l~l~.l-.', ill .‘,’\|\'A\'\ t \~,-. l Annie o" -= c Important Sh ' Merger i (Canadian Pi TOKIO. Feb. 16.-—( most noteworthy Japan's shipping circ i-alamitous onrthquak the rumored merger c Yuseu (luielln and th Kaishn, two of the l ing colilpailiei-l in Japl The calainiity deal iilow to the business _ the Toyo Kisnn Kn l operates North and E a, an regular passenger ‘ Yokohama as a base and the firlli realize . could hardly realize years to come. u‘; A lllerger lvitli the l , Kuislla, which once .‘ ‘ biilile, failed to be r l, - summer. The Tcyo K Conv Mr. E. R. B in his ranch ev eiqht years sq and has obtilm slightly under fl first-class price foxes in winter Fox Biscuits ev Mr. Brow owner of Sir C foxes in the Wt of the best bre States. Silver r I London to a posed by thl lllESSRi Spri 8 H11 ‘rztsanfrars-l». wit-‘rr-oc-"r Tailfr-lww 40' ~Q%£LJ- - i,» “gill! N“ llwhlll. Divld Aiiiasmfi, born at New- "°°ll* ‘P sort, PAGE TWO a ith any H cad on or nsélgefimzcrtg :1“ l‘ ‘ n“ ‘knowfiud The Middle Ground By Marlon Rublnoam Synopsis of Preceding Chapters Amy Talbot ha. been overwork- ed torso many years that she has gotten completely out of touch with life and new ideas. She finds this out when her non Luther re- turns to the farm with his newly married wife Claire. and when Jane, her daughter, comes h lme from college. She cannot under- stand their new ideas, and finds them making Amy, the youngest, discontented. Claire and Luther quarrel; Claire goes back to the city, taking Amy with her. Even- tually and Luther go away. Mrs. Talbot is so worried about her girls that she braves her husband's anger and goes to them in the city. Amy is studying for grand opera, and will not look at the always-faithful Dick; Jane is in love with a doctor too poor to marry her. Everything in the city shocks and terrifies the mother- Luther and Claire are separated; Claire wants a divorce. Amy's prettiness attracts scores of admir- erswshe threatens to marry a rich‘ man she does not love. Jane is on the point of going away with the doctor, who doe; not want to marry her. There is no sympathy between the strict and narrow ideas of the mother and the broad. but what she calls “loose” ideas of the children. Then the doctor finds n post in a South American mining camp, and can afford to marry. He and Jane elopo and go to South America. Luther has a note from Claire. Amy's engagement to Adam Arnold, rich and more than twice her age, is announced. COMPREHENSION Chapter 99 Luther picked up the fan and followed Claire down stairs to the waiting cab. She pressed a poc- ketbook into his handu "You've been spending your money on your family, and I've selfishly spent mine on myself,” she snid. "You didn't expect this party tonight.” Luther protested. “Please! What is mine is yours anyway," she insisted, and slid her arm through his, leaning against his shoulder in the cab. "Now, just other girls in the party, and don't pay any attention to what I shall say," she warned him._ Her mind was working hard at the problem. "lt can't be the same girl," she was telling herself. "He wouldn't take that girl to this blarey restaur- ant.” She had found out quite a lot about this fiance of Clarke's. She herself, like most members of the theatrical profession, knew all the people who frequented the big hot- els and restaurants. For n big metropolis and a small town are quite alike, there are little circles of people who do certain things, who pursue their pleasures in a routine tashion—and circles within these circles again. There was a special crowd for each type of restaurant-and nar- rowing down still more, a special crowd for each restaurant. and still narrowing, the accepted members of that crowd-and those who would like to belong. and to whom the head waiter was not so obse- quious. Claire was fairly familiar with all the circles who denied and dan- iiii A sill? WiiH PiMPiiS Large and Red. ltched and Burned. Cuticura Heals. " y faoe was ltch and broke out with large, red pimp es. Th were scataered all over my face and tched and burned so that l scratched which caused them to grow larger. I could hardly sleep at night. They were a real torture and my face was a sight. “ The trouble lasted about three months. l began using Cutlcuia Soap and Ointment and the first treatment stopped the itching and otter using two cakes oi‘ Cutlcurn Soap and one box of Cuticura Oint- merit l was healed." (Signed) Miss Ora Goulette, R. F. D. 4, Box 86, Barre, Vt., March 24. 1922. Use Outicura Soap, Ointment and Talculn exclusively for every-day toilet purposes. Iaiplllaslhss . oar-sign. .2.- *- "tctrhotiiim. firs: . can Snap shaves without Isa. Rant! inasmuc- be nice to ‘all the h THE Acuanhorrsrowu GUARDIAN regularity. mule and point out this stock broker and that theatre star. this well known artist and that social debutsnte——but beyond tllis were nothing for "sinartnass." P901116 whom Claire knew as “exclusivc." people who were actually bored with all this expansive noise and flaring gilt and high Priced V1118!"