CAPE MAY COUHTT TIML.'. FRIDAY. MARCH 26.

rouliln'l b< »r th. slj;hi of Ihr p-1

man. Im-cuuw shr had onrr In-

I Jurt-d him. Bui evidently ih.- haf 1 arehil<Tl iloron't know that I'h. jhti

inythlna •« do with the I

Njnnp. But ;her« Ha'' about h»r eyre whlrk- ' A »rra tbenr when •«>

and turned hark to operator Mlridenly lx■en any rail* tor n

to kc life so she gives up her tace. BRUCE REYNOLDS, an •fethitect. and gets a job on the ntiladelphia Telr*rapl. She Mets BOB JEFFRIES, police reporter. and JEROME BALL, man about town. Bruce is wj(h a real estate firm promoting Vale Aeres. a civic residential project. V 'A prominent man kills himself. Barbara. covering the story, lads a red scarf she connects with a dress worn by LYDIA btACY. wealthy widow. Mrs. Stttcy has met Brace and is attracted to him. so when he rejects her attentions she tells AJTDREW McDERMOTT. editor of the Telepaph, that Brace's firm is crooked. When one of

the firm absconds Brace

BElilN HERE TO HAY Bycre contddepd. "I'd aay ihai ] 1 HAWEY. 25. wants i >°» sultcrinc from a wir-1

felt of the roo.1 thing:; of Ihhworld and didn’t appreciate your

blMSlngx."

The TVlrgrapn was in midst <rf Us niornina rush when they entered. Barba.a looke«l eagerly about her as they supped out of the elevator Into the editorial room. Shi- sniffed lobarco-.auen air. and her eyes Jimmy was the first to catch sight of her. He was running to the composing room with his hands full of copy when his eyes fell upon her. "HI. there. Miss Hawley." he rhouted. making a

dlw toward her.

The new city editor, a yohng man with a thin nose and stern

eyi.« behind spectacles, raised hts dieted. Barbara, rising the scarf‘voice. "James, hurry that copy as a threat, forces Mrs. SUcy to. .o the composing room." cMkr Brace. Byers whispered in Barbara'! Barbara, through her lovdorn •■ar. "That's Holcomb. Well’s sue column. advises VIOLETTA ■-ssor a college Journalist, by

CBAHBY. factory girl, on how cmi-''

O'win a “social superior." Bruce Jimmy made a dash for the I out to be the “social su-| rompo 1 !ng room and returned " and he weds Violetta. ; through the swinging doors like . shares an apartment steam engine. By this time

staff had gathered around

Despite Barbara's warn- Barbara, shaking her hand, asklat Jerome Ball is frivolous.. ing question*, and looking adf elopes with him. Barbara - nnringly at her clothes. Only J, IS lonelier than everl Miss Badger remained at her d a child is bora to Violetta, desv-. with her back to the

Giving in Greenwich Village, j admiration and envy. Barbara Bkara grow-' disgusted with I talked gaily. The color came [ superficiality of the people back to h -r cheeks. She glanced meets. One day she runs! toward Miss Badger and laughed, ois Fancy, who awakens in. "Come, admit." whispered Byr a desire to see Philadelphia' er*. "that the Badger s cut is She takes the first train 1 pleasing you more than the n At the Adelphia Hotel | others' adtiltation." Barbara FPhiladelphia the morning af- frowned at him. h[k her arrival she is told a man During the levee telephones ia^sraking to see her. She goes' rang unanswered and the austere tlfthe merraninc and sees some ] city editor looked through his oft arise from a divan in the horn glasses and called one after dial earner. another of his staff without gttWR GO OX 11 ITU THE STORY' ting a response.

.3- i *■

M- Chapeter 1.Y1

i was holding out his band.

: Barbara did not *<« it. f eye* were on his face. P'HclIq, Balls V he cried,

afce stammered. "Hello. Mr — e%—Byers. How did you know

I wxs here?"

