A Star for a Night

adventure. "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously. When a chorus girl commen

sage that something important had developed. I fancy Martha will tell us all about it. After all, it's no crime to admire Martha. I admire her myself.

ight, Mr. Clayton. I'l

d bonds a trifle wearisome. In that case, of course, their compact would be at an end, for, though their arrangement had not contemplated any incident which would lead to a breaking of their contract, it was obvious

at had been their agreement: "Down with love and up with ambition." He had warned her of the wayward influences of love at a time when the possibility of caring for her himself had never entered his head. "I suppose," he had said to himself a dozen times, "she'll fall in love with some actor and marry him without even bother

ll not let my personal sentiment affect my judgment as a business man. I agreed to aid her until she can become s

that she might consider him in the light of a benefactor to whom she was under obligations. This galled him-to think that she might be outwardly cordial while secretl

or the street. In fact, had Clayton been a few minutes later, he would have miss

her cordially. "What's the tro

ated Martha. "T

elephoning that you were get

a, indignantly. "Oh, and so she telephon

am responsible for your being in New York, it was my duty to look after you. But that is only part of our agreement, you know. I was to advance you

Martha, sinking onto the sof

, encouragingly. "And I wa

large eyes towar

come to see me often

led Clayton. "And I hardly thought

range if I didn't take time for you," replied

ke 'Thank you,

convey a subtle hint. "And I hate to eat alone. I hate to eat dinner at Aunt Jane's all the time. I've wanted

cause of the row

't like t

ine admirer,

replied Mart

is

ut response, Clayton add

ntroduced to me," s

Sanford Gordon?" he said finally, and onl

a. "I am going out wi

nt," declared Clay

y not,

itting beside her. "Frankly, h

t know," replied Martha, bristl

u seen h

as the fi

written

es

presents,

nvelope. Inside, with a blank piece of paper, was a hund

u done with t

him I could accept nothing from him, but finally I agreed to go to dinn

s feet nervously a

id he say?"

eak to Mr. Weldon, the manager, and get me a new p

ore annoyed. "Money and jewels returned, his next bribe i

d even a star who tries and fails, ca

more to you than anything

fired by the light of her

ng at that moment, "Mr. Gordon is outside in his

ng doubtfully at Clayton, who came close to her as

till determined to keep this d

in arousing his displeasure. "There's no harm

rs-before you," said Clayto

do you

to trust me, and believe that I am doing my best-for you." Clayton paused doubtfully. "If you ha

d Mr. Gordon.

you have a co

f angrily. "With a friend.

ut Clayton raised his hand and sh

e demanded

"But you've got to choose. If you go with him, breaking your

f angrily, half contemptuously. T

en as she spoke her voice faltered, she looked at Clayton, and added,

agerly, and she looked

aid, but she laugh