- ity. To these people. which dined less noisily and more exvaafllvely- this fiancee of Clarke's belontlsd. Surely she would never step ollt of her ultra-desirable circles to sit where jazz bands played too loudly, and where "pep" was considered the first social necessity. , Claire entered the restaurant with her best unconscious smile, ers so as to show only a tautilizlnS amount of blue dress, her eyes tak- She was glad Luther was so good looklllg. Her ears were acute enough to catch the comments as they passed. “By George, there's the chicken frolu tlle—" "Yes, does the Snowball Dance- who's the man-J?" Further along. "This? Oh, Claire Pratt, i:lie “Snowball Girl," Private Life Mrs. Talbot, bllt site's divorced I think ——0l' getting it. Ilim? Never saw hinl before.” . Claire had found her party, and was standing by a vacant chair. "You all know Luther," she re- marked casually, as tholigh Luther had been with her on every party for the last year. There was an astounded silence flattering enough to suit even Claire. She took charge of the sit- uation, pleased at the sensation, amused, malicious. Luther was helping her oft‘ with her cloak. she reluaiued standing. tile eyes of the restaurant upon her-in the corner Clarke was sitting with a girl, Claire could not see her very well. “0h" she said, brightly distress- ed. “I forgot Mr. Grange had not —Mr. Grange my husband Mr. Tal- bot." She llad no longer an excuse for standing, she slipped into her chair and became merely one of tile din- ers in a huge restaurant. Hut sitting down she collld see under a palm tree to Clarke's tabl- —his back, to ller, the girl facing er. While Maisie tried to grasp and carry off tllis new situatiou—of Claire turning up with her husband —Claire herself took in the girl._ Plain and from the country! What a fool Maisie was! This girl was exquisite, as dainty as a flow- er petal. She wore no jewels but a circlet of diamonds on her en- gagement vflnger, and a diamond and pearl comb that held her hair in an apparently careless knot on her head. Her dress ‘had u decep- tive simpllcity——slie was looking about the restaurant with anluse- ment, plainly entertained by a new place, and a new type of place. Maisio was insisting on answers. “But when did it happen, Claire? You're the secret one——-" “Oh, happen!" Claire was sweet and vague." When were you home from that trip, Loo dear? Three weeks ago, wasn't it Yes, about three weeks."-- A 200 pound brunette in orange chiffon began a song with a drum accompaniment, and further talk CLAIRE/S LITTLE TRIUMPH Chapter 100 ,*":zz T‘; . ,, ¢|‘-Y'. The song seemed to be a contest between the three drums of the lorchestra and the largo brunette. There was a struggle lasting through three verses, each louder than the other, and they ended about even in a storm of applause. But the brunette out distanced the drums and finished triumphant in the encore. After which slle retir- ed smiling. the three drummers mopped their brows and compara- tive sllenco settled down over the restaurant. Ill this comparative silence Maisie shrieksd over to Claire for more particulars. Maine's voice was never exactly low and pleas- ing. and she had to compete with several hundred voices that also were not exactly low and pleasing. “But Clnirie darlin'——you've kept it from us. We though you and Luther were parted for keeps. Why didn't you let us know every- thing was balmy again?" The man sitting between them and one of the girls got up to 11111106. Wlaisis moved to Claire, where she did nothave to talk so loud. ilirange and Luther found they were in the same profession and were talking and laughing to- gather. “0h." Claire said easily, “we -!" Malslo w she also wanted information. knowing how to achiev: bolth sindl. - re about e ass :- omer cuclem people “no cared ahgYggulvévtgved ‘been livig! at m)’ flat," Claire helped her out. sweet- ly. 'She was much clevsrer than Maisie, who adored her, so she used Maisie to send out information to her friends. How long had it been since Jim dropped from the crowd At i811!!- a lnonth—she had to give the 1111- tbs reconciliation into "is he—-ara pression that was longer than that. Luther would be sure to blunder telling the truth, he never could lie decently, she remember- ed. Here he was talking suspen- sion bridges nnd steel cables with 9+ her cape slipping from her sllould- “T33: and h" hand under ME a, the table, to attract his attention. Maisie was all eyes and ears—what moon together-second honeflllw" "M" hum“ °°ndm°m" ' not let on.