His face wrinkled again in a “Oh. I hare the hotel beat now. How have the niighty fallen? From dramatic editor I din demoted to the humble dutM of a cub. But the Telegraph is' running short of help these days and we're all pressed Into Mrviee. ao I saw your name on I Iff register this morning." ..Barbara had recovered her bl%atfa. "It's awfully good to ee. Toft Yours is the flrxt familiar fMt I'v# seen since I came last nfcht. f was beginning to think tftt 1 must have dreamed that

At length he roac and walked< across the room. Touching Byers on the arm. he said audibly. "Will you please Inform me as to the identity of our visitor? Is she a Hut Jan grand duchess or merely a motion picture star, or yet an Atlantic City beauty, that the entire machinery ol the Telegraph should slop at her enByers laughed Impudently. "Guess again. Holcomb. This is Miss Baibara Hawley, former member of this same bumbls newspaper staff, but nen- »•»« the props of metmplllan Journalism. in short a staff writer for the Footlights Magazine. Bow.

Barbara, bow."

Barbara was taken abark. The city editor glanced at her with increased disapproval and made reluctant acknowledgement of

the Introduction.

Hf ,b «* no "'Fns of the | s familiar voice very closa bepMple.iaised to know here" j hind her. and turning. Barbara ••yrrawhook his head. ' Funny, f« uu< i sinbad Sullivan coming h«w a town does change in a] th.-ough the gate from the ele'•Jf***;*** 1 - But you'll find sov- valor. He walked straight up rW Of* friends at the Tele- to her and wrung her hand.

gnH>h office. There

people, of course, but a few of file old ones too. Your friend Wells Is gone for good—died hmt month. But McDermott and

the office boy. and your Badger, are still had.

« ship, to say nothing of j Barbara listened restlessly, ill and few other humble But she did not attempt to con-

smiling Into her eyes.

"Gee. kid. I'm glad tc see you. Suppose 3-ou'll high hat the old crowd now. though. I would. If I were In your place. Lord, what a skyrocket career you've

borlers."

.^Barbara smiled. "I'm almost afraid to go to the office." she a fl. “lest it be changed, too. sc eh that I shan't be able u tHfMevc j ever worked thw. |f, krglUiMly feeling, thir walking ehout in plares that w.rc once aiPart of your everyday III-, and Onding that everything i-- ih-same-.yet nothing is tlx- same. .“You can't tell whether It !• ymrM-lt 'hat hts died. .>■ the

P^OPb around you."

» Mor heaven's sake. Bari am bipce up That's maufllin rot yfil're talking. Get your thingaRd come on over to the office

Yte won

dirt him. Babv. you linally ■ hat Light housaffair. didn't you- I felt pretty roll-n over that lor weeks Funny thing, i -o. Not long after

you

deai! nin

I'll be the lini

1

f^Js to lx a jLaj'r sbSlly But i

■ her.

j 'Oh yea. you't*- the cur that : look Vise Hawley to the Ught- ; house dinner and then got drunk and left her to get home as Im .-1 -he could, aren't you?' | ' Honest to God. Babs. I'd 1 never have taken that from any ' e an. Hut it was funny I had , m lenre so I couldn't properly I t-urk him. Juat willed and

j walked out of his office."

'j "Reynolds*'' Barbara gasp-

^ buf got no fuit her.

' tugging s

you came from Is always home. Isn't It?" McDermott smiled. "Perhaps Bnt tell m- how thiuga are going. Yon haven't written me for a very long time.” ''Ton'll lx- glad to know I’ve seen Fancy and had dinner at her home." Barbara began, but the door burst open and Byers " 'Sense me. folks, but if we're going to mn this story, we've got to have a new plrtnre of Barbara right oway. The one In the morgue isn't splffy enough -—doesn'i look like a Broadway “No." laughed Barbara. "I remember when It was taken. It was one day after a clothiers' convention and I'd spent hours chasing down the best dressed man at the meeting, for his picture. Then when I got back to the office, somebody had telephoned Wells and threatened IIhid on a rtory of mine. And on top of all that, they took my picture for the morgue. No wonder l didn't look like a suc-

cess."

