Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-24
By
Arthur d. Munyan

single circumstance was missed by the
avid line OF eyes ON the veranda. Every
n at the station was present or ar.
counted for. The number OF times each
lrock had been worn was checked. Who
arrived with whom, who danced with
whom and how often were noted. Every
forced gayety. every sign OF the extra
cocktail, every disappearance of a couple
from the dance floor was remarked. The
gossip gibbered endlessly.
Every molehill was talked into a noun
tain. And now a tense whisper ran
across the floor. the verandas. and the
terraces. Where were MORA Varick and
Dickie Haviland? Together, naturally.
yesl But where?
Would they have the daring no to ap-
pear? Would they risk the scandal that
would follow their running of somewhere
together on the night OF the Embassy
club dance No, hardly. A mishap, then?
NO, MORA never had mishaps.
All minds, buzzing with guesses. know
Ing Moira's ways, came to one conclusion.
She was delaying her arrival for the
purpose OF making an entrance. Perhaps
she had a new gown from Paris or New
York n wanted to display 1t with the
fullest effect. 1t was certain that she had
something to spring.
l talked to Mrs. Sterling and heard a
sldecar motorcycle pass the gates, the
smart OF the engine hanging Inc fading
on Tx heavy air. I wondered idly for a
moment who it was. A tension like the
brazen monotony OF the music and the
stifie In the air pervaded the club. while
glances were turned often toward the en-
trance gate. To relieve suspense Mrs.
Sterling talked to me. whom she hated,
about an escadrtlle at Queenstown.
They tell me the planes actually have
arrivedl'
Eyes, 1t had" I said. The planes con-
sisted OF one ruinous old pursuit plane,
a DH4. I think, or about that vintage.
Other people stood around n Joined
IN the talk. "Dickie II Sparrow had
1t up yesterday" said some one. by the
way, where is Sparrow tonight? Oh,
Dickle said they were flying it in forma-
jon Wasn't that cute Of him?"
no discipline In the air forces"
Does Haviland remember how to fly
a ship? It's been long enough since-!"
What If the poor child should crash!"
Then the commandant would SEM
his insignia to MORA"
And notify Dorothy! Otherwise she
might not know OF 1t for weeksl Dickie
and his wife never meet, I'm told"
You ghouls!" I said, and laughed dis
agreeably. l vas a civilian, and an un-
hammered animal. anyhow, rude to ,peo-
pies faces and civil about them behind
their backs. / was not the vogue at
Queenstown.
There was a sudden hush in the ball
room, followed by q muffled connection
or nervous voices and movements The
hush spread from the dance floor In a
big, widening circle. In an orchestral
to a gasp of establishment.
Fan her darling tO!'
oh, his Is too muchl"
I stared at the gibbering throng around
me and saw from their faces hat some
priceless piece OF scandal had just come
off. Then I stuck my face in at one Of
the ballroom windows. MORA Varick
Sparrow!
We'll, what OF it?" ! demanded.
Nobody answered such a simpleton's
question, and / grinned to myself.
In all her arrogance and chic MORA
stood with her escort on the wide stair
to the ballroom, talking lightly with
him, coolly glancing about her. Her face,
with its odd planes, was as unreliable
as ever except for the trace OF a mock
ing smile Of her lips. In the poise she
showed she might have been unaware OF
the Lieut.. Jimmy, charming in his sill
yer winged tunic, plainly was proud Of
his partner, boyishly curious about his
debut, quite innocent OF what wen on.
Some OF the men present may have been
stupid In seeing what had happened.
But MORA and every woman there
knew just what her arrival with Jimmy
Sparrow meant. 1t meant that she had
discarded Dickie Haviland. and on the
same caprice had captured the stations
newest darling. 1t meant that all pres
ent were to see for themselves, think
what they liked. say what they pleased.
and the devil to them all! MORA danced,
while tongues ran wild.
I spoke to Mrs. Sterling because I al
ways got some ironic amusement OF
her sputterings. Now what?" / inquired.
ITS outrageous she pulled, to my
delight. Everything to her was an out
rage. 1t was outrageous for an affair to
60 on, and outrageous for 1t to end.
DO you really think so, Mrs. Sterling2"
I egged her on.
"Hellburn," she snapped, don't be i'm
becile!"
Did the old cat foresee some tragic
consequence from all this? 1t almost
seemed so. The music stopped and out
OF nowhere came q drone, q hum that
grew more and more audible.