THE WIVES OF DAVID.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1926, Page 30

THE WIVES OF DAVID.

BY E. C. BULEY. (Author of "The Mad Tremaynes," I "Half Her Kingdom," "The Girl From | Down Under," Etc., Etc.) I

SYNOPSIS. ' I Ituth Gaythorne, beautiful and very rich, seems to have only one aim in life, a restless desire for notoriety. Her husband David Gaythorne, is quite different. He loves his wife dearly, but objects to her mode of life and to the set she moves nmonget. Matters come to A bead, ana they agree to part for a time. David leaves for South Africa. Ruth goes to Paris and .meets Lois Churchill, a cinema artiste, who is her exact counterpart in look!, but of entirely opposite temperament. Driving together in Ruth's car, there is an accident. Lois recovers consciousness in hospital, to find that Ruth has gone to Hollywood as Lois Churchill, leaving her to fill the role of Mrs. David Gaythorne. The hospital authorities cable for DAvid. David arrives at the hospital and is completely deceived by the marvellous ' resemblance between Lois and Ruth, the only difference he can see is an altogether gentler manner and a sympathy which his wife had never previously shown. For her part, Lois feels very sorry for David, and determines to accept the position thrust upon her, hoping to bring about a Reconciliation between him and Ruth. X"th has left a book of signed cheques, and Lois asks David to administer her affairs. David takes Lois to his sister's home. They lenrn from a newspaper that Lois Churchill has been killed whilst attempting a sensational cinema stunt. Tlie girl who has been killed Is really an understudy. Rutii arrives at Hollywood in time to attend the funeral. She turns the occasion into an advertisement. The cinema directors accept Ruth as Lois Churchill without question. Lois finds that as Mrs. David Gaythorne she is the owner of Crying Shame, the favourite for the approaching Derby. She interviews Dargin, the trainer. Uuth becomes friendly with Otis GnrDell, a scenario writer, who had paid unwelcome attentions to .Lois. She receives a cable from Lois urging her to return. Garbell reads the message and his suspicions are aroused. Otis Garbell taxes Ruta with the difference he finds between the old and the new "Lois Churchill. , " She is attracted by his masterful wooing. Lois becomes friendly with David's sister Audrey, and confesses that she loves David, but there is a reason why sfle cannot let him know this until after the Derby. Eonny Breese, a grpat friend of Bath's, calls on the Gaythorucs. He is to ride Ruth's horse, Target, in a race for amateurs, but to his and Davidis.astonishment, Lois says ehe wishes David to ride Target. CHAPTER XL ' ' Having seen the. badly, rattled Ronny off the premises, David returned to Audrey, who was still laughing over the discomfiture of their" visitor. "It's very funny," David agreed. "But it's dashed unfair all the satae. Ruth has only herself to blame if Breese behaves like an idiot, and then she snubs the head off him." "Don't be a ninny, Davy," Audrey replied. "Go in to that young woman, who is -waiting for you to" ask that you may ride her horse. What does a mannikin like Ronny Breese matter lo you?" "Do you think she really wants, mc to ride?'l imagine she was only getting at Ronny." Audrey gave him a good-natured push. "Don't try to fool mc, Davy," she said. "And when you -ride the horse, mind you win the bracelet for her." "Oh, that's the easiest part of it." David replied; and with outward reluctance but inward alacrity he followed. Lois into the house, ifrs. Gaythorne had gone to her room, a maid told-him; and after much hesitation David ventured to knock on the door. '*■ '>*, "Come in," cried Lois tearfully, for she had every reason to suppose that it was Audrey who stood on her thresnold. With a quaking heart David pushed ths door open, and wa-s confronted by a girl who was frankly weeping. "Oh!" Lois cried, her face burning in an instant. "I thought " David hastily closed the door. "Davy, Davy," cried a voice from within. "Did you want mc?" i "When you can spare a minute," David replied. "Just let mc bathe my face," Lois said- "I'll Come down to your den in a moment." Women are certainly wonderful. When Lois appeared, a minute later, her face showed no sign of recent emotion or tears. ■ ( What is iti Davy?" she askei. a.a she took the easy chair # . he placed for her. "What a cosy little room. Why have I never been asked in here before?" "I just wanted to know if you really meant it," David said* in a voice he tried hard to keep steady. "Would you like mc to ride Target, or were you only getting at young Ronny?" "How can you ask?" Lois demanded. "Surely. Oh, I'd like to win the race that way, with your help, Davy. But if you will not do it, the horse shall not start." "Thank you, Ruth," David said simply. "This means a lot to mc, y6u know." glad," Lois said hastily, fearing herself, and the proximity, arid the look in David's eyes. "But that boy! What an insufferable cub!" The tensity of the moment was broken. David cleared his throat awkwardly. { "I say, old chap " he began, and then checked in embarrassment. "Yes?" Loi.