"Well. If you'll come right downstairs now. they can snap you and perhaps get the cut through In time for the papt r today." said Byers. Barbara looked uncertain, hut McDermott waved his hand. "By all uieatfs run along with Byers. Barham. We must have that . picture." When she returned a few min- ( utrs later, he was waiting for: her. "What do you mean to do. Barbara? And how long will, you be here?” She looked at the floor. "I'vej done a terrible thing. Mr. Me-1 Dermott. I ran away from my: Job without notice, and only sent a wire back saying where I had | gone. To tell the truth. I didn't > even think of my Job till 1 was several hours out of New York. "I suppose it was because I'd I been to dinner with Fancy. The, subject of Philadelphia wxs discussed all evening. I was simply, swamped with homesickness—-1 the worst lit of the kind that 1 ever experienced. I rushed down 1 and packid my things and; caught a train out." McDermott nodded. Barbara went on. speaking' low. "H seemed to me that II I didn't get a glimpse of Philadelphia and some of my friends. I might Just as well walk right off into the Hudson. Of course. I never considered doing It. hut the thought seized me that If 1 should, nobody much would j know, and not a soul would! really care. "That frightened roe and 1 made for the train." McDermott nodded again, without speaking. "I'm going out to see my mother's home this afternoon." ah- said. “I've been heartsick for a sight of it these months." McDermott frowned slightly. "It's a terrible thing." amended McDermott, "being In the world by yourself." Chapter LVII C\)R a moment there was ai- * fence. Then McDermott shrugged slightly, and lit a fresh cigarette. "Lydia Stacy is back In town." he said. “Blew in a couple of weeks ago from Cap.- Town, with a monkey, a little black boy servant. and a magnificent black diamond from the Kimberley works. cm at Tiffany's. 'They say her wardrobe is Afriran. loo. with dazzling white linen and a leopard skin coat and what • \ Always the good showman. Lydia!" Barbara was listening Intently. "1 myself saw a dramatic incident In Boothbys' r.-staurant the day after she got bark. Sh* was dining there with some mal-

aspect.

"No. there haven't. Miss Haw- the •Hvs-t ■? |, y ." _____ A * * h ' c ‘ Barbara turned away. ,h * b * ,!,! She caught the two-thirty suited a cj motor bus for Overbrook. '” r * w ' rT *** It fiew between fields and Hawley ..r across roads that were like pic- wouldn't

lures from an old dream. Barbara leaned doer to the window, uund herself repeating the

Vale Air "Doesn't know ?" gasped Bar-

bara.

"No. and It's a crime, too. She's getting all the credit for freeing him In the trial. And hi was probably about to thank her for her testimony when she delivered the rut and stalked away. Some day, when I get a good chance. I'm going to tell that young man where we got the tip on Vale Acre*. "I'm not a crusader for Justice. or anything like that, but something within me C'lrs for Lydia to get hv ra. McDermott looked at Barbara and she dropped her eyew. "He used to be a good friend of mine." she said, "and he always gave me credit for that ez"All the more reason for me to set him right" declared McDermott. "But tell me about Fancy. It seems we misjudged that whlpp* rsnapprr husband of her*, after all." When Barbara came out of McDermott's office. It was lunrh time. Shi- looked around for someone to eat with. But Miss Badger was the only woman in the room. Barbara glanced at the men. Every one of them Boh Jeffrie* was the one she wanted, of course, but Bob was in New York City, and by this time probably married, too. Barham left the office alone and crossed the street to the little tea shop where she had lunched so often while she was on the Telegraph staff. It seemed much the same. The waitresses wore the same green and white iinHorai*. the orange lamps on the' tables had not been chang-d. the menus looked

familiar.

There were the forty-ccnl bar-j across the la' gain special IntM’heF printed at I And on the top step, which the top. Juat as la the days when! was cracked and paintlesr. therv the Telegraph rcjorii-ra used to! sat. Instead of Wilma's spirited gather atvljie tpa slibp t© take: Boston terrier, a grimy poodle, advantage nf them. staring at the world with bleared Barbara smiled as she read ! red eyes behind a fringe of hair, the familiar list. "Ham sand-j Baibara walked more slowly, with, bean soup, choice of pie Her own old home was Just

hr woman withdr* ptnt frequently te bead over and take !*»•«- cub th. injured shin She said she tv-arhed the doot "You hotel and, cat! pa? ro * tocnorros I always

tepllcd

She wenl irroa* the

Barbara

after

the

isea still taslr! •c* her hey at the cleih cos- :: ber mailbox II for you. Mlm "but the parry

and

Barham leaned f.'rward. "Was

n*" she asked New girt at

. urned aboul

sat down or. the Iron bed. and looked around the room In which

she had lived age* ago.

