of 'enl from Flossie Twinkletoes down.
Get reams of letters from 'em and bushels
of photos-all autographed. say, come up
to my den and have peep. You never
saw such a gallery"
Cleek admitted to himself when he saw
them that he never had; for the room was
literally smothered under photographs of
actresses, gymnasts, ladies of the music-hall
persuasion, and public characters in general.
Look here, I'll tell you what, Barch,"
said Raynor. IF you're in for lark, we'll
slip out and I'll show you bit of life on
the sly. Now then, listen here, old chap"
He stopped abruptly, as sudden grating
sound of wheels rose from the drive, and,
looking down, he saw that a vehicle had
swung in through the gates and was adj
vancing toward the house.
"Oh, Lord! That settles it, he said with
an expression Of deep disgust. There's that
prig Geoff Clavering driving In
Geoff Clavering. Cleek rose as he heard
the name.
Il say, lets so down, Raynor," he said
desperately. Il don't know what's come
over me, but my heads suddenly begun to
swim, and I'm afraid l shall keel over if I
don't get out in the air."
Clapping his hand to his head, and
wheeling staggeringly around to make his
way to the door, he had the good or ill
fortune to blunder against little table,
upon which stood an earthenware tobacco
jar, and to send it crashing to the floor.
Out of it rolled, on top of the spilled to-
bacco, little little silver box, which flew
open as it fell and disgorged a photograph,
a couple of letters in a Wonan's hand, and
fragment of pink gauze.
Cleek stopped to pick these things up and
lay them back upon the table.
II say! You let those things alonev'
snapped young Raynor excitedly; and,
springing forward, whisked them out of his
hand. But not before Cleek had made a
rather startling discovery The letters were
written in woman's hand-a hand he rec
ognized the instant he saw it--and the pic
ture which accompanied them was a photo
graph of Margot, queen of the Paris
apaches.
The rudeness of his act and of his man
ner Of speaking seemed to dawn upon young
Raynor.
al say, don't think me stable-bred,
Barch," he said, flush of modification
reddening his face Didn't mean to rip out
at you like that, b CAD! Fact is, was
bit excited; forgot for a moment that you're
pal. So don't get your back up, please"
II haven't the slightest intention Of doing
SO, dear chap replied Cleek, who, it must
be confessed, was little shaken by the
discovery. Every man has right to cut
up bit rough when he thinks some other
fellow is going to pry into his secrets. And
/ reckon this is one Of your pet mashes--
eh, what?"
Eyes, something like that. The latest and
ripper. French, you know. Don't know
what you'll think about my manners, but
forgot your asking to go down and get into
the air. Take my arm and I'll help YOU
AS the breaking OF the tobacco jar had
deprived Raynor of again making use of
that as means of hiding the little silver
box and it's contents, he had, while speak
ing, crammed the letters, the photograph
and the scrap of pink gauze into an inside
pocket of his coat, and now came forward
and took Cleek's ARM
"Fearfully groggy, old chap, fearfully,"
Cleek said in answer to young Raynor's in
quiry regarding how he felt as they went