The Washington times., 1928-12-24


by the opportunity to glimpse
from afar gayeties denied them,
stared at his shadowy form as
he trod grass forbidden to the
Hey, felIer," cried = voice,
nobody crashes the Careys
gates. You'll get the buns
rush"
There was 4 friendly shadow a
rod or two from the great stone
steps that led from the wide
yeranda. In its shelter Leasing
paused moment. He saw the
groups of beautifully gowned
women and their cavaliers, dane
ing in the brilliantly lighted BALI
room, or crossing the verarda on
their way to the fortune-tellers'
booths set up in the tents outside.
And there were Indian rnysttcs
and magicians, and a dozen other
forms OF entertainment in these
marques.
The Careys had thrifty conn
bined charity with the amusement
they offered their guests. A hos
pital would benefit by the fees
paid for these tent-shows that
rather cleyerly aped the atmos-
phere of a small fair. After all,
il Lessing appeared at the party,
he would spend some money
and thus contribute to q worthy
cause
Well, why lie to himself? That
girl at the Casino, unworthy little
thing that she was, had, never
theIess, pulled back curtains for
him. and showed him yistas that
might prove pleasurable. Must he
be a drudge for 40 years merely
because he had been one for ~?
Out in the world was youth.
gayety, laughter, soft lips and
stockingless legs, he chuckled, II
one came right down to it. And
even il the girl OF the earlier eve
ming had ran away from him,
still. she had remained with him
long enough to receive his kiss
and-return it. Perhaps he
wasn't the sour-faced old cur
mudgeon that he had deemed HIM
self. After all, he was only IS,
and 35 was young.
He turned abruptly away from
CUuIEDIUfdLlOHt vi bttC say SAGAAS
before him. He was not dressed,
and he felt embarrassment at
passing through the guests in a
blue.serge suit. But there must
be side entrances. He found one,
( guarded by a hard-faced man in
a suit somewhat like Lessing's.
yeah, and what do you want?"
asked the hard.faced man.
I'm a house-guest," he ex-
planned.
rs that so? And il / let every
second-story man that called him
self a house-guest in here tonight
the fences would work overtime
tomorrow" said the man.
"Detective?" asked Lessing.
"Greening operative was the
reply.
Lessing frowned. "Really? Is
such a thing-I mean to say, is it
necessary? At a party like this,
where everyone is asked
Asked? What do you mean,
asked?" said the detective. What
the hell. feller, I'll bet there's
200 people crashed the gate here
tonight. They walk in with other
people, they wear glad rags, the
hostess thinks some friend of hers
brought them-I'll say I'm needed.
Me and other five that's scattered
around. Now" and his voice
grew truculent, you say you're
a house-guest? Well, if that's
so, why're you sneaking in the
back way, and why amt you
dolled up?"
Lessing laughingly explained
that he had begged off from the
party, but now was returning
home. A passing servant identi-
fled him; he complimented the
detective upon his vigilance; they
parted with mutual expressions of
esteem, and Lessing was guided
by the servant up a rear STAIR
way and to his own room.
There, through windows that, in
the day, commanded view of the
limitless ocean, Lessing could see
couples entering and leaving the
Gaily Colored tents. The music of
the orchestra entered his blood.
blood that had been aroused
earlier tonight.
After ALL Mrs. Carey had been
very hospitbale. Invited down to
Newport because her husbands
health made it inadvisable to take
a trip to New York in the hot
weather, Lessing had been made
to feel at home. Bailey's Beach,
the Clambake Club, the golf links
though he had not availed HIM
self of the latter-had been
thrown open to him. Carey, his
most valuable client. whose good
will was most precious to him,
had not forced his guest to do
anything, but had offered him
everything. 1t was ungracious
not to attend a party merely be-
cause he might feel ill-at-ease.
And why should he fell ill-at-ease?
Not Mrs. Carey's attitude could
account for that. 1t was simply
because he had SO long denied
himself any social relationship
that the mere thought of 1t terri
fled him.
But, earlier tonight. he had left
the world of briefs. of judges, OF
decisions, and entered-though
briefly-the bright world OF flesh