Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1929-10-26
FiirsG Instalment

q 60 - Gsfes~
"The game IS this" announced Mrs.
CARY. Flushed, moist with the twin
effects OF excitement and a humid
tropical night, not to mention one tiny
glass too many of the champagne
whose bursting corks had lent a
Fourth-of- July tone to the party, she
stood upon a chair and waved bunch
OF ribbons. -, =,
Her guests eyed her languidly; Mrs,
Clement Clary-"Copper' Clarys sec
I'd wife, who had cost him, he not IN.
quently said, hell, headlines and
e millions in cash (the first Mrs.
Gary had refused stocks, bonds, other
.otiable instruments, or real estate,
when she had finally yielded to his de-
rnands for divorce)--had 4 reputa-
ten for putting touch Of the bizarre
into every party she gave, and those
present were willing to stop Irritation,
scandal, and talk OF real estate Tor q
moment.
1--WE so to the pool" said the
hostess.
Several guests groaned slightly. Ons
Young man, Billy Lesson, turned to
the pretty brunette beside him.
I'm Woodworking lawyer, down
here for fortnight to recoup from
typhoid. | wish to goodness some
body'd think OF party that didn
mean swimming with your clothes OF
I've two dinner suits down here; ones
been ruined by salt water; l refuse to
spoil this" ..
"Sh-shp said the girl. "When Mrs,
Clary challs her cue she usually
pockets the bal" :.
Honest, you seem rapt and excited
and everything"
"Why shouldn't 1 be?" demanded
the girl.
The lawyer shrugged.
az don't know. Only, you seem a
shade different from the rest Of the
crowd here. Nicer, not so SO
rowdy."
lust a @ r, home-loving maiden,
the kind to make some man happy,
eh?" jeered the girl. "Now tell me
I'm wholesome, and ruin my evening
completely"
"You don't mean that" said Lesson,
blushirg.
Don't II" There was harsh
quality in the girls laughter which
consorted lily with the gay eyes, the
generous mouth, ard the smooth youth
of her. "And where did you learn so
much about me, N. 'esson%
The y"'rS nl~s., reimbursement
I.;.s s-siaiui.
T dat mean that that I knew
arvGn,. about you, only well, yot
a.. wholesome. | don't care II /
argcrs you or nos That's what yoi
a."
For a moment il seemed as If sh'
would take issue with I'm, debate tn,
trivial matter: then she laughed
pattcd him Lightly al the cheek, ani
said:
Really, you're a sweet boy. And
bit YOU mustn't tell it to S0ul-
sometimes believe that ! an! an old
fashioned girl &. at heart. Remem
Der me kindly in your evening prayers
won't you?" And the jeer in her las
sentence banished the effect OF in
ti.nacy that had been created by he
earlier words. She moved slight,
away from him, and paid attention t
her hostess.
TIA days of old" went on Mrs
Gary, "fair ladies were wont to Civ
g-crdons to their brave knights;
lock of hair, jewel, ribbon, anc
Sometimes, even, garter.
The pretty custom of our ances
trcsSes has given me an idea for to
4: ITS party. have here sixteel
aaliets. TO each man here | vii
. one. We will all go to the pool
ladies will stand in the shallow
e. The gentlemen, each holdin.
a'ilet, will dive from the deep end
aiming under water, the gentlemel
y cfdeavor to fasten aul1lets upol
t.a limbs of the ladies. No fair inch
ire away. Thus will partners be ar
ranged for the rest OF the evening
entertainment"
The pretty brunette turned 10 Lee
sen.
I'VE rarely go too far" she smiled
"This, which promised well, has de
generated into an ordinary moonlight
swim. The bold garter becomes TIL
tirnid anklet." She looked at hin
queer1y. 'I'll be standing at the edg'
of the pool" she said.
rs that an invitation?" he asked.
She exhaled fercely, as though puff
ing away strand Of hair that annoyed
her.
IF Venus asked you for a stroll
you'd want to know if she was mar.
ried, my cautious friend" she jibed
"You needn't bother; only ="
"Only what1" he inquired, rs she
paused.
Nothing at ALL" she replied.
She turned away from him again
and in that moment the dinner broke
UP. Three men bounced upon her
she was dragged away by them. He
spoke to a man whom he knew.
I'm rotten at catching Names" he
said, "and | didn't get a glance at the
card by her plate. Who is that grip
your dinner partner? That's Lucy
Hardness; Devil-May-Care, every
body calls her. She was sixteen when
we entered the war. Disappeared from
home, and her parents were nearly
frantic. Lied about her age, her fam
lily, everything; managed to get over
there. Decorated BY Joffre himself."
"Nurse?" asked Lesson.
"At that age?" His acquaintance