The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-25
CHAPTER XIII.

l was relieved when l saw Gartn Holden was the early arrival. Natalie greeted him with great sprightliness then said:
 Now run along, you two, and make those cocktails! You've come just in time to help Bruce, Garth
 Whats up old man?" Garth asked J gI"Something gone wrong on your trips'
 Quite the contrary. I am put out though. Morton had the nerve to send all this stuff to Natalie"
 T wondered where you got the mak- ings, knowing you had cut out booze" |" q don't like it got home only an hour ago and if it had not been for hurting Natalie, spelling her party, I should have sent the stuff back. can furnish all we need for her parties"
 'f''Calm down. old man. As you say l it would spoil the evening if you made a fuss, and Morton don't know any better, hasn't an idea he's offen- ded you" We had barely finished making the cocktails when theother guests arrived. Ned and Jessie Church came last. Jessie her usual dainty, lovely self, Ned bit more exaggering than ever. Natalie had seated him at her right. l thought it in bad taste as there were other men more prominent and whom she did not know so well. But l could do nothing. I had not been consulted as to the seating.
 What delicious cocktails!" one of the men said as Natalie's health was drunk.
 Aren't they?" she returned, smiling. T have to thank Mir Morton for them" I could have shaken her, so angry and embarrassed was l; "Mr. Henderson won't buy any more liquors. He says the Prohibition brands are poisonous"
 'I'll take a chance on this," Ned Church broke in. We all owe you a vote of thanks, Morton" To my relief Garth changed the sub- ject and the dinner passd off gaily. Natalie had done wonders. Everything was, delicious, the table appointments and flowers in excellent taste, the serv- ice perfect. Two walters from the club had been engaged for the affair. had tried to join in the merriment but with indifferent success.
 Buck up, old man," Garth said as we left the table, the worst is yet to come."
 ; Natile had arranged to play bridge. Our apartment was not large enough for so many to dance,. q fact she had deplored. Never had she looked more lovely, been more vivacious, yet there was something about her that baffled me. Duts
 was playing opposite Jessie, she was dummy, when I caught her look ing at Natalie, who happened to be at the same table with Ned,. with. a peculiar look, sad, distressed, in her eyes. We had been pivoting and had paid little attention to Natalie, as had had difficulty keeping my thoughts on my game. When looked,up again Jessie was smiling, replying to a facetious remark Garth had made. shook myself together as miser- able suspicion crossed my mind. I was becoming morbid. Ned saw nothing of Natalie, Jessie's glance had meant nothing.
 At eleven o'clock I intercepted a look between Ned and Natalie.
 When this rubber is finished" she said, Mir. and Mrs. Church have in- vited us all to go somewhere to dance" Uneonsciously my eye flew to Jessie. The quick flush, the indignant look that vanished as noted it, told me as plainly as if she had spoken that Natalie's information was news to her.
 A delightful stir followed Natalie's announcement, while Garth winked at me. then said:
 What did l tell you Bruce?' A warning glance followed. Jessie was staring at me.
 Garth knew me so well, knew all my little idiosyncracies. He knew that had Natalie wanted our guests to have further entertainment l would have preferred to be the host rather than delegate that office to one of my guests. couldn't well blame Natalie except that I thought her own good sense. her pride, might have informed her of what was au fait. We never had discussed the subject; there had been no necessity. Most of our dan