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rhapsand　dismiss　her　with　contempt。　　In　an　elder　day；　if　they　had　lived　in　Turkey；　he　would　have　had　her　strangled；　sewn　in　a　sack；　and　thrown　into　the　Bosporus。　　As　it　was；　he　could　only　dismiss　her。　　He　smiled　and　smiled；　smoothing　her　hand。　　〃Have　a　good　time；〃　he　called；　as　she　left。　　Later；　at　his　own　homeit　was　nearly　midnightMr。　Kennedy　called　him　up。

〃Mr。　Cowperwood？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　know　the　studio　in　the　New　Arts　Building？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃It　is　occupied　now。〃

Cowperwood　called　a　servant　to　bring　him　his　runabout。　　He　had　had　a　down…town　locksmith　make　a　round　keystem　with　a　bored　clutch　at　the　end　of　ita　hollow　which　would　fit　over　the　end　of　such　a　key　as　he　had　to　the　studio　and　turn　it　easily　from　the　outside。　　He　felt　in　his　pocket　for　it；　jumped　in　his　runabout；　and　hurried　away。　　When　he　reached　the　New　Arts　Building　he　found　Kennedy　in　the　hall　and　dismissed　him。　　〃Thanks；〃　he　observed；　brusquely。　　〃I　will　take　care　of　this。〃

He　hurried　up　the　stairs；　avoiding　the　elevator；　to　the　vacant　room　opposite；　and　thence　reconnoitered　the　studio　door。　　It　was　as　Kennedy　had　reported。　　Stephanie　was　there；　and　with　Gurney。　　The　pale　poet　had　been　brought　there　to　furnish　her　an　evening　of　delight。　　Because　of　the　stillness　of　the　building　at　this　hour　he　could　hear　their　muffled　voices　speaking　alternately；　and　once　Stephanie　singing　the　refrain　of　a　song。　　He　was　angry　and　yet　grateful　that　she　had；　in　her　genial　way；　taken　the　trouble　to　call　and　assure　him　that　she　was　going　to　a　summer　lawn…party　and　dance。　　He　smiled　grimly；　sarcastically；　as　he　thought　of　her　surprise。　　Softly　he　extracted　the　clutch…key　and　inserted　it；　covering　the　end　of　the　key　on　the　inside　and　turning　it。　　It　gave　solidly　without　sound。　　He　next　tried　the　knob　and　turned　it；　feeling　the　door　spring　slightly　as　he　did　so。　　Then　inaudibly；　because　of　a　gurgled　laugh　with　which　he　was　thoroughly　familiar；　he　opened　it　and　stepped　in。

At　his　rough；　firm　cough　they　sprang　upGurney　to　a　hiding　position　behind　a　curtain；　Stephanie　to　one　of　concealment　behind　draperies　on　the　couch。　　She　could　not　speak；　and　could　scarcely　believe　that　her　eyes　did　not　deceive　her。　　Gurney；　masculine　and　defiant；　but　by　no　means　well　composed；　demanded：　〃Who　are　you？　What　do　you　want　here？〃　Cowperwood　replied　very　simply　and　smilingly：　〃Not　very　much。　　Perhaps　Miss　Platow　there　will　tell　you。〃　He　nodded　in　her　direction。

Stephanie；　fixed　by　his　cold；　examining　eye；　shrank　nervously；　ignoring　Gurney　entirely。　　The　latter　perceived　on　the　instant　that　he　had　a　previous　liaison　to　deal　withan　angry　and　outraged　loverand　he　was　not　prepared　to　act　either　wisely　or　well。