«. replied. Only once before; had he called her "old chap," and the unconscious comradeship of it delighted her. "About Ronny, you know. Play cricket, I mean. He's not a bad youngster, as youngsters go." "He's a vapid little parlour snake," Lois said, with angry emphasis, and then laughed at David's stare. She had lapsed, for once, into the slang of the film studio. "I got that from an American magazine," she said, "and it describes him perfectly." "If it does," David said, "whose fault is it, I wonder?" "Do you mean to say I made him like that?" Lois asked indignantly. "Why, I " ** "I should say you had more to do with it than anybody else," David answered steadfastly. "And you rather scared mc, you know; because you are going to meet them all again, in a day or two. And if you treat all your old friends as you've just treated Ronny Breese, you'll create a sensation." "I don't care," Lois began, but corrected herself at once. "Yes, I do, Davy; you wouldn't like that, would you? Y<y must help mc to be nice to them, and explain, if they think I am funny, tliat I've not recovered entirely fronv -that smash." "Ronny will do that beforehand,David chuckled. "Between ourselves, he suggested that you were a bit cracked." "I believe Mr. Dargin thinks that." Lois replied, "and Audrey '• has her doubts, at times. W.hafc do you think yourself, David?" David turned deliberately and stared out of the window. In fear and trembling now, Lois waited for the answer to her question, knowing that she had not the right to ask it, but refusing to be baulked of a reply just the same. "If I told you that," he said at last, "It would be a breach of our contract, wouldn't it?"

"That is true," Lois agreed, "I am to speak about it first, as we settled; and in a few days I shall, Davy. I wonder what you will think of what I have to say?" "Would you mind going now?" he asked, without turning. "I—l am very keen about keeping my word" Lois went swiftly from the room, divided between shame and elation. David had said one thing which served as a forcible reminder of the carelessness of her impersonation of Ruth Gaythorne. As a matter of fact, she had, not attempted any imitation of Ruth, as she conceived Ruth to have been. She had only been saved from discovery by the readiness of David and Audrey to accept the new Ruth, as a vast improvement on the oldIt had been deliberate on her part. Lois could at least say, when she admitted her imposture to David, that she had told them the truth a hundred times a day, but they had refused to see it. She realised now that before Ruth's former friends she must conduct herself very differently, or accept the consequences. A repetition of her behaviour to Ronny Breese would surely result in one of those onlookers, who see most of the game, declaring at once: "But that is not Ruth Gaythorne at all, only somebody very 'much like her." She must give An impersonation, if only for a day or two. Lois hated the idea, but admitted its necessity. And then —what would David say , , when she told him? What would he do? Lois resolutely turned her back on the question, as usual, and strolled • across to join Miss Gaythorne under the big cedar. "Well?" Audrey asked. "Bave you engaged David to ride your horse, Ruth?" "Yes; dear," Lois answered. "It is very good of • hiiri to ' agree, after what has happened. Was I very rude to young Mr. Breese?" "No mor,e than, he ;deserved," Audrey replied. ."You'll be. meeting a lot of them at the Derby, .Ruth. Whom do j'ou 'expect to see there?" "Oh, Joan Sargood, Vera Worsley, Reggy Apthorpe, and all that lot," Lois replied carelessly. "They'll be all there, I expect." "I suppose so," Audrey agreed, busy with her knitting. But Lois looked at her with a new respect. Audrey had come to suspect .something, and Audrey had set a trap .for her, from which only Ruth's copious notes had saved her. . "Are you going to turn and rend them all, as you rent that misguided young man ?" Audrey asked