‘ ou-hnva 19.11 5°95 Z nted to be delicate, illg in the whole restaurant- which stopped and stared at her of film] i219 wwslge giléetgélung the course-hunting Jim while she if 5 5' seemed only to htlnt her friends. WW- you." W“ dmwned- Claire wanted to stop tllis Lu ther might hear. She tunled to wsllt on. “We used to- be there- l just kept it on while-well, while Loo welit off to look after his nlo- ther and Amy. Oh, but we nlade l it up long ago, didn't we Loo?" Her t hand pressed his warniutzly- “Q1113! Loo had to go away on a trip, and I couldn't leave the sliow—~so we said nothing-we didn't want a lot of gossip." Maisie leaned closer, lowering her voice to ll whlsper—a whisper which curried more clcarlv than ordinarily spoken words. “That accounts for it," she said “i always said it was you who threw over Jim. I think it's grand l of you to do that, for your husband. I always told the girls you and Lu- ther were really in love-I'm so ex- cited. Poor Jim, though---Clairc_ you might have let hinl down gen- tly. Do you think he wants to make you jealous with that girl‘! She can't hold a candle to you for looks or style." Claire hoped Luther had gone back to his discussion of cantilev- ers. air pressure, hydraulics and such things. She glanced at Jiln’s table. It was empty-she turned to look at the dancers. They were crolvdeil together on tile small floor, hot, uncolnfortilble tightly together, not so much from affection as from necessity because there was no room for freedom, the lty, they were cross without know- were having a good time because this sort of thing was taught them ment. Only the sliln, dark little girl in Jim's arms seemed cool and at ease. Clarke danced around the his svay among the couples, his arm not so much clasping the girl as holding the crowd away fronl her t f “He's dancing near the edge so's t you can see lllm," Maisie's large whisper came again. “Trying to make you jealous, Claire. I won- dered why he didn't bring his girl to our table. Now l know. He was lust afraid you and your husband migllt come in and make hinl look like a duuce. l'ni glad l phoned hinl, her eyes asking to dance. But the music stopped suddenly, Jim DRBBed with ‘ll short nod to the lfllllfl. the stranger's eyes gave them n brief, unconcerned glance, onial costume, but with silk tights beneath the panlllers instead of flklrtfi. began to sing. THE DANCE Chapter 101 It was impossible to talk except witli a greatly raised voice while the singing was in progress. The singer had u piercing soprano, the orchestra accompanied her as loud as it could, and the voices of the diners were anything but low, even Sensible People in all walks of life have for a loll: ‘time used Beechamh Pills, w c enlo eat _ are rellalfi: and to e maintenance of health, When you suffer from indigestion, biliousness or constipation Pl thought we'd have a little honey- . “l, a’ lsuw lorpnd deeds is nev- swomnosrzn an mos,‘ . be: a "idirdliiiWi-iin -----_- 2W2‘... lfilii III u.‘ _ j,_ J<‘.‘--. .. - "Iii! unity lllflw III” ‘~ W‘ ma‘ Ir Ierldo l “It-s Luthefs flat‘ reanyy she the white silk tights began. am too." Claire defended suddenly. "It's the moat indecent ulodest." restaurant suddenly with new eyes. way! headache, the diners were as im- modest ns the pcrfornlers. She was suddenly too conscious of her own bare shoulders, the many inches of her back lllfll. tile low cut dress showed, to their table‘! never had liked lllaisie very well. troduce his future wife to Maisie ' was conceivable—but why not to her? friends, she and Jim-and she was conscious of the vast gap between herself and tile good natured, loud voiced Maisie. ed her hand and they went out with tho rest of the crowd to dance. Peo- ple were comfortably filled. the old-fashioned dances being re- vived that winter, where, at, the B sound of a whistle, everyone clasp- tepped upon, each couple holding end hands and danced around the edge of the floor, then at another whole coiilpact mass swinging slow- which 9"“ partner came "earesll sed woman on the floor. u m, t I _ shs do it? How did she carry her as ‘e "g O do or mm’ enjoy shoulders that way? Slender Claire felt fat and heavy and awkward be- side her. edge of the floor where the crowd chain began’ “mm?” “m5 we “"139 v t n“ k‘ km‘. l men the other, weaving in and out, ‘ as no so c s u 1y steering clasping hands, laughing, breaking hand——Claire was sociability of the dance. —thnt every man held her hand as long as possible, hoping the whis- tlc might blow again while he held her so he could parnter. her prettiness that she was used to but that alllused her and pleased her as much us it ever had. saw Clarke. giant was passing her, keeping her band, a splendid dancer. she had seen llilu often in the restaurants. The whistle blew-he still held her A tollgll little girl dressed in Col- ;gggegutlgzslnfdwgsl'at:llzgl deliberately caught her and they danced away could not resist it. Clarke would not come to her slle had to go to him. She wanted hinl to know she was with Luther, she wanted him to feel she did not care whether he married or not! guiding her through maze of arms and feeet. you've made it up." personal, polite, he saved her from inventing more reasons. have met here-nice to have see you again." quickly as the