The electric bulb was so Urge that n- light si ruck painfully on .yes fieah from the gloom

i* the stairs and ball

When the wall lights ha been, tin either side ot Barbara'

there

our IUXUU •Couldn'

namtw'of"the stops'as'the'coach «»>v switchboard an hour **". *> hUrk , n( i frayed ends of wire, approached them, saying the she wouldn t know anything h , n( ., ns stiffly from jagged

words over again, for their curl- ah<*J' <«• cither ^ ^ *««i- t" ous. unreal sound. ««* ‘ h ' * nd

- the elevator.

* assemble and pack her rlothm (k( . ha ,, ( , h(-pn

ready to b-avr

the room, it was nearly ? nVlork. The orchestra wa- playing

• h-n rt. .Jl-nl th. Jl.l« „„„

room, and the hum of voices n _ .,

over the tables was broken by occasional peals of laughter. Barbara found a table In the center of the cafe and sal down.

Overbrook would be the next Mop. She sat upright and moved

toward the Inner edge of the |nnk wmr to

seat, as the conductor came | through the door, shouting sotne-

ing unintelligible.

The bus stopped and Barbara climbed down. She was the only passenger disembarking at When *ho started down the street toward her mother's home, there was not a human being In sight. The houses on either

side were grayer, more hopeless ' ookln K » boUl hcr

than sh- remembered them. The: The room was pleasantly lull troop of children that used to of diners. Barbara ordered a run from porch lo porch and 1 hearty dinner and sat bark to scramble over fences and hedges w-atrh the people The orrheshad vanished. Barbara listened tra .hilled from Its frenzy * for the familiar sounds of the saxaphone and oboe lo

neighborhood. But there were; Strauss v alts,

no sounds. 1 Barbara ate Iklsutely. She Went on down the street. When she checked out and The big brick house on the cor- sent a bellboy for a cab. there net was much the same In ap- was Just time to make the 9

Pennine as It had always been.; o'clock bus.

But there was h broken window g,,,. trJwl |0 c>|th # Kllm p*. light upstairs, and the grass. of |hr UlMtac ,p, alonK thf w ay been cut. i |, U ( there was no moon, and the

th< plaster,

th* in stood a washstar.il of golden oak Strips of yellow wall paper* hung from the walls here and there. Bat bat a stared

dully It was th paper

for ;

a two

In

larther down, in which Wilma :

Collins had lived, a gray and tatwashing flapped on a line

years before

The fireplace was dark. In the center of Its hollow, there was

ith a to-

mato can on top. On the mantelpiece above there stood mounted by a picture of a plump pomJadpiired lady dress.<1 in a pink

ballet dress.

The only otbrr picture In the room was a chmmo of some grapes and bananas. The window

boasted of no curtains, but a tattered green blind bung

muted crook '^ *» f**'- lo P Barbara took in every detail

of the scene. She walked to • ! the w indow and lhrr«' it open. A rush of spring air came into the musty room. She stood star-

ing out at the street. Most of the houses across the way were

quite dark, but In two or three

windows lights weir still visible.

- the

the world outside a sea of black-

dog.

and coff<

The waitraw who came to take

her order recognized her. "Why. how do you do. miss? I haven't seen yon in months! Will you Have one of the speeials to iay?"

"No." said Barbara, with a tourh of asperity. "I'll hav

Sl„. Old noi look .t li

•klkrf. bin k.pl b.i ora Ola .od Irak™ pio

Whirling about with her back : to the window. Barbara again

She was set down In Over- surveyed the room. The ding? brook after the lights had been | gray counterpane was bordered turned off in the corner store. by a ragged fringe that dragged Barbara turned toward her „po n the floor Street, and met a Mill denser Barbara undreooed and blackness. She looked about i n t„ bed. The blankets t nervously. There was no sound thrown back over the Iron frameor movement anywhere. »ork at the loot of the bed. and Barbara walked slowly at first, her coat was spread over her for

• sidewalk.

• entered the bean

covering.

Is. But The room

. .... ...... °* ‘h* - ing light.