next. "Xo, dear," Lois answered. "I wasn't angry with him really, but with myself. It struck mc so hard that I had allowed i David to be slighted and ignored in my presence. I won't have that any more, Audrey; but now that David knows it, I think he can take care of himself." "Trust David for that, ,, Audrey chuckled. "Well, it's a strange world, Ruth. That young man fled in his big car, firmly persuaded that you were out of your mind. He'll never stop speeding" until he gets to London to spread the news that Ruth Gaythorne has gone dippy over her own husband. I think that is how he will put it, my dear." "I went too far," Lois said remorsefully. "Not just for once," Audrey corrected, "but, as a general line of conduct. We'll, hadn't -.you; Better make it up properly with- Davy, before you set them all talking?" "Listen, Audrey," Lois said earnestly. lye been thinking about all that. I ■ was . thinking hard, just a few minutes ago. When those people come around mc, and Davy sees mc just as I used to be, what is he going to think? What are you eo'ms to think, Audrey?" B "If you make everything right with Davy first of all " "No, that must come afterwards, if it can be done at all. And you must help mc, Audrey. You have told mc l mustn't appear eccentric, and I know l mustn't. I don't want people to whisper that my accident has permanently unhinged my mind. But more thah that, I wish to avoid having David think these happy days here were, will, just one of my whims." "That's sense," Audrey agreed. "I'll not interfere, unless I see there's neod for it. But if David gets any wrong notion, I'll undertake to set him right with a word or two." "That's not all," Lois went on. "I've got to prepare for Wednesday, Audrey. I've only the simplest clothes sent here, up to the present. But if I am to be the centre of the picture on Wednesday, I must look the part, musn't 1?" "Fancy my overlooking that!" Audrey said, colouring with vexation. "My dear, Davy and I have been very inconsiderate and selfish. It has been so wonderful to have you to ourselves; jus,t a simple lovable girl, that we overlooked the fact that you are a great heiress. What's to be done?" "My maid Cecile is at Cashin," 'Lois Sftid. "She went there from Paris, with all my things, after the accident occurred. Some wise soul at the hospital arranged that. I am writing for her and telling her to bring a suitable wardrobe with her, so that I can choose what I need. I'm afraid it is going to disturb this dear old house, a French maid with a whole lot of trunks." "Would you not rather go to Caslijn?" Audrey asked. "You must not stand on any ceremony with mc." "Xo. I'll stay here," Lois said firmly. "In a day or two, Audrey, Davy and* 1 are to settle all our future. There's no place to do that, except this dear old home." . Miss Gaythorne bent-very close, her honest eyes searching Lois' face. "Kiss mc. dear," she commanded. "1 can see that you are in fear of something, and you are too sensible to be scared of shadows. It is something very real, I am sure, but you will not lot mc help you, except in small ways. I can only say this. It is sure to come right, with you and Davy the two fine young people you are. Yes, Ruth, it is sure to come right for us all." CHAPTER XII. Ruth Gaythorne was engaged in the favourite recreation of the traditional cinema star, she was reading Press cuttings. A great sheaf of them had been brought to her notice by young Grayson, tlie ingenious publicity agent of the Newart concern. There was no doubt about it, the sad death of the substitute Lo'is Churchill had produced a rich crop of publicity for Lois Churchill herself, j Turning the clippings 6ver, one after another. Ruth came on a small slip of paper, the type and headings of which reminded her more of English journalism than the more flamboyant methods of her recently adopted country. A second glance told her that the cutting wa« from an English newspaper, and was a cabled report of the death of Lois Churchill. The habit of thinking of others was not cultivated very much by Kuth, but this clip of paper made her pause, and consider its possible meaning. The newg

