Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-08-21
PartOne
CHAPTER l
Jerry Was Not Deceived

1t vas lacking but twenty minutes
of midnight. At the top of four stag
geringly steep flights of dusty stairs
the studio apartment of Carter Blake
was ringing with unaccustomed blaze
and blare of wild hilarity, supplanting
the dull drab of steady 81 very at the
easel for the first time in nearly two
years.
At twenty minutes to twelve the
gayety was at its height
On stool in the center of the room
a small monograph shrilled out the
melody of the latest tango. and three
couples danced internationally about it,
stopping al will to light a cigarette,
to drain glass from the tray on the
table, or to join for mor1ent in tn
conversation that went on among the
others scattered about the room.
Among the cushions on the wide
couch, her feet crossed beneath her,
In a startling gown of orange and
black, girl with wildly Redeemed
hair, with crimson cheeks and impec-
cably painted lips, leaned drowsily
against the shoulder of Korzky, the
young Russian sculptor. her slender
profile lifted to his face. In her slim,
nervous fingers was a cigarette, which
she held first to his lips, then to her
own. with easy impartiality.
In the window-seat, alone, strum-
ming soft southern melodies on a
banjo, in discordant defiance of the
blatant jazz, half reclining upon the
cushions, lay Mary Donya, glass on
the window sill at her side, a cigarette
dropping futilely away to ashes in a
tray. while Aimee Glorian perched like
pretty, angelic imp on the heavy,
old-fashioned table against the wall,
her fair face seraphic in Its gentle
sweetness, swaying to the rhythmic
motion OF the cocktail shaker, of which
she had proclaimed herself officiating
goddess
At twenty minutes to midnight.
yellow taxi stopped before the e.
trance, four flights below, and Rhoda
La Faye, in golden cloak, her golden
hair an aureole in the reflection of the
bright street-lights sprang out at the
instant Of its stopping, her sharp eyes
on the registering meter as sh said:
"One seventy Rightp
She hurriedly pressed two one-dollar
bills into the hand of the. driver.
"Come. Jerry!" she cried, with the
quickness that characterized her every
word and motion, and thrust out a
nervous, hurrying hand from the folds
OF her cloak, Fairy Geraldine Harmer
clasped ii eagerly almost shyly, as she
followed breathlessly up the four long
flights of stairs to Carter Blake's stu
do on the top floor.
Rhoda lifted the knocker, let it fall
heavily, and, waiting for no response,
opened the door and ran in. drawing
Jerry with her. They were greeted
with burst of merry laughter, noisy
welcome. Bertrande Rochester. aban-
doning the discussion before the pic
ture, joined them Immediately, catcf
Ing Rhoda about the waist with "a deft
arm. and whirling her ~unceremoni-
0usly int the dance around the pho
n0graph.
For moment Jerry stood alone.
slender and lovely, with glowing, ques-
tioning eyes, and quickening pulses.
Its Jerry Jerry Harmer I" Rhoda
tossed lightly over her shoulder, inter
rupted in what she would say by Ber-
trande Rochester who kissed her as
they danced. lawfully nice little
sid From Iowa I'VE wen. to school
together--until | got fired !"
Aimee Glorian, of the angelic sweet
cess, slipped at once from the table.
and drew away Jerry's cloak. which
she piled with the others on chest
near the door.
'What will you haver' She turned
Hospitality TO the table. with it's brave
display of bottles and glasses--a nom
descript lot those last. of every con-
ceivable size and shape. and including
three cracked teacups. "These are
grunge blossoms-l am making them
for myself. can'f stand Scotch
plenIy for ~en. too, II YOU like Luane