At last she turned in at the' bl,rkn ”*; u ‘ *“ ,k Barbara's eyes, opening walk and passed through the' n,ori “ T' a P | “ ,J '- * lon * <ln" upon the tomato can in the fat. . It swung crcnklly ffpon I B,r * te " 0 * 7“*' fireplace, then upon the- shiny one hinge. She went up the!“ , ‘ d ,lrr, ‘ Ainxwi ran. her Kra p,., an d bananas, and flnally Meps and rang the doorbell, n heart pounding pain nlly. her th,. pink dr**, 0 f th* p „

chicken salad and English muf-'failed to souniT in the depths C f, f^Jfal'P* resounding against the the mantel, more violently pink fins and a peach Melba." : the house, and she knocked with than ever under the morning

‘ ~ ~ j her knuckles upon the door. Al * drn " , ' r *•»■*>» Indi- sunlight.

Barbara's! *' al ” ^ •‘I*' 1 where the first

gingham, spools, slips ,4 that looked like bllD an.i tered roller skate. There wo* no sign ol th. ; of the house, Barbara ness was lucraantng. 8I1. . the air eagerly, for trar. coffee brewing anywbei. house. But the only odd. - ,, of dost and bygone onior She plucked up courac went Into the dining room 1 the kitekrn beyond, ther. .... sounds of notkieone mcvlnz it* . She pushed open the swir.t:-, door and looked in. Mrs. Crumpet! looked up : an ironing board »ft o>. chairs by the Move. She sen*., at Barbara. Then she spia finger, touched It to Hr and w«nt on sweeping thserosa the board with vx-..-.* force. Barbara went In. ’Tee eoro- lt ask if you can give me a 1 up • coffee." she said. Her tun* •„ meek. In spite of herself -j don't think there Is any kn ,/ a irolaurant In Overbrook 1 am threatened with a raih-r bad headache." Mrs. Crumpatt gave he: unfriendly glance. *1. don't 1.: . meals." she snapped Barbara's head swam sh. groped for a chair and mi d<,.( heavily. The woman at it, ironing board looked st curiously, but went on with b; work silently. "1 know you don't.” sold Bj--barn, "but I thought you mUtt be willing to moke me a cap •* coffee. It'r really rather urz-*;' that I get some quickly. .V-if. ing else will ward off this h-u 1 .- acbe." She ant with her Ivf over her eye*, while the nr; verse wheeled about her. Mrs. I'rn raped spat on h-t finger again and the Iron hi— "Well." she said. "I'm drea-itni busy. This is ironing day and I can't stop n minute. Y'ou e»« try the Utile lunch count- athe bus stop. They’ll have cv' fee." She spread a damp, grimy sheet on the board and slappthe Iron down on It. Barbara rooe and tott-:*-! from the kitchen. The s'air, seemed ste«p and norms, bnt she grasped the bannlst-ra an! pulled herself up. step by Ufging step. The sounds upstairs had ceased. Barbara went Into h--room and put on her hat l<-‘

The first uotue edit lot

Telegraph were on the street when Barbara emerged from fhe restaurant. She bought one and strolled bark to the Adelphia Hotel with It under her arm. In the lobby she sat down to look at it. A two-column pie lure of herself confronted her from the first page. If the picture in the morgue had not looked like a success, this one did. Baibara auiled at the haughtiness of the shoulder over which she 'joked out from the

The story began. “Philadelphia !•< as gts.d a town as New York." say.* Miss Barbara Hawley. former reporter tor the Telegraph. who is visiting in town today. Miss Hawley comes direct ly from New York City, where she bps scored a signal success in magazine work.

rork for

Philadelphia Telegraph any paper In Manhattan." d<

Clare* Miss Hawley."

"Oh. my heaven::." said Bai ■>ara. tinder her breath, end lal

t down suddenly.

She

1 up t

Mood looking In the mirror for some minutes. Her clot hi* were different from Philadelphia

A* she started down the step* the sounds of splaabtrj Wagaln In the bathroom V Crumpett was Just coming j of the dining room, wiping h*?

] hands on her apron.