had been published in England, where there was only one person, as far as Ruth knew, -who was likely to be keenly interested in it. But that person was the real' Loie Churchill, and Ruth was quick to ccc what the effect of the tidings might be with her. "I see the news of my supposed death was cabled to England," she said. "Was that set right with the English papers afterwards, Mr. Grayson?" "Why, Miss Churchill," Grayson said uneasily, "I was just afraid you might take that up with mc. I did my best, but all the cable people laughed in my face. It did look as if we had put one over on them already, and they said they could not take a second bite, not for mc. or anybody else." "So there's nothing to prevent my English friends from going into m<nirning for mc?" Ruth said sharply. "Great publicity work, I suppose you call that?" "If anybody thinks you're dead," Grayson gaid. with flattering emphasis, "they are going to learn out their mistake mighty soon, Miss Churchill. This new film, 'Tangled Lives,' will tell t'le world you are very much alive." "It is your business to let the world know- at once*' , Ruth said. "You cannot leave it, until my work does it for you. So what are you going to do about it?" "I can't put it over, Miss Churchill," Grayson said doggedly. "That's all there is to it." "Then don't stand there looking incompetent," Ruth snapped viciously. "Leave mc alone, until I can think of some way of putting this right. You make a mess, and leave mc to clear up the last little fragments of tne wreckage." Grayson was only too glad to go. Ruth Sat for a while, reading the clippings before her, while her mind was busy upon the situation. If there were times when she regretted the whim which had made her a screen actress, she never admitted as much to herself. She had always been reckless of consequences, secure Lα the possession of a great fortune. JCo act of hers, she believed intuitively, could possibly close the door behind her. She had the gift of reading character rapidly, if not with suure accuracy, and she had drawn swift conclusions from her short encounter with Lois Churchill. Lois had behaved exactly as she had expected; she had assumed tlie role assigned to her in the hope of inducing Ruth to return forthwith, and with the desire of saving a scandal. The cable from Lois had told Ruth she was right, and had given her a security. The way back was always open. David's return from Africa was unexpected and inconvenient for her, of course, but. that was a matter for Lois to manage. Ruth had found the situation at once amusing and convenient. "When she needed to excuse herself for her conduct with Otis Garbcll, here was one ready to her hand. But with Lois thinking her dead, things might be quite different. She tried to imagine how she herself would behave, under such circumstances, and only one solution occurred to her. She would accept the situation and the big fortune in Lois' place, and risk being found out. At the very worst, a girl who took that line- could rely upon David's chivalry, in a pinch. A further possibility gripped her, and made even Ruth Gaythorne quail. Suppose, when she got tired of film work and of Otis Garbell, Lois had established herself firmly and refused to-be ousted. Suppose David Gaythorne were to back, her, whether in honest ignorance or because he deliberately chose that, course. For a minute Ruth lost her head and began to plan an instant flight to England. But only for a minute! The story on which she was working represented most of her interest and ambition at the moment, and if she ran away in the middle of it the Kewart concern would be ruined. Nor was Ruth inclined to run away from Otis Garbell, not yet. fhere were times when she doubted whether she would be able to make the escape from him, on which, at other intervale, she reckoned confidently. i No, ehe could not run away. What, then? Send a cable to Lois? But she did not know where Lois was, and people had the habit of opening cables not addressed to them, in case they might be urgent. Finally Ruth selected a number of clippings, which told the whole story of her triumphant appearance at Hollywood, in a way which Lois would be able to understand. These she sealed in an envelope, addressing it to Mrs. Gaythorne, at Cashin. Having inscribed on it the words "Kindly forward," and having satisfied herself that the disguised handwriting she had achieved with so much effort would not betray her, Ruth went oufc to post her bombshell. When she reached the post office, Ruth had a moment of hesitation. Nothing was very clear to her; she could not foresee by any means the effect of the action she proposed to take. Once more she tried to put herself in the place of Lois Churchill, but without success. Ruth had been at Hollywood long enough to become acquainted with the reputation Lois had borne before her departure. Ruth was daily being faced with difficulties caused by the contrast between her own instinctive behaviour and that expected from