Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-16

a dapper chauffeur, as smart as
a cavalryman. stamping up and
down to KEEP himself warm.
Queens Gate Mansion" murmured
Sir Ian. climbing in.
Dighton followed.
1t seemed an eternity before they
reached Hyde Park Corner. Along
Knightsbridge the fog had lifted bit
and there were clear patches OF which
their driver took full advantage The
halt at Queens Gate was good as an
alarm clock to Taverner. He was alert
in an instant. and out on the pavement
almost before the other had realized
he was awake.
II shan't be two shakes" he de-
clared and went UP the steps.
Reaching over. the chauffeur let
down folding seat.
"Wretched night" ventured Dighton,
''Wretched. sir"
A glimpse at his profile set the adj
Venturer's memory working.
Weren't you in the 9th WesseX?"
ayes. sir. Remember you WELL sir"
'Hodges?" suggested Dighton.
A smile stole over the chauffeur's
habitually impressive face.
That's right. sir. Not bad times,
taking the rough with the smooth of it..
Wish I was back there sometimes"
He jumped out suddenly to hold open
the door for Greta.
"Hullo!" she cried to Dighten. 80
you didn't let me down after all!
Please don't get up. You look SO de-
lightfully comfortable-and the little
seats mine always, isn't it, Hodges?"
Always, Miss" returned Hodges
c,tifully
D.ghton capitulated with a shrug Of
fAa eh 1r-oc
putting her claim to the third seat,
because all the available evidence was
in her favor Added to that. she was
sitting in it already!
"Uncle's talking to Lady Turnham"
she explained. Hes frightfully talk
ative tonight. He usually is when he's
excited about something. HI goes on
end on and on-until somebody has
to drag him away. Has anything excit-
ing happened tonight?"
Dightcn blinised.
ut all depends On what you call ex-
citing. War "reminiscences are usually
pretty stirring, you know
He thought he had got out of that
very we'll.
Creta clasped her hands over one
knee and stared at the single bulb
glowing in the Roof
Dighton was thinking what a change
q woman made in the atmosphere of
a car, room, club-anywhere Greta
seemed to have 1t upon the one per-
fume in the world that fascinated him.
He lay back in his seat and reveled in
her beauty, her youth, her unfailing
1oie de vivre.
Have a cigarette?" he suggested,
holding out his case.
mo, thank you," she returned with
well assumed hauteur. Il prefer to
smoke my own. Quite cheap things,
you know: but they don't catch my
throat"
Dighton WINGED.
Il saw" he protested. that's too
bad! What wicked thrust! Right
under the fifth rib"
Don't you think you deserve it?"
They both burst out laughing
AT any rate, you'll take one now?"
Greta thought.
"On one condition-and one only"
And that is-?"
THAT you promise to forget that
stupid war-and dance with me the
whole night"
Dighton bent forward
My dear lady" he murmured. "the
cigarette is yours. I know of nothing
that could please me better!"
She regarded him steadily for some
seconds, then helped herself from his
case
He struck a match and held it out
TO her. The operation of lighting-up
brought their heads very close.
II wonder how many girls you've
said that TOP" she whispered. con-
scious of the proximity of Hodges.
"A goodish few" he admitted easily;
"but I fancy I meant it tonight"
The street door of Lady Turnhams
house slammed and the return of Sir
Ian Taverner brought an end to their
conversation.
The Cockatoo Club was evidently a
product of the mad age of which
Taverner had spoken in the drawing
room. It's entrance was approached by
area steps necessitating somewhat
LrecariouS descent from the pavement
OF lower Regent street Dighton. fol-
lowing the others curiouSly, was struck
by the lack of outside advertisement.
But for the muffied strains of dance
music and the well dressed people ap-
preaching this subterranean rendez-
Vous from the fog he might have sus-
pacted his host had lost his way.
An unglazed swing door furnished
with silent self-closing device ad-
r1itted them to a narrow passage and
veritable blaze of light which con-
trasted oddly with the yellow pail with
out. At the far end. before a counter
where cards of membership were ex-
anined with minuteness which the
sdventurer thought was little over
done. an attendant relieved them of
their coats and ushered them presently
into a large hall furnished with little
tables an ample dancing space and a
curtained stage.
To the right of the stage small