Evening star., 1926-03-22

Martha Denntson at IL faces the
fact that her husband hos drifted
G1rdy from her, as eoeH as her ttoo
children, Natalie and Arthur. She
meets an attractive bachelor, Perry
Macdonald, and accepts his attentions
tCithout realizing the danger In such
an attachment. In the meantime Ar
thur is infatuated 1pith Mimi, a dancer,
and Ndtdlie half in love 1Cith Lucien
Bartlett, married man. Perry and
Martha see Natalie and Lucten at the
thedter, and Perry tells Martha that
Lucien Is married. Perry finds him
self more than q little interested IN
NdtdHe, and Martha, aCorrted oUer her
daughter, decides to hare q talk trIth
her. She does this aUith little effect.
CHAPTER XIV.
Minis Little Ruse.
Arthur, in the meantime, was hav-
ing his own troubles with Mimi. His
infatuation for the girl blinded him
entirely where she was concerned. lie
could not see beyond the youthful
charm of her, the grace of her dane
ing, the vapid prettiness of her face.
Behind the lovely exterior of her there
beat crafty little heart, and that very
day after the afternoon performance
of "Riotous Rosy" Mimi had been in
troduced to new admirer.
To her delight Mimi had made an
impression. She saw new vistas OPEN
and forgetting all about the faithful
Arthur, she had promised to go to
supper after the theater.
Later she had remembered Arthur,
remembered that he came to the the
ater each night and waited for her at
the stage entrance afterward. She
also remembered that Arthur was apt
to be ugly at times, particularly when
he had been drinking. In some way
he must be circumvented. and what
better way than to pretend that she
was i'll, too i'll to do anything but go
directly home to bed?
She confided her plans to Francine
Clifford, one Of the girls who shared
the apartment with her, and Francine
promised to aid and abet Mimi in pull
ing the wool over Arthur's eyes.
Now as it happened. F'rancine was
pretty as Mimi-nor did she possess
Minis charm and ability to handle
men. Moreover, Francine liked Ar
thur and was sorry for him. She
knew that Mimi would not hesitate
to throw him over. the minute she
happened to attract any one else, and
therefore Francine thought 1t not
amiss to drop a hint to Arthur as to
the truth of the matter. That night,
after the show, Francine and Mimi
appeared together. Arthur as usual
was waiting, but Mimi, instead Of
smiling up at him in her usual man.
ner said in a tired voice, Arthur. 1
have a terrible headache. I'm going
straight home to bed. Sorry, old dear.
but no gayety for me tonight, I'm all
in"
Arthur had insisted upon going with
her. but she had demurred. Certainly
not. What's the good of that?"
II could take you home" Arthur
persisted eagerly.
to be alone. l really feel to rotten to
have any one with me- Why don't
you take Francine over to the Frivol-
ity tonight? She'd love that, wouldn't
you. dear?" And then she had allowed
Arthur to pilot her to a taxi and give
the address of her apartment, an ad.
dress that she changed as soon as
the taxi was block away.
Left on the sidewalk together,
Arthur had turned to Francine. Like
a bite Of supper?" he asked mechanic
ally.
He could hardly do less, ran his
thoughts, inasmuch as Mimi had put
the thing up to him, but he had no
wish to take Francine to supper, and
be hoped she would refuse.