Evening star., 1925-12-04
Continued from Yesterdays Starr
CHAPTER Xxx.
In EgglestOn'S Home,

A butler, the ancient one, whose
years seemed to identify him with
the old house, brought word that Mr..
Eggleston would join them shortly, If
they would be pleased to wait. Bran
don, when the old man had Lisap-
peared notselessly, held ont his cigar
cite case to Joanna. She shook her
head.
mo, not in here" she said. Some
how 1t doesn't seem as if-as If one
smoked in this house, does it?"
THAT Is curious feeling" he oh
served. Il don't imagine my esteem
ed uncle smokes them, but | fancy he
is not unused to them. Surely you
would not adopt pose of innocence
Of them because If visionary regard
for your bankers tastes"
NO" she replied, Il wouldn't do
that. But, just the same. don't want
to smoke"
She moved away from the table
and to a window. Brandon, eyeinS
her closely, saw that as she crossed
the room her glance fell aeain on the
painting over the fireplace. She
looked from the window out into the
avenue for a minute or two, then
turned suddenly and went directly up
to the fireplace. The action was as
If in response to some occult sum
mons from the girl who looked down
SO serenely from the canvas.
Joanna rested her hand on the
;nante) ledge and gaZed up into the
face in the portrait. II was a picture
that might have amused her. with its
prim. voluminous skirts. from under
which just a boot toe peeped; it's
leg o mutton sleeves and absurdly
tiny waist that almost shrieked aloud
M nf cit
of virgin modesties was there, in the
hands that would have been demurely
clasped if they had not held the age
old weapon of defense-an ornate
folded fan. All of this Joanna some
time would have laughed "a, as at a
schoolday valentine. To her there
never had been anything quite 50 ri
diculously funny as any sort IF fash
ion that had become passe clothes
girls or conventions.
But Brandon. who Lad dropped his
cigarette into a gold ash tray ard
moved softly to one side Of the room,
where, under pretense of examining
book, he might furtively watch the
girl at the firepllcc. Jaw nothing Of
amusement in her Tace. Instead he
fancied that some of the wistfulnesS
OF the girl in the painting had reached
down TO the other. do YOU know
NiiO siIc Isl lltdIl "HD sne was
The voice seemed to float gently on
the stiffness of the room.
Brandon didn't answer at once.
Joanna did not notice his silence
She fascinates me-" she said, still
dreamily. There is something about
, her face that reminds me OF some
one-I don't know who. 1t makes
me want to think"
There was a sound at the door,
which was opened by the old butler
Eggleston entered the room. Brandon
made no sign. He glanced from the
girl to the banker and Then watched
them both
Egsleston halted abruptly when he
saw Joanna and that she Vas lost
in contemplation Of the girl in the
painting. He looked at Brandon, a
mute inquiry in his eyes Brandon
shook his head, Eggleston stood, quiet
~, his head lowered bit so that
his study of the girl at the fireplace.
whose back was partly turned to him
had the effect Of an inner as we'll
as outward scrutiny
Suddenly. as If she were startled
Joanna wheeled and met the barker's s
stare. A hand fluttered nervoasly
10 her breast. For a brief moment