Show i 11 TH THE COMMON C LA W WI I m BY RO ROBERT B- B BE E R T W W. C CHAMBERS H A M B INSTALMENT 13 S It seemed to her sometimes as 5 though she were looking at a total stranger She had never thought of ot him as having any capacity for the tho ordinary ary and lesser Ills vanities and andI I the vexations vexations the the trivial worries that be beet beset bezet be- be set zet et other artists 1 Louis she ho said full of ot curiosity What he demanded ungraciously You are not one one bit like y yourself today He made no comment She ventured ventured ven ven- again again- Do I 1 hold the pose properly Yes thanks he said absently May I talk Id rather you didn't Valerie just justat at present All right she rejoined cheerfully j- j but her pretty eyes watched him very earnestly a little troubled I When she was tired the p pose se ended th that that- t. t had bad been their rule ruler rule but long Jong after her neck and back and thighs f flu limos hims ed for tor relief she held the pose reluctant to Interrupt him at last she could endure endure- it no no flO longer she moved but her right lc leg had bad lost no not only all all sense of ot feeling but all power to support her and down she came caine with a surprised and frightened frightened frightened fright fright- ened little exclamation and exclamation and he sprang to her and swung her to her feet again Valerie You bad little thing Dont Don't you know enough to stop when I youre you're tired 1 r I I didn't know I was so utterly I gone gon she said bewildered He passed his arm round around her and suJ supported ported her to the sofa where she sat demure a a. little surprised at her ner collapse yet shyly enjoying his dIsconcerted disconcerted dis dIs- concerted attentions to her Its your fault Kelly You had such sucha a queer expression not expressIon not at all like you rou ou that that I J tried harder than ever to help you you and and fell down for my pains Youre an angel he said contritely contrite contrite- ly by but a silly one A scared one Kelly and Kelly and a fallen faIlen one She he laughed flexing the muscles muscles mus mus- cles of her benumbed leg Your ex expresSion expression ex- ex Pr intimidated me I didn't recognize recognize rec rec- you I 1 could not form any opinion opinion ion of ot what was going on Inside that very stern and frowning head of yours If It you look like that Ill I'll never dare calL you Kelly Did I seem Inhuman N no On the contrary very contrary verj human human hu hu- hu- hu man man man- ordinary man ordinary like like the usual ill HI tempered tern ten artist man with whom I 1 have learned how to deal You know she added teasingly that tha you are calm arid and nd godlike godlike- usually usually and and when you ou suddenly became a mere mortal mortal- Ill III tell you what Ill I'll do with you Ill pick you up and put you to to- bed I wish you would K Kelly I haven't had half haIt enough sleep He sat down beside her on th the sofa sofa- Dont Don't talk any more of that that- godlike I business he lle growled or or Ill I'll find the proper punishment Would you punish me Kelly KeIly I l sure would If If I displeased you you You bet Really She turned partly toward him halt half in earnest t. Suppose Suppose sup sup sup- pose pose pose- but she stopped suddenly I with witha a alIght light little littie e laugh that that lingered pleasantly In inthe the Vast still room She said saie I 1 begin to to- think that there ther are re two no Kellys-no no ono one Kelly and one Louis Kelly is familiar to tome tome me I seem to have known have known him all an my life the life the happy Dart part of ot my lIf life Louis LouisI I have just seen for the first time time time- there at the easel painting peering from rom me to his V canvas with Kellys Kelly's good looking eyes all ah narrow v. with worry worry- What on earth are you chattering I about Valerie You and KelI Kelly Kellys s I dont don't quite know which I like the like best the dear sweet kind clever brilliant imer- imer godlike Kelly or this new Louis so so very abrupt in ln speaking to me me- me me-h me Valerie Vaerie dear me Im I'm out of sorts somehow It began began I I dont don't know know waiting waiting for you you wondering If you could be ill all ill-all all alone Then that oh its it's Just over over- ass Sam Sam- oh Ogilvy-oh smoking I guess or or-I or I dont don't k know V C what She sat regarding him bead head tipped unconsciously on one side fn In an attitude attitude attitude atti atti- tude suggesting a mind concocting malice