The Girl a Million Knew

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 34, 17 March 1914, Page 2

The Girl a Million Knew

(By HERBERT SHAW, author of "The House of Many Secrets," etc.) [Copyright.]

CHIEF CHARACTERS IN THE STORY. DURHAM KENT, who, dying, swears he never again wants to see his wife, FLORENCE KENT, an unscrupulous woman, who inherits £30,000 on the death of her husband. She is the step-mother of CHRISTINE, a charming girl, who aims at being an actress, and who is engaged to ' DICK TEMPEST. Tempest tells her she is very like LEILA MAYNE, the "star" of the Pharos Theatre. Christine notes a meeting between Tempest and Leila Mayne at an inn, and discovers later than Dick has driven the "star" to London in his car. Christine discovers that Leila Mayne is in possession of some of her father's choice coins. CHAPTER. VI. THE "WOMAN AND THE CHILD. A little laugh came from Leila Mayne as she advanced into the room. ; The exclamation with which she had announced her presence had come so unexpectedly that Dick and Christine were held by an awkwardness which was very embarrassing, and Christine, in her rather worn though well-cut serge costume, with the velours country hat that suited her so well, was painfully conscious of the contrast between her clothes and Leila's gorgeous evening frock. She flushed noticeably. How long had the intruder stood there, watching herself and Dick. "Don't you think you might introduce me to your visitor, Dick?" Leila laughed again, a little maliciously, and Christine glanced up at her sharply, vaguely hurt by the sense of possession her utterance of his name had plainly conveyed. Then Dick, still awkward, made theintroduction. There was an instant change in Leila. A new light leaped into her eyes, and then was gone, as a ripple shows in still water, and swiftly vanishes. "So you're Christine Eden? I've heard of you already. Weren't you at the theatre this morning?" Christine nodded. "Alan Holiday was full of you. You'd be in the new show, he said. I'll be one of the first to welcome you." Now both her voice and her manner had changed. Dick, who had feared a scene, muttered a low exclamation of relief. Leila, who had many moods, and some of them not pretty ones, could be charming when she chose. She had evidently determined to be charming to Christine now. The reason puzzled him. He knew Leila well enough to have seen that she had stepped forward from the doorway resolved to be as unpleasant as possible. Leila considered him her own property. No one was better aware of that thau himself. ' '.lt was very nice of him,'' returned Christine, gratefully. "But I am afraid he was a little previous. There's nothing settled. I hope to see Mr Cardinal to-morrow. ,J

'' Holiday wanted to bet on it," said Leila, lightly. "I see no reason why Cardinal shouldn't like you. You're certain to be miles in front of most of our ordinary crowd. . They're a lot of sticks, pure and simple. And you know Dick, too. It's quite a reunion, isn't it?" , . Christine murmured a shy word. She did not notice the sneer which, in spite of the plan of action Leila Mayne had quickly decided upon, crept into the last words. That sneer did not escape Dick. He stood there, now composed and watchful. And he looked from one woman to the other. His eyes rested on Christine. She was like an unspoilt child by the side of this woman who knew things, who had battled her way, above the hate and jealousy of the stage, to a throne where she now commanded wealth and admiration. There was a prayer in Dick Tempest's heart, and a little mist came before his eyes. Let Leila flaunt her hold over him as she would, she belonged only to his past. Christine was" the unspoilt child, with many things to .learn from London, but she was the better woman, the .real woman/ He would fight for Christine. Dimly-in the mist was the live figure of Christine, standing on the bank above him in the quiet dark of the evening. Suddenly,as if involuntarily, he asked:— "What have you done with Jock, Christine?" The name slipped from him, and he regretted it, for that light again sprang to Leila's eyes. * "I had to leave him at Englefield. Maybey at the inn has got him. He'd have broken his heart in London.'' Leila Mayne broke in. "I've changed my mind about going out to dinner with you, Dick. I don't want to." And, turning abruptly to Christine: "I want to talk to you. If you're coming to the Pharos, there's lots of useful things I can tell you. I wonder if you'd dine with me somewhere?" " It's awfully good of you.' ' Christine was quite captured by her friendliness. "I should love to, above all things. But, you know —I can't very well go like this." And, with a gesture of her hands, the girl indicated her walking costume. "That doesn't matter at all.'' We'll dine at the Cabaret, in Soho. You can dress just as you like there. All sorts of people come." Leila smiled. "So you won't disappoint me, will you?" "Of course, I'll come." Leila looked at the clock. . "Well, will you • meet me there in half an hour from now? I've some business to talk ove* with Dick, but it won't take me long. I'll be there at 8 sharp. You know the Cabaret — Old Compton Street?" Dick and Leila both accompanied Christine to the door of the flat. He had wanted to whisper a word to her, but there was no chance without Leila overhearing.

"Here J s Alan Holiday!" the latter exclaimed. Holiday was descending . the stairs from his own flat on the floor above. He was hatless, He stopped, and shook hands with Christine, as he greeted that other two. . '■ ..." "I'm just going to the office at the comer . with an express ..letter,.'/ ha explained. "I've something to tell you,, Miss Eden. If you'll wait .upstairs, I 'll be back in a jiffy. Half a moment. I'll open the door for you, and yom can wait in comfort." .- He was on the landing above before? he had finished speaking. "Come on I" Christine followed him. tie stopped! merely to put the key in the lock, push the door open, and then he wasjlying; downstairs once again. . ' "'^ And in the flat Christine had left, Dkk I'empest turned upon the woman there. , '' What's your game, Leilf ?" he demanded angrily. Leila Mayne only smiled. "Why are you pretending to be nice to that girl—pretending you want tobe friends with her? When you heard her name —you know something more about her than the gossip you learnt at the theatre. I could tell that from your eyes. What is it?" She disregarded his question. "I might ask what your game is,"", she said coolly. "You're engaged to me, Dick,.: you know." * '_ -"l'm not!" The vehemence of his.answer would have almost been explanation enough for Christine, could she have heard it, of the strange scene she had witnessed at the Englefield inn. - "Get that out of your mind. I broke that for good and all -three months ago, when I cleared oiit of London." "I don't choose that you break it!"" Leila retorted, as angrily as himself. 1 ' I never released you from it, Dick. You'd better be careful." .'' Leila, all the time you were talking so pleasantly to Christine, you were working out some plan to injure her in.your mind. You sha'n't do it, LeilaShe's worth a thousand of you." You. sha'n't do it." "What could you do to prevent it?" she asked, quite quietly, but it sounded like a threat.'' Then her voice rose. "Now, listen to me. Send your little simpleton back to the country,'if she's so sweet and good. I won't have that girl in the Pharos. Max Faweett cart have, her, at the Olympic if he likes, but I won't have her at the Pharos so long as I'm there. Do you hear?" "Max Faweett" cried Dick, in high and bitter remonstrance. "He's the biggest brute in London!" (To be continued to-morrow.)