The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-30

AIIB A4uSuAo' C1SdA CIGCo esAAO SO14SSs
HEAT TOO GREAT
| She had told Zephrine to move
the couch back from the fire. The
heat was too great. During dinner
Zephrine had done so.
She had done even more! She
had fastened a spray of mistletoe
to a lamp at one end Of the
Settee, where Toni sat. 1t had
passed unnoticed by her mistress.
Zephrine removed her uniform
and got into street clothes.
Presently, her tread was heard
in the foyer, and the front door
banged. She he'd departed, thought
Toni, relieved.
But Zephrine had not gone.
She tiptoed back into the pantry.
first taking the precaution to re-
move her shoes.
She peered through the crack.
Slipping benedictineI How could
a poor working girl afford such
things? The kind and generous
Monsieur Niklas was being made =
fool Of! Zephrine had her own
peculiar code Of honor among
thieves"
She had overheard that nasty
remark, too, about the firewoodI
Madame would rue that remarkI
True, she cheated frequently, fix
ing the grocery bills, getting ex-
cellent rake-offS. But that was
proper and fitting, she considered.
Madame had no business BE-
lifting her to this gentleman!
Nor did Monsieur NiklaS deserve
to be deceived!
DECEITFUL MAID
One more remark like that from
madame, and she would tell him
Of all the goingS-on, even though
she lost this job.
She saw Toni rise and open q
window. Strains of Christmas
carols filled the apartment.
Perhaps" thought zephrine.
she try to make him think her
good? Try to make him propose?''
II that were brought about,
shed play up to her mistress.
stick by her. This man looked
like plenty of money. She'd have
a good home, and even better
pickingS.
Il brought you a little gift for
christmas, the guest was saying
TO Madame Ia Marquise. 1T is in
my coat pocket in the hall. Will
you excuse me while I 60 and
get it?"
He came back with a slim vol,
ume in his hand.
The Sayings Of Marcus Azure
llus," bound in purple velvet and
gilt. in old italian style.
That's beautiful! Thank Won ~
there. A~
1T should be very helpful
Snould 1t not? I mean, with his
knowledge of human behavior"
Her eyes twinkled irrepressibly.
You find me such a moralist.
She dimpled at him. He saw
the miStIetoe above her head. He
drew his own conclusions.
Beautiful girl alone in New
York. Had seen better days. Rich.
INSCRIPTIONS protector. Niklao
surely was paying for this apart.
ment: He was not at all sure Of
the French furnishings coming
from the more or less mythical
chateau on the Loire.
She was in league with Niklaa.
was his come-on, in fact. He M.
membered the girl he had seen
slipping a roll of bills under thS
cushion Of her chair at the club
not long ago, and his heart hard.
ened against Toni.
FAR FROM SIMPLE
Her interest in his motives for
coming to the club, her adroit
questioning Of him, came back to
mind. She was far from simple.
She had probably played her
racket on the Continent, until u
grew too hot for her.
But there was a heady attrac.
ton about her. Despite every.
thing, he had an almost uncon.
trolable impulse to take her in
his arms.
And it wasn't merely physical
beauty. There was a spiritual
emanation in those great dark
eyes OF hers, as though a lamp
were lighted within. That made
her nearness doubly dangerous.
It's beautiful binding" said
Toni, lingering the book gently.
Royal colors. Purple and gold"
Gilt, my dear girl. The words
inside are golden. The purest
treasure"
Where moths and thieves can.
rot break in" she finished the
quotation.
There was a long pause. Cham,
payne at dinner, followed by the
benedictine, were having heart.
warming effect. Toni had never
looked more lovely. The cadence
of the carols, drifting through the
window, seemed to heighten the
VoluptuouS moment.
Ito BE COntinued)
copyright. 1887. By King FsstursS
Syndicate lSo.)