〃Mr。　Gurney；〃　said　Cowperwood；　complacently；　after　staring　at　Stephanie　grimly　and　scorching　her　with　his　scorn；　〃I　have　no　concern　with　you；　and　do　not　propose　to　do　anything　to　disturb　you　or　Miss　Platow　after　a　very　few　moments。　　I　am　not　here　without　reason。　　This　young　woman　has　been　steadily　deceiving　me。　　She　has　lied　to　me　frequently；　and　pretended　an　innocence　which　I　did　not　believe。　　To…night　she　told　me　she　was　to　be　at　a　lawn…party　on　the　West　Side。　　She　has　been　my　mistress　for　months。　　I　have　given　her　money；　jewelry；　whatever　she　wanted。　　Those　jade　ear…rings；　by　the　way；　are　one　of　my　gifts。〃　He　nodded　cheerfully　in　Stephanie's　direction。　　〃I　have　come　here　simply　to　prove　to　her　that　she　cannot　lie　to　me　any　more。　　Heretofore；　every　time　I　have　accused　her　of　things　like　this　she　has　cried　and　lied。　　I　do　not　know　how　much　you　know　of　her；　or　how　fond　you　are　of　her。　　I　merely　wish　her；　not　you；　to　know〃and　he　turned　and　stared　at　Stephanie〃that　the　day　of　her　lying　to　me　is　over。

During　this　very　peculiar　harangue　Stephanie；　who；　nervous；　fearful；　fixed；　and　yet　beautiful；　remained　curled　up　in　the　corner　of　the　suggestive　oriental　divan；　had　been　gazing　at　Cowperwood　in　a　way　which　plainly　attested；　trifle　as　she　might　with　others；　that　she　was　nevertheless　fond　of　himintensely　so。　　His　strong；　solid　figure；　confronting　her　so　ruthlessly；　gripped　her　imagination；　of　which　she　had　a　world。　　She　had　managed　to　conceal　her　body　in　part；　but　her　brown　arms　and　shoulders；　her　bosom；　trim　knees；　and　feet　were　exposed　in　part。　　Her　black　hair　and　naive　face　were　now　heavy；　distressed；　sad。　　She　was　frightened　really；　for　Cowperwood　at　bottom　had　always　overawed　hera　strange；　terrible；　fascinating　man。　　Now　she　sat　and　looked；　seeking　still　to　lure　him　by　the　pathetic　cast　of　her　face　and　soul；　while　Cowperwood；　scornful　of　her；　and　almost　openly　contemptuous　of　her　lover；　and　his　possible　opposition；　merely　stood　smiling　before　them。　　It　came　over　her　very　swiftly　now　just　what　it　was　she　was　losinga　grim；　wonderful　man。　　Beside　him　Gurney；　the　pale　poet；　was　rather　thina　mere　breath　of　romance。　　She　wanted　to　say　something；　to　make　a　plea；　but　it　was　so　plain　Cowperwood　would　have　none　of　it；　and；　besides；　here　was　Gurney。　　Her　throat　clogged；　her　eyes　filled；　even　here；　and　a　mystical　bog…fire　state　of　emotion　succeeded　the　primary　one　of　opposition。　　Cowperwood　knew　the　look　well。　　It　gave　him　the　only　sense　of　triumph　he　had。

〃Stephanie；〃　he　remarked；　〃I　have　just　one　word　to　say　to　you　now。　We　will　not　meet　any　more；　of　course。　　You　are　a　good　actress。　　Stick　to　your　profession。　　You　may　shine　in　it　if　you　do　not　merge　it　too　completely　with　your　loves。　　As　for　being　a　free　lover；　it　isn't　incompatible　with　what　you　are；　perhaps；　but　it　isn't　socially　advisable　for　you。　　Good　night。〃

He　turned　and　walked　quickly　out。

〃Oh；　Frank；〃　called　Stephanie；　in　a　strange；　magnetized；　despairing　way；　even　in　the　face　of　her　astonished　lover。　　Gurney　stared　with　his　mouth　open。

Cowperwood　paid　no　heed。　　Out　he　went　through　the　dark　hall　and　down　the　stairs。　　For　once　the　lure　of　a　beautiful；　enigmatic；　immoral；　and　promiscuous　womanpoison　flower　though　she　waswas　haunting　him。　　〃D　her！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃D　the　little　beast；　anyhow！　The　！　The　！〃　He　used　terms　so　hard；　so　vile；　so　sad；　all　because　he　knew　for　once　what　it　was　to　love　and　loseto　want　ardently　in　his　way　and　not　to　havenow　or　ever　after。　　He　was　determined　that　his　path　and　that　of　Stephanie　Platow　should　never　be　allowed　to　cross　again。




