Evening star., 1928-10-21

A The difference between him
and the usual young man was
that he had learned to gauge its ef-
feet, discount it and lay it neatly or
with his Judgment The life of a re-
porter early teaches the lesson thai
women-even young and pretty women
are human beings. Peter had looked
tnto more than one pair of wide ano
innocent eyes had listened to more
than one sweet and persuasive voice
had responded amiably to more than
one appealing smile, and had discov-
cred that all these attractions might
not prevent their possesSor from pass
ing bad checks or engaging in the art
of blackmail Experience tends to dis
eipate the rosy and distorting mist in
which one sex views the other. but
the reporter quaffs strong and numer-
Gus draugF1ts OF experience beyond the
limits of his personal affairs If he
cannot carry that brew with a clear
head, he is soon advised to seek a
more congenial career, in which he
will be the only loser if his sympa-
ti1ies run counter to the facts.
Peters head was very clear, indeed
He was aware of the faint tingling ex-
hilaration of following "leao" which
had turned in an unexpected direc-
ton. The fact that Barbara was very
attractive to look upon enhanced her
newspaper value; it did not in the
least befuddle Peters faculties. He
was capable of proceeding precisely as
If she were an angular Spinster of all
too certain ycars-which NAV be lack
OF chivalry or its fine drawn furthest
development. AS he glanced sidewise
at Barbsras adverted profile and noted
the firm curve Of her chin and the
breadth OF brow belying the childish
ness of her short. tilted nose and deli-
cate colorlng, he paid her the unspoken
compliment of not Understanding her
intelligence. She was. for the moment
at least his antagonist. And expert
ence had taken OUT of him any mascu-
line conceit that. being a woman, she
was, therefore, too helpless a foeman
to be worthy of his steel.
Barbara showed that she deserved
the compliment by sitting, quite still
and silent. IN her corner of the coupe.
What I really came for" Peter cb-
served, conversationally, was to see if
you wouldn't help me by using your
lnhuence to get me an interview with
your father"
You said you came on the Ellis
worth case" Barbara took him up
quickly. Her hands lay quiet in her
lap, but there was tense watchful-
ness in her poise Of her small. alert
flgure. The years had dropped from
her-dropped like pebbles flung sound
lessiy from a cliff edge into the sea.
She was once again the orphan asy-
lum child, stamped by the hard, unre-
mitting effort to hold her own, to
clutch. bit by bit, at fragmentary ad-
vantage in that regimen SO inimical to
the spirit of childhood.
SO / did" Peter aSSented, "The
office sent me out to get an interview
with Dr.. Cavanaugh on the case-his
views on the psychology of runaway
wives, with sldelights on husbands
from whom wives disappear-something
like that"
surely you knew" Barbara faced him
now, once again the self-possessed
young woman of wealth and position
Her polite, remote voice was calculated
TO put a presumptuous reporter in his
place.
But Peter was not to be intimidatcd
By society manner.
You're ever so much more like Alice
IN Wonderland than Lady Clara We're
de We're, really" he said with a dis
arning, smile. Look here. I hoped
you'd help a fellow outfits my job,
you know. / came because I was sent.
but since was sent. I've got to use
every effort to get what l was sent for.
That's reasonable. isn't it?"
"Ye-e-s,'' Barbara admitted That's
your point of view. But I'm much
more likely to take my fathers.
There's a little thing like loyalty. you
know. You play on my sympathies to
get me to persuade father. as a favor.
TO do something he wouldn't do other
wise. Well, supposing that could-I
1n ~@f It r.
was very firm, indeed.
Not even to help out-Don Ellis
worth?"
''What-do you mean" Barbara's
voice was little more than gasp
You and Mr.. Ellsworth were pri-
vately engaged to be married-before
asserted.
How did you know" The words
came out before she could stop them.
She bit her lip and a slow flush
mounted to her forehead and drained
away again.
Look here" Peter said kindly. IT
haven't any Ill motive against any of
you. I'm quite willing to be frank. 1
simply guessed it. Whatever Don Els
worth does has a way of getting into
the papers, and one of the things that
got in, by way of society gossip from
our Del Monte correspondent, was that
you and he were seen together q great
deal Just prior TO his sudden marriage.
I've the clipping here. But you needn't
mlnd-the admission is certainly Moth
ing against YOU.
But what does it matter? WHY do
you want TO know? YOU surely cont
mean that you're going to drag that
IN? | was a fool to let you trick me
Ike that" Barbaras voice was Bit
ter with accusation of both herself
and him
1T matters Just this much" Peter
sald steadily. There's more in this
Ellsworth business than meets the eye
though goodness knows it's been
davs. Suppose that young Ellsworth
had a reason for wishing his wife out
ot the way. Suppose that you were
the reason"
Gracious, you Go leap to melo-
drama Barbara's smile flashed out
moment and was gone IF every
man who married somebody else than
the first girl whose name the gossips
connected with his changed his mind
and murdered his wife this world would
be an even more jolly place for the
newspapers than it is"
Peters eyebrows rose.
Murder" he r7v~mured gently. so
far as I know. nobody has mentioned
that the Ellsworth Gaze involves a
murder"
He saw Barharas teeth catch her
lover lip. Then, as if warned asains.
allowing her features to betrav her.
she released it and turned to him a
composed and inscrutable face
Your own phrase, / believe, vas that
Mr.. Ellsworth might wish his wife out
Of the way Butting some one out of
the way IS familiar idiorl isn't Il?
Pardon me if l misinterprctcd your
meaning"
Peters eyes becmed upon her with
frank 2dmlration. He could discount
personal attraction, but he knew better
than to discount quickness Of wit.
Feeer disliked fools. even when they
IL - u