Evening star., 1925-04-19

he, on the prudiSh plea that he was
a married man with a local reputation
to keep up, declining at first to be
seen in company with the master
piece. But, on Archie giving a prom
Use to keep the front of the picture
away from the public gaze, he con.
sented to take the job on, and, some
ten minutes later, having made his
way blushfully through the hotel
lobby, Archie entered his suite, the
picture under his arm.
He placed 1t carefully against the
wall in order to leave himself more
scope for embracing Lucille, and when
the joyful reunion was concluded, he
stepped forward to turn it round and
exhibit it.
why, it's enormousr' said Lucille.
II didn't know Mr.. Wheeler ever
painted pictures that size. When you
said 1t was one of his, I thought 1t
must be the original of a magazine
drawing or something like-Oh"'
Archie had moved back and given
her an uninterrupted view of the
work of art, and Lucille had started
as If some unkindly disposed person
had driven brad-awl into her.
Pretty ripe-what?" said Archie
enthusiastically.
Lucille did not speak for a moment
kept her silent. Or, on the. other
hand, it may not. She stood looking
at the picture with wide eyes and
parted lips.
"A bird, eh?" said Archie.
"Y-yes," said Lucille.
"I knew you'd like it." proceeded
Archie, with animation.
Phone down to the Office, light of
my soul, and tell them to send up a
nail, a bit of string and the hotel ham
mer."
"one moment. darling. I'm not
quite sure
.'Eh?"
Where it ought to hang, 1 mean.
You SEE
over the piano, you said. The
jolly old piano.
Yes, but hadn't seen it then
A monstrous suspicion fitted for an
instant into Archie's mind.
Il say, you do like it, don't you?"
he said, anXiously.
"Oh, Archie, darling, of course |
do. And it was so sweet of you to
give it to me. But, what I was trying
10 say was that this picture is So
so striking, that / feel that we ought
to wait little while and decide where
it would have the best effect. The
light over the piano is rather strong"
You think it ought to hang in a
diminish light-what?"
Yes, yes. The DINNER the Il
mean, yes. in a dim light Suppose
we leave it in the corner for the mo-
ment-over there - behind the sofa,
and-Ill think it over"
"Right-o.- Here?" a.. ..- .-.-
Yes, that will do splendidly. Oh
and Archie?''
"Hullo," s- .... 49,
Il think perhaps Just turn its
face to the wall, will you?" Lucille
gave little gulp. 1T will prevent it's
getting dusty"
TT perplexed Archie little during
the next few days to notice in Lu-
cille, whom he had always looked on
as e-eminently a girl who knew her
own mind, a curious streak of vacilla-
ton. He suggested various spots on
the wall as suitable for the Venus
but Lucille seemed unable to decide.
Archie wished that she would settle
on something definite, for he wanted
to invite J. E. Wheeler TO the suite
to see the thing. One morning, en-
countering him on Broadway. he ex-
pressed his appreciation of the very
decent manner in which the other had
taken the whole affair.
'Oh. that" said j. B. Wheeler. my
dear fellow, you're welcome" He
paused for moment. More than
welcome" he added. You aren't
much OF an expert on pictures, are
you?"
Well" said Archie, "I don't know
that you'd call me an absolute nib,
don't you know, but, of course, know
enough to see that this particular
exhibit is not a little fruity. Abso-
lutely one of the best things you've
ever done, laddie"'
Mr.. Wheeler's eyes bulged.
What are you talking about. you
Tishbite? Are you under the impress
sion that l painted that thing?"
Didn't you?"
Mr.. Wheeler swallowed little con-
vulsively.
MY fiancee painted it, he said
shortly.
Your fiancee? My dear old lad, I
didn't know you were engaged. Who
is she? Do L know hero
Her name is Alice Wigmore. You
don't know her
And she painted that picture?"
Archie was perturbed. But, I say.
Won't she be apt to wonder where
the thing has got tor
II told her 1t had been stolen. She
thought 1t a great compliment, and
was tickled to death. So that's all
right"
And, of course, she'll paint you an
other"
Not while I have my strength she
WON'T said J.. B. Wheeler firmly
shes given up painting since ]
taught her golf"
But. laddie,' said Archie, puzzled,
'you talk as though there were some
thing wrong with the picture. l
thought is dashed hot stuff