Chapter　XXIX



A　Family　Quarrel

It　chanced　that　shortly　before　this　liaison　was　broken　off；　some　troubling　information　was　quite　innocently　conveyed　to　Aileen　by　Stephanie　Platow's　own　mother。　　One　day　Mrs。　Platow；　in　calling　on　Mrs。　Cowperwood；　commented　on　the　fact　that　Stephanie　was　gradually　improving　in　her　art；　that　the　Garrick　Players　had　experienced　a　great　deal　of　trouble；　and　that　Stephanie　was　shortly　to　appear　in　a　new　rolesomething　Chinese。

〃That　was　such　a　charming　set　of　jade　you　gave　her；〃　she　volunteered；　genially。　　〃I　only　saw　it　the　other　day　for　the　first　time。　　She　never　told　me　about　it　before。　　She　prizes　it　so　very　highly；　that　I　feel　as　though　I　ought　to　thank　you　myself。〃

Aileen　opened　her　eyes。　　〃Jade！〃　she　observed；　curiously。　　〃Why；　I　don't　remember。〃　Recalling　Cowperwood's　proclivities　on　the　instant；　she　was　suspicious；　distraught。　　Her　face　showed　her　perplexity。

〃Why；　yes；〃　replied　Mrs。　Platow；　Aileen's　show　of　surprise　troubling　her。　　〃The　ear…rings　and　necklet；　you　know。　　She　said　you　gave　them　to　her。〃

〃To　be　sure；〃　answered　Aileen；　catching　herself　as　by　a　hair。　　〃I　do　recall　it　now。　　But　it　was　Frank　who　really　gave　them。　　I　hope　she　likes　them。〃

She　smiled　sweetly。

〃She　thinks　they're　beautiful；　and　they　do　become　her；〃　continued　Mrs。　Platow；　pleasantly；　understanding　it　all；　as　she　fancied。　　The　truth　was　that　Stephanie；　having　forgotten；　had　left　her　make…up　box　open　one　day　at　home；　and　her　mother；　rummaging　in　her　room　for　something；　had　discovered　them　and　genially　confronted　her　with　them；　for　she　knew　the　value　of　jade。　　Nonplussed　for　the　moment；　Stephanie　had　lost　her　mental；　though　not　her　outward；　composure　and　referred　them　back　casually　to　an　evening　at　the　Cowperwood　home　when　Aileen　had　been　present　and　the　gauds　had　been　genially　forced　upon　her。

Unfortunately　for　Aileen；　the　matter　was　not　to　be　allowed　to　rest　just　so；　for　going　one　afternoon　to　a　reception　given　by　Rhees　Crier；　a　young　sculptor　of　social　proclivities；　who　had　been　introduced　to　her　by　Taylor　Lord；　she　was　given　a　taste　of　what　it　means　to　be　a　neglected　wife　from　a　public　point　of　view。　　As　she　entered　on　this　occasion　she　happened　to　overhear　two　women　talking　in　a　corner　behind　a　screen　erected　to　conceal　wraps。　　〃Oh；　here　comes　Mrs。　Cowperwood；〃　said　one。　　〃She's　the　street…railway　magnate's　wife。　　Last　winter　and　spring　he　was　running　with　that　Platow　girlof　the　Garrick　Players；　you　know。〃

The　other　nodded；　studying　Aileen's　splendiferous　greenvelvet　gown　with　envy。

〃I　wonder　if　she's　faithful　to　him？〃　she　queried；　while　Aileen　strained　to　hear。　　〃She　looks　daring　enough。〃

Aileen　managed　to　catch　a　glimpse　of　her　observers　later；　when　they　were　not　looking；　and　her　face　showed　her　mingled　resentment　and　feeling；　but　it　did　no　good。　　The　wretched　gossipers　had　wounded　her　in　the　keenest　way。　　She　was　hurt；　angry；　nonplussed。　　To　think　that　Cowperwood　by　his　variability　should　expose　her　to　such　gossip　as　this