Nobody answered. Barbara - !- 1 f 0 ’**’ * po! , nrM Mating about her. too 'That good-for-notRtfig M.yes wandered to the living! ho “ B^ , ‘ ,00,, • ■«>*> Barbara I.-- sick lo move. The sunlight crept i Biggs has spilled the wan: window, but the blinds .. . , Hr 7~ ,* M<I ,b " across the dirty matting on the; again." she whined. "It's dnp

' ping down through the kltct,— celling. I told her not to

closely drawn. The porch | “ dltnlr lighted window Mood fj,„ r p,,!,,, w t,ere was bare of furniture, but a mop I o y’ the gloom, tut lor onc * a r j ch b | |I( . ru> . leaned against the post by tbc| ,bc Part, the *tre*t iiad put i„ r || to *blne upon. It crept *C!». ™, luiwn. b—1 -m „ , u , rom Lumbering footsteps within I opened the gat> at and Barbara watched It

; hi-r mother's home with ■

fascinated.

and lifted her eyes

the door. Her*, at !ea*t. there was a light, but It shone strangely red. through the glass

panda at th. Mde. .4 the doo, prr ^ , hand tlrtll h „ Borimra ran u» thejavoklng forehead and shut her eye*.

house announced the approach of someone. Barbara j braced herself and moistened! her dry lips. The door swung! open slowly, and a woman ap-1 pea red. With her right arm 1 akimbo, she glared at Barbara.!

Hcr hair streaked abrot her face “ lr P* * nd »warched nt.d her mouth was Insolent. " I "' bcI1 I>«P>«e it. .Uenc. "Well." she drawled, -ou, «he afternoon. thB llm. with it. What do you want?! w,,b a ,HUd ,b *' m « d '' ^rr

I'm not buying any books , 0 - l *»rk

dav" j nobody «am.. she did „blrh

. n] jnot ring It again, but knocked clothe*,

jj, somewhat faintly on the door. | The a At last she heard the name lumor berlng steps that bad heralded to the landlady that afternoon. The j ^rab

Whin it had almost reached the iron tHdstead. Barbara sat up suddenly. But she did not

get out of bed.

late

moment!

finally dragged one

f,,0, ,b, ‘ n ,ht ' 0,bcr “ff «he * "to the floor and crept

wooden locking chair

Barbara answered boldly. 1 no ' r,nc " ' ’

not selling hooks. I came to you to rent me a room fo few days. I'm told that Bonn the houses here have roomt ..

<luo '' swung wide, and Barbara , u

The woman looked at Barbara' l(a '' ,be b,,, • lug In suspiciously. "Why'd you pick A f< '* r * , 't ralaas bulb on thei |h ,. pi, c hc r this house?' she snapped. central chandellet east a light look |fl

"Jus. limk a fancy 10 it as I ‘ b “' "“J br .? ,lor ,,f b,ood ^ The bathroom door across the passed. " lied Barbara. "I think ,h ' tn,,r * b,n hall was closed, and sounds of I d like that room upstairs with *° 0 '‘*‘ "’ rn ' r '* •‘ b '*"e ruddlly Rp i a .bing came from within. Bar the bay window.” . '‘P 011 a leaning hatstam. and bara leaned aclnst it.. • t... b.„ ; in „.b„. ,"1 t

..Ul ol h.r ,,ra .„d o.b.H-r-« >" •' "'P Tb. „ „„ „„,. r ,d

. mom. nl ' Ob. .11 rl.bl." .b. '»™ *" • l» ""J Tb. ,. - “ . b||„ M 5 ■„ fi' raw. "II bapp-n. b. ,mptj. »'«'b| "W. .nd b, mu I ... -Wbi dollar, a wrak “ ■“«" „ lb _ , nd ,p„ d , 1 ',

"l».| door. a. ZZZ

Baibara saw cards tacked. HI ' *J«wly io the room

mother had

process of dressing was a

slow sue. Barbara stopped now md then by the window, to

• biff of Iresh air and untight that was pour-

*>* no water In the stand. She

for It alngle." She t

"He

"Come on

the chief." he said know you're hen

l

Barbaia

unwillingly

rd him. -At the dour d-Dermoti’s offlre. Byers lurned r Holcomb was calling him •••;'dititly. Barbara opened '•“li niiri went In alone. Mclh-nmitt looked up from his ' i. ami rose quickly. "Why. i." rai a." he exclaimed., "where

» gfMitt job | "Htisichf fl Broadway, j mighti? clad

• from

i New- York, and

i"tt looked at her "So Fhiladelpbia is Barbara?" cen weji enough off In It's a tnarveiow city iintuer and silk and shades One ran '»• really tired of It.

Sho

if he

sheik in Americanized costume, brought hack from hcr travels. "Anyhow, the lady was having a nice time with him. looking over the edge ol the wine glass at him with those tawny • yes of hers and lolling back in her

new African furs.

