The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-11-20

with which the girl in the painting
encompassed him. Then his atSen-
ton fell to bits of paper spread be-
dressing table. One by one he
picked them up and read them-read
the cancelled checks which signified
the purchases Joanna had made that
day, checks that had been hurriedly
cashed so the girl might take her
purchases away with her. They
totaled thousands, many thousands
At the jewelry store alone Joanna
had spent more than a tenth Of her
million dollars. 1t was all totaled
in the cancelled checks.
1.-The play begins! 1t is to be a
comedy. after all!'
1t was said quietly, evenly, but
there was just a nuance in the tone
that might have been expressed ex-
ultation. The speaker stood behind
the banker, figure in fault1ess eve
ming clothes, silk hated, white
gloved. About his lips played the
wrath of a smile-a cynical smile.
In his eyes there was amusement.
Just at that moment an ancient but
Ter appeared at the library door and
spoke:
Your car has arrived, Mr.. Bran.
dom"
Eggleston started. ''You will be
seeing her, tonight, them" he asked
calmly.
| stVao Che will ha ,DI,,vo,od into too
abyss tonight, by her new friend,
Yvonne Coutant. She will swim like
a sinuous mermaid through the
sordid sense of half a score of old
men whose lips she'll moisten with
the sight of her, and half a hundred
young men who will make wagers
as to which will be first to break
her. The end is in sight tonight"
Eggleston did not reply for a mo-
ment. He raised his glance, again
to the girl in the painting Then
he said, heavily:
Still, I'd like to see her here, in
this room. Arrange. someway, to
bring her tomorrow.
Brandon bowed slisaJly, and went
out Of the room and to his car, which
waited at the curb. He. gave his
order briefly: ITO Miss Coutant's."
r. r EANWHILE, Joanna, before
| I'M her mirror, waited to be sum
E- moned to the old men, and
the young men, and their young
women and old, downstairs.
Yvonne appeared in the doorway
The younger girl gave a little gasp
when she saw her. In contrast to
the soft white tones Of Joanna's
gown, Yvonne's was a shining black
velvet that chung to the curve Of
her figure like sheath, giving her
vulcanite hair it's complement. Her
shoulders and uncovered back shone
boldly and glistening white.
you will be something of a SEN
sation tonight, my dear" the older
woman exclaimed, when Joanna had
walked across the room, and HAD
whirled and stood still for her in
spections. Joanna was much too
happy to reply.
Yvonne's appearance among her
guests was the signal for dancing to
begin-also for the breaking down
Of all barriers built by formalities.
Women who had gathered in stiff
little groups to discuss other women
or the escapades Of other women
wore away to their first dance and
their first drink and the first round
of their preferred tlirtations. The
big drawing room had been made
into a dancing room. In the winter
garden the only lights were flicker
ing lanterns hidden among the foil
age. Great palms made screens
across corners of the drawing and
sitting rooms, and in the Railways.
"Yvonne," said Mrs. BROMLEY.
Smith, knows that two people never
have to tumble for conversation
when they're hidden behind palms. I"
AS Yvonne moved through her
rooms, with a word here and nod
there, her eyes sought single face.
When she failed to find it she spoke
to the butler, who stood at the post
in the reception hall. The man gave
her the information she sought.
''Mr. Brandon just arrived, Ma
dame"
She went at once, stopping only
for a subtle challenge to a judge
who, that day had delivered from his
bench, a heavily homily upon the
frailty Of modern mother, to door
that led off from the reception hall
into a tiny room which, after the
Continental fashion, she called a
morning room, reserved for her own
exclusive USE. Brandon stood by a
cabinet with siphon and glass in
his hands. He turned to greet her.
TC HE went directly up to him.
~ He gave her an intimate
glance, that not only ap-
praised her, but estimated every erti-
| flee of her. For an instant she
swayed toward him, yielding, ex-
pectant. But she read in his face
that he would not take her in his
arms. She was Immediately self
possessed. Gaily she fiuttered her
fingers across her own lips and then
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