The Arvada enterprise., 1924-01-03

The Branding Iron
| By Katharine Ne,ulin Bur1
| Kat hrneNBu
3y Katharine Neulin Dur1

opyright BY Katharine N, Burt

chalr before an open fire, smoking :
cigarette. She was short woman. $,
slenderly. even narrowly built, as I,
appear overgrown. and she was nj.
ture woman so immaturely shaped an,
Featured as to appear hardly NOR,
than child. Her curly russell hal,
was parted at the side. her wide. long
lashed eyes were set far apart, her
nose was really finely modelled snuh
more, boys nose even to a light
sprinkling Of freckles-and her mouth
was provokingly the soft. red mouth
Of sorrowful child She lounged far
down In her chair, her slight legs, clad
In rdlng-breeches Of perfect cut.
stretched out straight. her timber
arms along the arms Of the chair. her
chin sunk on her fiat chest, and her
big. clear eyes staring into the fire.
1t was an odd figure Of wife for
Jasper Morena, Jew Of thirty eight.
producer and manager Of plays.
When Betty Kane had run away
with him there had been lamentation
and rage In the houses Of Kane and
Morena. To the pride Of an old He
brew family. the marriage even Of this
wandering son with a Gentle was
fully as degrading US to the pride OF
the old Tory family was the marriage
with a Jew. Her perverse Gaelic
blood. on fire with the insults heaped
upon her lover, Betty. seventeen years
old, romantic, clever, would have
walked over flint to give her hand to
him. That was ten years ago. Now.
when Jasper came into her room, she
drew her quick brOws together, puffed
at her cigarette. and blinked rs though
she was looking at something DIS
tasteful and at the same time rather
alarming.
Have they stopped dancing, jas
per?" she asked in voice that was at
once brusQue and soft.
Jasper rubbed his hands delightedly.
He was still merry, and came to stand
near the fire. looking down at her with
eyes entirely kind and admiring.
Have you ever noticed Jane. who
cooks for the outfit, Betty?'
"Yes. She's horrible"
"She's extraordinary, and mean to
get hold Of her for Luck's play. Did
you read IT."
yes"
"The play Is absolutely dependent
on the leading part and have found
1t simply impossible to fll. Now.
here's a woman Of extraordinary grace
| and beauty
Betty lifted skepticnl eyebrows.
twisted her timber mouth. but forbore
to contradict.
"And with magical voice-n wom-
nm who not only looks the part. hut
Is It. You remember Luck's heroine?"
Betty ficked of the ash OF her ciga-
rette and looked away. "A savage,
isn't she? The man has her tanned
takes her back to London, and there
gives her cause for jealousy and she
springs on him-yes. remember.
This woman. Jane. Is absolutely with
out education and hasn't notion Of
acting. I suppose"
jasper rubbed his hands with in.
creased delight. mot notion and
she murders the kings English. But
she Ia Luck's savage and-in spite Of
your eyebrows. Betty-she IL bcauti-
full. ! can school her. II will take
money. no end Of patience. but ] cnn
do 1t. It's one OF the thing. can
do But. OF course, there's the initial
difficulty Of persuading her TO try H."
"'That oughtnt to be any difficulty
at all. or course she'll Jump At the
chance"
"I'm not 40 sure She wns rendy 10
throw me out Of the Kitchen tonight.
She Ia really a virago. DO you know
what one Of the men said about her."
Jnsper laughed md Initiated the gentle
western drawi. "Jnne's plumb movin'
n me She's about halfway between
'You 60 to h--r and 'Yon take me In
your arms to rest"
Retty smiled. Her smile was vastly
more mature than her appearance. II
was clever nnd cynical and cold. The
Oriental. looking down at her, lost his
merrlment.
'Do you feel betfer. dcarT" he asked
| tITIl1IlNs ~" sou w" " ~ Nv
able TO go back next week"
She stood up MS he cnme nearer
and walked over TO the little table
that p,nyed the part Of dressing table
under n wnvy mirror. "Oh. yes.
am quite well. don't think the doc.
tors have much sense. I'm sure
hndnt anything like n nervous brenk'
down. was Just tired out"
jasper drew back the hnnd whose
touch she had elnded. and ncrr0usly.
| his long supple fingers u little un'
stcndy. lighted n cigarette. Al that
moment he did no, took Ike spider.
bu, like n lover who has been hurt
Betty could see In the mirror . dis
tor,ed imnge Of his detected graceful.
ness. but. entirely unmoved. she put
up her thin. brown hands hnh began
| TO tnke the pins out Of her hnir.
81 like your Jane experiment" she