whistle blew. will you?" the young giant asked, [I88 - ‘catching her hand as the dance be- Ban slain. Claire hoped the general din would silence Maisie. There was leill noise when the! Played dance music, most of the tables were em- pty then, and they thlked loss while they danced. . Besides, that ‘winters dance music was low seductive, dances were quiet, comparatively modest lacking in eccentricity. Claire ate her salad, and watched Jim's table when she could. Jim's girl looked at the performer with a slightly shocked expression, then, eyes dan- cing she turned with amusement to make some comment to Jim. "Little country cousin's shocked" remarked Maisle, whose eyes never left Clarke's table. Claire looked toward the stage. The performer was singing an old fashioned song played to rag time accompaniment, her dress was an antique flowered taffeta, sleeves to the elbow, low cut neck edged vwith the “modesty frill" of lace, stiff panniers draped [from the" laced-in waist——and then the charmingly simple Colonial costume ended, and "i don't wonder she's shocked, I costume ever saw. I suppose it's because he upper part of the dress is so She stopped, looking around the What a vulgar place it was any- 'l‘lle din was making her her ankles, tile clinging iucs of the whole dress. Would Jim brillg his fiance over 0f course not, he That he would not want 'to in- They had been really good The music started, Luther touch- leaving, the floor whistle, caught How did Tile whistle sounded, tile grand he chain as some missed the right whirled away ronl Luther. the compliments ho paid Usually in these mixed dancesul in these so-called u conventional restaurants, the proprieties vim most rigidly observed. Two stun;- ers came together in a dance, Ill silent. waiting for the whistieliii was to separate them again-out . the most I _ w“ about the weather, the nnislc,'ilt t “as one of thanked each other politely still end. But her keen eyes took in had to use his inventive mg It and hot and tired without ML every exquisite (letail of the other m; 1L T, 1 u, h h WOIHHIVS sown, and envied the sim- m “g ‘ey on y mg t t 9y pliclty that made her the best dres- WithOxoCubesym, can serve a meal a, j ‘a moment’; noiicé. l They are handy for I all purposes and a1] ’ occasions-an ex- cellent substitute for meat in SOups and savory dishes - a household help every day in the Old Fail" m“ h v . filial: '""‘"' - ‘ Sendai, oxocn, l s:::.':.i'"*'~ oxo LIMITED, 232 11min i; MONTREAL Q ‘lttl’. murmured something The young giant however, iiiiell Claire froul having seen her actia m 9' ring adored celebrities and wantedio say casually next day at the up office—- - “Oh yes, I was ollt with Claire. h.’ rhythmical“, to “m “mam and danced until the whistle sound- the Snowball (my l“, may,‘ They were not separate indivi- ed once nmre‘ While we were 6111101118 108911!!! duals, nor separate couples, they, Clarke and ‘he gm were dam‘ she sald—" - . were n mass, they were hot human- £55618!” tried n“ to 1°91‘ at But Claire sfllll 1101111118. S11 it Ililltl! next day, Ho took her to the title, bowed and left—and Luther use back again. "I'm tired, let's go home, dell.’ Claire said suddenly, in her bet domestic tone of voice. “But you've only come! Dealll. X you never go home before twoli being married again is going to spoil you as a good sltort—" lllllll was trying to be cordial, wlityqilc testing and polite all at oncsmil was not making a success a! li- “I have to see Belfisld early!" EVEYYW"? W" *1 morrow,,l-le wants me ot taliellll rlcud for tile moment, in the brief gm,- pa“, when m9 ghow goeltl Claire was conscious-as always claim her for a lt was a compliment to the road," Claire gave as her u- cuse. Luther glanced at her illllllll- Maisis was all curiosity and litlil her back. l "But, denrls, isn't that grlllll Your name is electric light; everything. Dearie, you do that lllll he'll star you on Broadway i1 i’ Far down the line of dancers she And Jim saw her, and turning, nto the crowd again. What a silly llnpllise! But “she "Congratulations," he said to her. the perfect "l sea "Yes, some time ago," she fibiled. ‘but we kept it qulet-—bccause—" "Oh, l quite understand." Im- "Odd to And he dropped her almost too "You won't yank away this time, LUTH ER'8 GU E88 Chapter 102. She danced with the young giant o . ‘"1" 3'1"! All llodidu In ob Wald that time, and listened silently to w?‘ _ l-il"'§l°t'i.'|°'ii““"“ T" ' “ s er one main within» In , no‘ il va ttlslljn h», ttlsnrwl ' Bus; if he won't." “But poor Loo-will Y0" l“ A handsome yours liim so soon! Still you call nlwl have another honeymoon when i show ends—" Claire wanted to get out as ills as she could. She pulled iier cioa (Continued on P559 3l i iiatlwilliiai Boas PAZO OINTMENI‘ is a GUI!‘ teed Round! 1M I" l" “ Piles. P dmuist S130 l1! l" lfllamir mo ~ bltghen lyxou hazel“? 2' l“ x ou wnlglgezréulu obtalnfll, ma! 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