The Washington times., 1930-12-24
CHAPTER II

son both girls instantly put
aside the album containing the
records of their kinship. Over
them both, at once, had come q
mutual, instructive reserve.
IT thought I might catch you
two here. went to Joe'S place,
but you had just left"
His presence seemed to fill
the room with a strange mag
netiSm. Connie was acutely
aware of a personal remotenesS
about him so far as she was COLI
eerned, offset, however, by an
easy, detached intimacy with
Kitty. Through Kitty, almost
as though she were medium,
Connie was conscious that she
herself was linked to Carson.
The bond was indefinite, but
potent. He was a friend OF
Kitty's and, perforce, a friend Of
hers, too. The feeling was un-
Substantiated, but it existed
definitely. Duke Carson opened
o cigarette case and offered it
first to Connie. With speech,
she took one and held it to her
lips while he lit it for her.
A New Feeling
Her other friends, the Con-
necticut crowd. Jim Tracey and
the wedding that had never
happened, seemed very remote.
A new kind of feeling grew
upon her; family, it was agree
able to realize that she had q
slightly adventurous connection
with a sphere Of questionable
life. Even, there was a small
thrill in the knowledge that
Duke Carson, mysteriously, was
O semblance of the underworld.
OF course, Connie couldn't rec
oncile him with any of the
cruder aspects of crime; about
him was not a trace Of blue
jowled brutality. His champion
ship of Kitty, and his threaten
ing demand for money in her
behalf, had been altogether re-
mote from self-interest.
kitty has decided to go home
with me-" Connie said.
That's fine" Carson pro-
nounced. 'I think it would be
q great thing for her. but some
Of us around here are going to
miss her a lot"
"Oh, I'll not drop out of sight
altogether" Kitty said. BE
sides, you can come up and see
me, Duke, if you want to. It will
be all right for him to come,
Connie, won't it?"
Glad To See Him
This was q continuance that
Connie had not foreseen-that
Katty might draw to her in
her new surroundings her
Tenth Avenue friends. But
Duke Carson himself was all
right; Kitty'S suggestion seemed
unavoidably reasonable.
Certainly, Mr.. Carson, Wen
be glad to see you any time"
'Thanks!" he said, non
chalantly. when are you leav-
ing, Kitty?"
Connie answered for her:
'Tonight, If she will.
Carson raised brows. $50
Soon?"
"I don't know, it seems aw-
fully sudden" KittV'S mouth
quirked a bit charmingly. Zone
times as good as another,
though. I suppose-if I'm going
to break away"
"I hope you're not in any
doubt?" he asked.
"It's going to be an awful
Job to make a lady out of me-"
Kitty smiled doubtfully. II sup
pose that's what you intend to
try?"
"Of course not!" Connie de-
clared. Ladies went out of
fashion about Is years ago,
didn't they? No, you needn't
fear anything so stodgy."
Don't kid yourself that you're
giving anything up worth while
when you leave Tenth Avenue"
Carson informed Kitty. There's
no future for you here. If you
stick around long enough you'll
probably fall in love with some
good-for.nothing fellow and
marry him. And whatever
money you have coming to
you-if you tried to live up to
it by yourself you'n make a
thousand mistakes. Chances
are, you'd be gyped out of it
all inside a year. I want to
see you get some background
to your life, Kitty. It may be
pretty tough for you to adjust
yourself to your new surround
tngs at first. but YOU'RE bright
and you'll catch on"
The Dependable Duke
Ratty's eyes, for q moment,
showed signs Of melting, but
she checked the threatened dis
play Of sentiment.
Gee! I wish you would take
Q break like this yourself,
Duke" she said.