"I watched the pi or devil with a mingled sense of envy anil pilj-. Between the moments ol dizzy bliss t In re were moments wnen he looked the most

wretched tuan alive.

“At last they arose to go. And to my astonishment. I saw that young architect you used to know approaching Lydia from across i he room. Hhe did not him until he was directly In front of her. holding out his hand. And then with a toss of her head, she gave him the most Utlful cut you ever saw. and swept out of the room, with African oddity following heVoting Reynolds stepped bark, staring blankly alter her. And thete were titters on all des from diners who had seen ie Incident. It was the most i feci < xauiple I ever saw of x guilty party taking spite out

Innt

gdnl

victim

l.yil

simply

that her

In the mirror

torn rug wa* a pattern in varying shad*-* of murky red. and •he staircase roe*- out of scarlet shadows to a lauding, turned and disappeared In ghbom.

i The woman had begun to

' climb the stairs, and now turn

led hack to look at Baibara aga'ln . las Baztara mov«l tofdiow her | Ih e ,,« <ln lh

always bung.

i- door hud no card, but only rap of table paper, f, i a bent pin in a ci paneling. "Jim Bigg,

"crawl upon It.

Baibara looked again

e splash-

landlady led ,h. wav „.! one went back

door of Barbar girl follow ed

upper hall Barbara ;

again slopped. Here a dim light ,, burned In an unshaded bulb „ N In one corner ol the ha'I Ity - will pile of broken lurnitui, a u,, laundry bag bung on th, doui of the icom that Baibara'-

.iralk, , hk« ra- .

intlnued. she

•r room and finished dre Ithout washing her fa

When she emerged into again, the splashing si tinned ill ihe bathroom Barbara w,,,. down ,l

ill

light from 1 stooping over rubbu "And If there's a rhalt an when Minnie frumpm s *hi will find It.” Barbara stepped to the wr and ptiesed the |i a |.t butt,.

T' 1

CHAPTER UX

wty.

with •

at and 'harp response Barbara went through II and paused at the the dining rcaun. She the room, with the *u “ting through it. The

any more laundry!" She ma •• l"nge for the rtep# and cla be red to the landing, as Barbx: went out the front door. The street wa* more II'-1? than It bad been the night 1fore. Barbara looked about languid Interest. Her head * • throbbing violently. She p*--the brick house with It* we--"-lawn, and the bungalow wa* one* the home of WHm* Collins. The washing had I--laken down, buf the red-" poodle sat on the »tep a* tboucfc be hadn't moved all night A lew children were to •- seen on the port hcr. but ' of the house* were dlamall? lent. with window* •tan&z blankly uncurtained. Barbara met one or two Ing men. They carried tin lu: ' pails and ahouted cheerily t" • another. A flashily dressed • man brushed past. UMirvIni-' 11 '

entire sidewalk.

A vacant lot where Bat!’bad played many games of '• nl* In hei high school daj> * now grown five feet deep »

the poets »•■'

the net bad been spread "■ overgrown with the rank *i» lk ' of JUupsen and ginnt dog fn< ' Barbara turned and waH rapidly toward (be bus ►tat" A few door* beyond It. found the lunch counter ' Mrs. Crumpett bad spoket' It was merely a wooden sh* with a glass front and t»° three broken steps. A roan u a helled white apron and a eh* cap jauntily over one ear wiping off the counter w!'!' dirty rag a* she- entered. "U** 1 '

sister." he said.

Baibara did not respo' 1 ' 1 the greeting. Hhe look her p at a high stool by the court and asked lor coffer. ’’N"'! •Iw?" hr inquired *ourly. ^'

hook her head

ll<- brought her a cup o! I* ' lain a half Inch thick. The , fve Was spilled in the »at"' Barbara lifted tbe cup to hei : ami the coffee dripped frot:. bottom of It on her coat •' M-t It down again. "1U»* .' any napkini''" she asked ' He shook his head. "Cut • the i a fly." he said. "Thl* »'

'he Waldorf-Astoria." Barbara swallowed a

mouthful* of the brew. 1' “ '’»t bad roffre. but the ed: ol I he cup Were greasy. Hhe 1 .. | I' down half full and paid

tabh waller.

L- hail

glanced

•etape of, U'oniluued on I*«i