Lois Churchill. She had tried, when on her guard, to behave as Lois would have done, but had to admit that the result was, on the whole, failure. The convenient theory that Lois had come back a changed woman had been accepted generally, to explain the difference. Ruth flattered herself that the first thing demanded of her had been supplied; she had more than filled the place Lois had occupied. If she had failed there, she knew that her imposture would quickly have been detected. But having failed to impersonate Lois to her own satisfaction, Ruth was acute enough to see that she was not able to foretell how Lois would act, under the circumstances she wa3 contriving. So she hesitated, with the envelope balanced in her hand. tt~ ' "The car has got away-*from mc," she murmured to herself. "I've got to do something, but it does ,'t much matter what. So long as I do I At that she allowed; the letter to glide down the slot, and/'.valked ba-;k to the Newart lot, wondering rather soberly what would be the/butcome ot it all. She looked in. y st Andrew Hutchinson's office, and Tou*id the producer sitting before two with a puzzled look on his face. As Ruth entered the room he looked and greeted her with an uneasy smj'le. "Hullo,.'" Lois," he said. "Look what we've got here." "What have you got?" Ruth demands sharply, for her nerves were on edge that day. "The first scrip of ' Tangled Lives,' as Otis wrote it for you before you went away, and the last one, the fourth he's done." "Well, what of it?" Ruth asked.

"Oh, nothing," Andrew said. "I was Only noticing the difference. They're both all out of balance, to my idea. The first one was done especially for you, as you were then. There's too much of the womanly true heroine part, and too little of her Vampire double, to keep a good balance. Otis was right, though, he was feeding you with what was your own stuff, in those days." "And not now?" Ruth asked, with a rising inflection which should have warned the producer. '"Well," Andrew said, "when we began real work, I asked Lim to shade out a bit of the home and kiddies stuff, and give the wicked-eyes more chance. He's done that three times, last time it was his own idea, after seeing you work. And he's dead right again." "If he's right," Ruth said. "I don't see what your remarks lead to. What are you trying to say ?" At this point Garbell himself sauntered in, and threw a leg carelessly over Andrew's desk. Evidently he had caught the last part of the conversation, and he did not trouble to disguise his interest. "Oh, it just set mc thinking; the contrast between the two scripts," Andrew said deprecatingly. "Gave mc an idea, that you might use somehow, Otis." , "Spill the wonderful idea," Ruth commanded. "Oh, it was just the notion, like this. Suppose you—after that argument we had about doubles, you remember, Lois— went ofF to Paris, and really found your exact double. Get the : dea ? You take her place, and she takes yours. Opposite natures, you see, but not a spot of difference between you, in appearance. See what I mean, Lois?" "You ye got a great imagination," Ruth said, with biting contempt. "First you put up a girl who is not a bit like mc, and say that she is myself. Then you turn round, and suggest that I am not myself.' Bilge!" "I don't mean really," Andrew protested feebly. "I was just outlining an idea." "Great stuff, Andrew," Garbell said. "Are you through? Because T want to show Lois something I have got in my office. Stick at that idea of yours, Andrew. It's a lallapaloosa."

Ruth followed him willingly enough, avoiding his eye in the ■ passage, to tbe quiet room in which lie worked. Once in the room Garbell closed the door, and calmly turned the key. "There you are!" he caid roughly, setting before her a copy of the "Sporting and Dramatic News" of London. Ruth uttered a little cry, as she saw her own face looking at her from the centre of the pago. She bent closer to read the caption. "Mrs. David Gaythorne, owner ot Crying Shame, the Derby favourite; she ha's just been the victim of a serious motor accident near Paris." "And David has returned," Garbell said, taking her wrist in a grip of iron. "Now tell mc all about it, Ruth Gaythorne." ''Let mc go," Ruth said fiercely, "lou are hurting mc, you beast. I'll scream at the top of my voice." "You'll talk," he said, giving the wrist another twist. "You'U be glad to talk. Tell mc all atout it, I say." And very soon Ruth was talking, swiftly, clearly and consecutively. And, as Garbell i ad told her, she was glad to share her secret. (To fee continued Saturday next.)