Evening star., 1925-12-04

Eggleston rescued her with 4 stiff,
formal greeting that ignored Bran
don'S illusions.
Joanna made a valiant effort to
throw off the shyness that constantly
threatened her in the presence of the
great barker who knew the secret of
her mystery. She knew, instinctively,
that she had not been asked to visit
him, at his home, without some very
definite reason. But whatever this
reason might be, she was convinced
that 1t, also, would be kept from her.
EggleStonS phrases were formal,
cold; yet. now and then she was sure
she detected something in his man
ner-that was quite all that she could
determine about it, that it was, sim
ply. something" AS vet the mind of
Miss Twenty seven had not become
expertly analytical.
Il understand" the banker said
when they had taken their place at
the table in a massive dining room-a
room as somber as the library which
throned the girl of the painting -
that you were definitely launched
last night. and that you were quite a
success. That is what my nephew
here, has given me TO understand.
1T was glorious Joanna agreed.
You have not, then, formed any
substantial ambitions. You are the
trustee of a fortune. I am interested
in your immediate future"
Joanna looked up, quickly. Il
should be willing to follow any in
struction you give me-" she said
quietly. If you give me none, l can
do nothing else but enjoy myself ac-
cording to my own inclinations. l
have always wanted little things that
l couldn't have. Now that l may
have the big ones that are better.
shall simply have them-that's an 1
can do. 1t seems"
LAS your banker" Eggleston re-
turned. II am wondering If, since that
is your inclination, some of your Sc
curitieS should not be turned into
cash. Already you have expended
some S130,000.' That is within a few
days. If you continue at that rate
you will need actual money. You
must give me my instructions.
Joanna saw that Brandon was
watching her furtively. She felt the
need of d defense, but, instead,
plunged into an offensive.
Il am going to spend a gread deal
of money" she said. There are 50
many things to buy, and money
Miss Coutant's world" She was
silent moment, then asked sud
denly:
How far does a million dollars go,
Mr.. Eggleston?"
Not very far" he replied. when
intrusted to the three companions
Vanity. Extravaganza and Desire.
They. 1 believe, are the chief advisers
of the young women of this day"
Are they?" Joanna asked earnest
ly. Il have always found that my
chief friends were misunderstanding
Distrust and Envy
A great modern banker, a despot
| whose whim echoed as thunder
! through the marts of finance, and a
modern. younger man. whose pastime
was the battling of feminine artitice,
looked across their table into the
fresh, young. modern face of a girl
| who was just bloSsoming out from
Miss Twenty-seven of the silks. The
banker remembered, strangely, a Wis
| ion of elaring legs and f1amboyant
! rouge that came awkwardly through
his office door with the air of one
who was being trapped Brandon re-
membered the girl who had mo place
to co. except to her silk counter or
| her rooning house. And Joanna I'M
derstood why they looked at her.
She smiled at them both. Il
couldn't say that so easily" she ex-
planned brightly, ''if it wasn't that I'd
read some place, that those three
things were particularly wicked.
recognized them Immediately as the
| ghosts that We're always haunting
me. John and Mrs. Adams misun-
derstood me if I went out and didn't
get home until in the morning.
They thought there couldn't be any
place decent for a girl to be after
half past ten. If took a swallow out
of their TASKS the boys distrusted me
when 1 drew a line they mustn't
cross. and said 7 was fooling or that
1 wouldn't take the swallow. And a
lot of men and women who didn't