Evening star., 1928-01-10

in0W about everything. Why am ! not
the task began?"
; you II love il. You may meet all sorts
Of interesting people
THE curious part Of IL is. my dear.
that you've got to CO." Frances in.
sisted. ''They made a special point Of
1t. / told them about you and that
we shared a room here. and they wei e
immensely interested. The last words
the princess said to me were not later
than 10 o'clock. and be sure you bring
Miss Brown / wouldn't dare to go
without you."
Miss Brown shook her head in some
embarrassment.
Frances. dear" she confided. IT
don't think / want to 60. / can't tell
you why. but there's really reason" +"
'Frock?"
"No. suppose my black frock
would do"
Then you'll have to come. and
that's all there In about it. think the
princess wants you TO do some work
for her..
Miss Brown reflected. She had had
visions since her conversation with
Paul of being abducted. OF being tied
hands and feet to her chair while
bearded monsters applied inhuman
| tortures to induce her to part with
| what she remembered of the contents
OF her precious notebook. And yet
| she wasn't actually afraid. She knew
very well how ridiculous any idea of
the sort really was and the vision
faded away. Her sense of humor
triumphed, and she laughed softly to
| herself.
''If you want me TO go very much.
Frances" she said. why. OF course II
might be fun. DO you mind dining
with me at little place I know OF
first?"
'I'll dine with you anywhere, my
child" Frances assented. hut let's go
and have "a cocktail somewhere before
We change"
You wouldn't like some tea. would
you?"
"I should hate IT," was the ern.
phatic reply. Il tried to drink some
in the train coming up. and IL nearly
poisoned me. Besides. I've drank tea
every afternoon down at Meadowley.
What a lot OF things there are I'd like
to strike right out OF my life. After.
noon tea would be one of them. Come.
Wen go round 10 the Ritz grin room. -
Its raining" Miss Brown ven.
tured.
wen get wet II necessary"
Frances declared, swinging herself off
the bed and arra ngiug her hat "if
you say another word shah drink
two cocktails--or even three. Put on
your nice drab little macintosh and
your shiny hat. and come along"
I'm not sure that approve of two
splnsfers wandering out in search OF
cocktails" Miss Brown remarked. as
they started off.
/ Frances shook out her umbrella.
where shall We go to-" she asked.
'Hatchard's or the Ritz"
Miss Brown deiiberated for q mo-
ment and decided in favor OF the
larger measure of respectability.
The only occupant Of the Ritz grill.
room lounge when the two girls made
their somewhat tenta tive entrance was
Noel Frankland. lounging ungraeefully
in an easy chair. with two empty
glasses upon the table by his side and
IA third one-half full In his hand. lie
rose TO his feet at once and came for.
ward TO greet Frances. but ho was
obviously embarrassed.
Why. what are you doing here 10.
night he demanded. Who's feeding
the chickenn?"
The chickens are all right" Fran
ces answered. IA little coldly. Il
thought you were speaking at Leeds. d"
You got II wrong" was the hur.
fied reply. That's tomorrow night
/ mean the night after. | am having
an early dinner here. and going to the
theater afterward." he added. with a
nervous glance over his shoulder.
with your wtfeI"
with the misaus. Good thing told
lyou about her. wasn't II? Look here.
what are you doing afterward--tomor.
row afternoon? Why can't you wan
der down and see my show Them" he
suggested lowering his voice as he
bent toward Frances.
| II don't think / want 10 zee your
show, as you call IT," Frances replied.
i"At the present moment We are dying
for cocktail. Come along. Edith.
| Ws'iI sit in ihs corner there"
"AwfufIy sorry ! cant ask you TO
join me-" MIR. FranklsDd apologixed
unsaeiIy. but you ssc--~well. there we
ar..'
IIa departed abruptly. 4 middle
aged woman OF undistiDEulkhed ap'
poarancs was standing In the doorway
Frances gave one glance At her and
then pasaed her arm through her
friends,
Il really don't know she reflected
as they gave their order, "whsther
Theses men sFe 30 Huch 10 DE hlamed
for their auesting habits, Marriage -
such Ia pig in The poke. isn't It? A man
can never know how u w0man's going
~ iurn 0ui,"
MIsg Brown Wbs unhyiHphthstls,
Mrs. Frankiand, II llat was she.
ste remarked. "ssamed IN me Ia bs en-
iireiy Df the same order of being ha her
husband, | don't like her appearances.
aud ] don't Iihs his, OF his manners.
Or his speech, ar his morals, or any
thing about him."
He's H. common sort of brute"
Frances unused. II wonder why that
type of man In sometimes attractive
10 u woman of superior instincts"
II don't agtes with you that he In,
wa. Miss browns nrm fepiy. mo
| woman of tasia could bs attracted by
suGh person, II | seriously believed
that you we're, Frances, ] think II
would ba oHe of the greatest disap
pointmsni ~ my life"
Frances laughed with sudden good
nature. and drank her cocktail.
MY dear, hina was only general
tspeGulati0H, lm in u queer mood