S II Louis Louls What Youre vcr very verj attractive when you yore youre re godlike godlike- You little wretch h But youre But youre you're positively dangerous when youre you're human ValerIe III Ill I'll- The great god Kelly or the f fasci- fasci fearsome erring Louis Louis' W is it to be be Ive I've an Idea that the time Is come come to decide Fairly radia radiating a a. charming aura aura of ot malice she sat back nursing one knee distractingly pretty and defiant sayIng say- say Ing I will call you a god If I like like Ill rn Til tell you what Valerie he said j half haIt in earnest Ive played grandmother grandmother grand grand- mother to YOu jou long enough by heck Oh Kelly be lotty and Olympian l n Be lIe a god and shame the rest of us us' us Ill I'll shamefully resemble one of em emIn In another moment if you ou continue tormenting me me Which one great one Jupiter little lady He lie was wa-s the know boss philanderer you What Is a a. a philanderer my Olympian plan pian friend Oh one of those Olympian divinities ties who always began the day by I y kissing the girls all around Before breakfast Certainly Its Its after breakfast Kelly Luncheon and dinner sUIl impend 1 BesIdes Im Besides Im I'm not a a. bit lonely to today to- to day Im I'm afraid I wouldn't let let let you Kel Kel-I Kel I mean Louis I Why didn't Why didn't you jou say Kelly Kelly Is Is too godlike to kiss Oh So So- that's the difference e l Helly eUy isn't human Louis Is Kelly to m m me she admitted M iS e practically a I haven thought about Louis in that that regard Consider the matter thoroughly Do you wish me inc to to She bent he head smiling Then looking up with enchanting audacity I really dont don't know Mr 1 Neville Some day when InT Im l nelY Louis Is is-at is at home home and and Kelly i l Is and I might spend an evening evenly u on a a moonlit lake bake to and see ee of human lt a a. being Louis can an n h. h be She laughed watching hini 1 the dark lashes charming charming mocking hIm In ln every curve AM D Do YOU jou think k youre you're tonight he it lonely lonely- asked the slight acceleration o of ot his hla S No No r I dont don't Besides youa Yd pu b bi be I the great god Kelly to nw ning Besides that Im I'm going tI to t- t tl I n ncr ner r with Querida and afterward d after J going to see ee the Joy of the Tn Ton the Folly theatre 4 I didn't know he said cu cua a a. a fe few moments he sat therel interestedly at a familiar fl Then rising Do you feel feelo 1 for posing Yes I Alors Alora Aliens Allons mon she la i Work began egan She though n ng him l m with sudden auden fen and Wand Une shyness that he seemed even aloof more preoccupied more J more more- Intent than Jhan han before la In phase phase- the man man she had known i friend was now entirely jon J d hero Here stood an utter etri Y Very cry ry h human man very determined deeply perplexed very much In est Everything about this cnn unknown to te her There Seemed nothing about bout him that part appealed to to her confidence Either ith the very uncertainty ln y was her now now now-int now intensely H This other phase of his dual ps aIlt allty had hail been so completely a turf that captivated curious hela 14 keep neither aze from front norl th thoughts Wa Was It that she sha fc A j fl to miss In him the other china chain the delight in his epee speech lt his hil In and and- kindly manner mannel aM comfortable security she had hade hadt nj with him perhaps after some after some hi bj hill half halt sentimental conflict with men rifi What was was' she to e expect brand new incarnation of ot Lou yule ville The delightful Indifference absent and neglect of tM ane tl Would he be god enough nough t to he be I i her now not Man Ian enough to be than other othar men men 1 For Tor a a. mome moat momen had a a. little shrinking a s. panic left this man turn too loo mu other men But she let her herey eyon ey on him and knew he would not ever protean ch changes might yet let for her to o witness sh t the conclusion lon that this mar man apart nt and ou disappoint leer her ler no matter w turned into She tho thought to herself hersel f tl I Kelly to lean on n hell he'll s surely godlike impersonally personally m nice and andas i as ever ever ver 1 If I want Louis teji and provoke and flirt with with- a. a ail I Ivery very little lIttle Im Im I'm quite sure sure- sureh h hell heU U too too- Whatever else Js ls i co cc Mr Neville I r dont don't know but him separately and compo ite Im I'm happy when Im I'm with hi hiTo hiTo till To be continued 1 |