Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-07-21
AR /! SILKSZS
CHAPTER 1


THE UNMUTED murmur of
well-bred voices, the circumspect
clatter of china and silver in ex-
merit serving hands rose and fell in
concerted waves against the music
Of the string quartet. The latter
was screened by palms on the dais
At the entrance to the luncheon
room at the Ritz.
For the briefest moment there
was a lull in the sound as the
three appeared there and paused.
There were two women and a
man toward whom Fritz, now an
obsequious autocrat, hurried, his
whole beng an expression of his
desire to please.
They stood there only a mo-
ment; the beady-eyed old lady in
her ancient black, her withered
throat covered with glowing
pearls; the tall, bronzed young
man in faultless morning attire
who gave his arm to her light, ar
rogant touch. And the young
woman with the cool, appraising
ewes that were seemingly oblivious
Of the eyes turned upon her.
The young woman had seen such
ewes before. Had heard the same
faint rising crescendo in the muir
murs. She knew what they were
saving. She had seen and heard
in hfgh-ceilinged, glittering rooms
like this one in London, in Paris,
at Monte Carlo and in Cairo.
But it hadn't been exactly the
same then. Mrs. Suydem Suther-
land, she of the ancient black and
pearls, had not been her hostess
then. And her eyes had not
searched the room as they would
soon. Because HE would not have
been in Europe.
Tony Castle might be in this
room at this moment.
The thought made her lift her
chin a little as she followed the
other two down the carpeted steps
and across the floor to their table.
With that slight movement, she
lent a new accent to the hat that
swooped low over her eyes and
rose daringly on her smooth cop
per-colored head; and to the swing
ing grace of the yellow coat
banded richly with silver fox. Over
the velvety blackness of her suede
gloves, a single wide diamond
bracelet cleaned on each wrist.
"Humph!" Mrs. Suydem Suther-
land snorted at the menu. "Affec-
tation! Printing a menu in French
at an American hotel! I'll take
lamb stew if they've got any,"
The young woman smiled. IT'D
like the same thing"
you've good sense, my dear.
From all the things Mark said
about you, I was afraid you
couldn't have"
Mark Sutherland exchanged a
quick glance with the girl. Her
eyes meeting his were slightly sar-
donic.
who is she ?" The woman in
green velvet asked the woman in
brown tweed.
Mari Barat."
1.-THE famous Partisan cou-
fourier? But, my dear, she's so
youngw
"She rose quickly. Four years
ago no one had ever heard of her.
Now she's beginning to be a rage.
She's an American, you know. r
heard she was a debutante from
out west somewhere. Had lots of
money, went to Europe and be-
came an overnight success"
The Green Velvet raised her
eyebrows slightly. "An overnight
success? She seems to have done
well for herself socially. Isn't
that Mark Sutherland with her?"
1T is! More Importantly, that
is also the dor'ager, Mrs. Suydem
Sutherland. The girl must have
been someone acceptable or the
old lady wouldn't be taking her
up"
The old lady looked long at the !
crest on the cigaret case the girl
held out TO her.
Mari smiled. 1.-THE crest isn't |