, 1924-01-16
They became simultaneously aware

With the look of trapped things, they
stared ut each other, and Betty In
stinctively looked back over her Shout.
der. There stood Jasper In the door
way of the room. He looked like the
most casual of visitors to an art gal
lery, he carried II catalogue In his
hand. When he saw that he was seen
he smiled easily and came over to
them.
you will have to forgive me- he
murmured pleasantly you see, II WINS
necessary to see you both together and
Betty is not willing to allow me an
interview. | am sorry to nave chosen
a public place and to ave used II trick
to get you here, but l could not think
of any other plan. This is really pri-
vate enough. l have arranged this ex-
hibition for Foster and ii Is closed to
the public today. We got in by special
permit-a fact you probably missed.
And, after all, civilized people ought
to be able to talk about anything with
out excitement"
Betty's eyes glared at him. II will
not stay! This is insufferable!"
But he put out his hand and some
thing In his gesture compelled her.
She sat down on the round, plush seat
In the middle of the room and looked
up at the two men helplessly. Joan
had once leaned in a doorway, silcnd
and unconsulted, while two men, her
father and Pierre, settled their prop
erty rights in her. Betty was, after
all In no hattar rnSa Shn HStanal
whittier and whittier, till ut the last she
slowly raised her muff and pressed 1t
against her twisted mouth.
Moreno stood with his hand resting
on the high back of the circular seat
almost directly above Betty's head. 1t
seemed TO hold her there like a bar.
But 1t was ut Prosper he looked, to
Prosper he spoke. "My friend" he be-
gan, and the accumulation of the
Hebraic quality of his voice had an
instantaneous effect upon his two lis,
teners. Both Prosper and Betty new
he was master of some intense agita-
ton. They were conscious OF an in
creasing rapidity of their pulses. my
friend, | thought that l knew you fair
ly well, as one mab knows another,
but / find that there have beef certain
limits to my knowledge. How extraor-
binary ii is This inner world of our
own lives which we keep closely to
ourselves l have u friend, yes, II very
good friend, a very dear friend"-the
lronic insistence upon this word gave
Prosper the shock of n repeated blow
-"and / fancy. in the ignorance of my
c%onceit, that this friends life is suffi-
GENTLY open to my understanding. /
see him leave college, | see him go out
OF various adventures. l share with
him, by letters and condolences, the ex.
element of these adventures. / know
with regret that he suffers from Ill.
health and goes west, n there, with
IA great deal of sympathy, l imagine
him living. drearily enough, in some
small, health-giving western OWL
writing his book and Inter his play
me to produce"
"What the devil are you after, JAS
PERI"
But l do my friend an injustice
went on the manager, undiverted. His
career is infinitely more romantic. Lie
has built himself a little log house
amongst the mountains, and he has
decorated 1t and laid In q supply on
dainty and exquisite stuffs. ! believe
that there is ever an outing suit, small
and narrow"
"My Cd" said Prosper, very low.
There vas a silence. Jasper moved
slightly, and Prosper started. but the
Jew stayed In his former place, only
that he bent his head n little, half.
closed his eyes, and marked time with
the hand that was not buried In the
plush above Betty's head. He recited
In a heavy voice. and 1t was here that
Betty raised her nun!
Jasper is dying. BY the time you
get this letter he will be dead. II you
can forgive me for having failed in
courage last year, come back. What
I have been TO you before, l will be to
you again. only this time we can love
openly. Come back"
II am going madl" said Prosper
harshly, and indeed his face had a
pinched, hnlf-crnzy look.
The jew waved his hand. "Oh, no,
no, no. II is only that you are making
n discovery. Letters should be burnt,
my friend, not torn and thrown away.
but burnt" He stood up to his state.
Hest height and he made Il curious
and rather terrible gesture of break.
Ing something between his two hands.
II have this letter and ! hold you and