San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-22


II love Arlette Valleau," Nicholas
Perry said quetly-with something
almost Greek in the simplicity of his
answer to his own question so hotly
put to Jim when he followed up Jim's
brutally frank statement that he want
ed his share with a harsh:
do you know what | want?'
"You mean you don't want her to
have a career?" asked Madame Pc.
truzai smoothly.
mol don't-Want her to-"
''Then why did you make that pic
ture of her and me together from the
little old photograph / gave Arlette
and see that it got into the papers"
asked Madame Petruzgi.
1 watched Nicholas Perry out of
the corner of one eye, before turned
my gaze frankly on Jim. / was afraid
of the naked revelations should read
on their greedy faces, but / did not
feel that 1 had a right TO finch from
the truth.
Mr.. Perry had leaned back in his
chair and had thrown his head so far
back that all 1 could see was the grim
setting of his jaw above the granite
hardness of his chin. Jim was watch
ing Nicholas Perry intently. His face
was almost blank. / recalled his
former passion for cards and decided
that this must be his "poker face" 1t
told me nothing save that he was de-
termined to reveal nothing.
At last Nicholas Perry spoke, an
swering Madame Petruzzi's questions
with decorating frankness that wrench
ed his lips with the pain of speaking !:
Il made that picture to block my
own game" he said. I'm a good
gambler. / know that when l say
love woman j only mean / want her.
That might be good enough for little
model if it were not for the fact that
she has the great gift of song. ! took
that step-forced her into the lime.
light in order TO force my own hand
and that of the other ravening
wolves who covet her sweet youth just
as l do-and who might not take a
definite step if l did not force their
hand as well as mine"
when 1 took Arlette to Madame
Petruzzi I forced everyone's hand"
Jim cried triumphantly.
But to me it sounded as If he were
defending himself.
MY dear fellow" drawled Nicholas
Perry. Don't you remember that clev-
err thing a Frenchman once said. II
was: Who excuses himself, accuses
himself attacked myself openly. So
be careful about the things you imply
where you are concerned"
Jim's look was frank--or was i
bland ?-as he replied:
Perhaps what you just told us all
so confidentially was not news TO me.
l have had opportunities before this
to-size you up"
Nicholas Perry glared at him.
This reference to lady you would
not wish me to name, is offensive to
say the least" he said.
Jim bowed AID answered coldly:
Just SO. Offensive-but inevitable.
Now to return to the main theme of
this--conference When / took Arlette
to Madame Petruzzi it was to further
her career. 1 was not entirely disia-
terested. / thought that if got back
ing, Arlette would be ready after a
year of study, to startle the world as
a musical comedy star. know the
theater. / felt that as her manager ]
might make fortune. 1t appears i
started more than l had the vision
to imagine" -,
"That is the truth, I fancy" said
Madame Petruzzi thoughtfully. Blu;
my opinion is that the girl is WORTHY
of a great deal of training; that she
will be a great singer-one of the
worlds real song birds"