The Blood Red Dawn

e went to the Condor musicale at Ned Stillman's apartments alone, and on that same nig

n hour which seemed incredibly late to one schooled in the temperate hour of c

laire's heels, and in the lively bustle she was left to shed her wraps in one of the bedrooms. Her heart was pounding with reaction at her outwardly self-contained entrance. She let her rather shabby cloak slip to the floor, revealing a strange, new Claire resplendent in the gold-embroidered gown that had once so stirred her rancor. For

ire that for once in her life her presence roused positive interest. He inquired after her health, why her mother

e world, "whether she could read music at sight" that a sinking fear ca

companist hasn't come yet and we wa

leading her toward the piano, but the living-room and its toned lights gave her a curious sense of unreality. She seated herself

t lady came up to them, "we sha'n't have to wait

tion as anxiety. Stillman drifted away; Mrs. Condor b

we start at once? How is the light? If you move

n. She began to play. The opening bars almost startled her. She felt a hush fall over the noisy room. Her fingers stumbled-she caught the melody again wi

hange for lodgings in an incredibly small hall bedroom, with certain privileges at the kitchen stove. And pictures of this irritating woman rose before her, stewing dried fruit, or preparing sour beef, or borrowing the clothes boiler for a perennial wash. What compromises her mother had made to give her child the gentle accomplishments that Mrs. Robson associated with breeding! It came to Claire that it was almost cruel to have

ou did it b

d to burst i

e piano. But Claire was really too excited for calm enjoyment. Supper followed-creamed minced chicken and extraordinarily thin sandwiches, and a dry, pale wine that Claire found at first rather distasteful. Claire sat with a little group composed of Mr

mmission in an officers' training-camp and failed. He was extraordinarily frank abou

d. "As long as I failed to make a high grade I want

uting her share to the evening's entertainment she had justified her presence. Wine as a factor in midnight suppers was a new but not a revolutionary experience to Claire Robson, but she gasped a bit when the maid pas

Mrs. Condor, slipping one arm in Phil Edington's and the oth

to the group. "What's the matter with just us fou

ng included, but any instinctive objections to the plan wer

tion to Claire was nothing compared with her matter-of-fact acceptance of it. She was neither self-conscious nor timid. Her three companions had a way of tacitly including her in even their trivial chatter that was unmistakable, though hard to define. She felt that she was one of them, and she blossomed in this strange new warmth like a chilled blossom at the final approach of a

digging viciously at her shifting locks with a hairpin. "I do de

the table that brought a quickened beat to her heart. The conversation was low and not meant for her

. amazing....

must have also been something of a qu

t admit.... No, I don't dislike 'em

swered with

laborate gowning among the groups of formal diners who had prolonged their feasting into the supper hour, b

, explaining that she knew none of the new steps, and he whirled awa

-step-really? There isn't anything to i

c that she relented. She wondered if he could feel her trembling as they swung into the dance. She stumbled on

dington, enthusiastically.

her awoke with a sweet and terrible joy.... They danced madly, perfectly, the rhythm entering into them like something at on

n't, Miss Robson! Fancy

lifted their instruments to chin and lip, struck an opening chord; couples began to whirl and glide. Claire Robson, palpitant and eager, followed Edington's lead, but almost at the first moment of their rhythmic flight they came crashing into the overcoated bulk of a man

ray forgive me! I sho

pologetic stranger, hat in hand, turning for a farewell look at the pair. Claire Rob

ble and were met by a patter of applause from Mr

ith embarrassment as

an," she faltered. "But Mr. Edington

covert attack upon Stillman's courage, but Stillman r

'll grant him all the one-steps, but he ca

f the Palace Hotel quivering in the leash of a restrained enjoyment; it had taken the quick lash of opportunity to send her spirits hurtling forward in wild and headlong abandon. She lifted her wine-glass in answer to the upraised glasses of her companio

ins of the waltz, which proved to be the next number

obvious. They had begun the dance promptly and for the first whirl about they had the floor almost to themselves. Claire's discreet sidelong glances detected many approving nods in thei

night she had been inhaling every fresh delight rapturously with the closed eyes and open senses that one brings to the enjoyment of blossoms heavy with perfume. It took Stillman's influence to rob the hours of their swooning delight by recapturing her self-consciousness. Things became at once orderly and reasonable. And as he led

s and a bit anxious, waited alertly for the sound of Claire's key in the door. The welcome click came finally

negan's cuckoo clock, sounding distinctly through the thin flooring, warbled twice with a voice of friendly betrayal.

but she found that she had overlooked most of the details that her mother found interesting. Who was there

ence to champagne and cigarettes. It was impossible for any San Franciscan who had lived through those splendid madcap bonanza days to deny the lure of gay wickedness. At least it was hard to keep one's eyes on a prayer-book while the car of pleasure rattled by. And a coffee-and-cake social was, after all, a rather tame experience in the face of beverages

arium, at Livermore, you know." She stopped to draw up the bedclothes higher. "I do hope it's so!... But I'