TANGLED
WIVES
By
PEGGY SHANE
Copyright by Peggy Shane.
WNU Service
SYNOPSIS
A girl finds herself In a taxicab in
New York with a strange man who
speaks of “an awful shock.” He leaves
her for a moment, and she drives on,
for she fears him. She stops at the
Biltmore, wondering who she is. Her
memory is gon She has a wedding
ring. The namelehs girl meets a young
woman who speaks of her desire to
80 to Reno for a divorce, if she can
get the money, The woman vanishes
with the ameless girl's $%00. An el-
derly woman, Mrs. Oscar Du Val,
cordially greets the nameless girl, ad-
n " wife of Mrs
Rocky is abroad,
wildered, is taken to the
home of Mrs. Du Val and her sculptor
husband, Oscar. Doris in love with
Rocky's photograph, but cannot re-
member having ma sd hima. Visiting
a store she is astc led when a sales-
woman |
tion. Ro
know who she why his wife
sent her to his home cannot tell
him They ag for the sa of his
parents, to pretend, for the time be-
ing, they husband and wife.
sists she hide from observa-
demands to
’
She
ree,
are
CHAPTER V—Continued
ey ee
Rocky pulled a chair up to the table
and sat down. “Draw up, dream girl,”
he said gleefully. “Rather, darling, let
me arrange your pillows for you.”
There seemed nothing else she could
«lo about it, so Doris scrambled into
bed. Rocky poked pillows behind her.
“Jolly, isn't it?”
“What?”
“Oh—having our own little love nest
like this and being so fond of one an-
other!”
Doris’ spoon poked tremblingly Into
her grapefruit. She felt a little reck-
less about where the juice spattered.
“It may seem jolly to you.” She looked
at him unsmilingly.
Rocky opened his eyes in pretended
surprise. “You mean to say it Isn't to
youn—with your adventure?
Fickle woman, and on our wedding
day you were so crazy about me!™
Doris was scarlet. For a moment
she thought that Rocky meant they
had had a wedding day. It was too
confusing. If only he would stop teas
Ing. It was baffling enough not to
know what had happened to her,
“After breakfast we'll drive into the
village,” said Rocky. “1 want to call
up Dorls without Mother finding It
out.”
“Go alone,
“You don't crave my company.”
“Frankly I don’t.”
He looked at her.
captious mood was gone.
inexplicably, and angry.
“Well, I'm not so d—d keen about
you éither. It's to save Mother's feel-
ings that I'm going to take you." His
face looked grieved, childishly so.
“She thinks that we can't bear to be
out of one another's sight!”
Doris didn’t know what to say. His
making fun of love Infuriated her.
She looked at him in stunned helpless-
ness,
Who was she? What was she doing
here? Where was the real Doris?
Why wasn't she here Instead?
Mrs. Du Val rapped at the door and
came in, “Ah my children—like quiet
Httle love-birds you sit!” She glanced
at Doris’ plate. “But yon do not
eat!” She shook a finger. “You are
too excited. Rocky has talked to you
too much.”
Doris smiled. “Yes—he hasn't given
me time to dress, even!" She gave
Rocky a sly glance,
He came out of his gloom with a
humorous leer. “But you're so beaut
ful—dressed or undressed. Why
should I?”
Doris drove to the village with him,
She sat quietly except for an ocea-
sional answer to his sarcastic refer.
ences to her “sustained innocence”
her “touching consideration” for his
parents! When she could stand It no
longer she cried:
“Oh, keep still. You haven't the
faintest idea of what you're talking
about.”
“Maybe not,” Rocky stopped the
car and got out. “But I'll know soon.
You wait here while | telephone.”
He came out a few minutes later,
looking glum, “A fine bunch of wom-
en I pick for myself,” he growled, “1
come home to a strange bride, and my
real wife is nowhere to be found.”
“Couldn't you get her?”
“Couldnt T get her?" shouted Rocky.
“And you let me go through all this
nansense of telephoning her! How
much longer do you Intend making a
jackass out of me?” He eyed her ac
cusingly. “You knew all the time she
wasn't there”
She felt as If her last nerve was
about to snap. “Stop speaking to me
fn that tone” she cried. “And If you
happen to have been born a Jackass, Is
that my fault? Stop the ear, 1 pre-
fer to walk."
Rocky stepped on the gas, “Stop
ft? Like hl! From now on, this
fight gets serious! There are plenty
of unpleasant places for clever girl
crooks in New York!" He stamped
love of
"
She saw that his
He was hurt
violently on the starter. “Where do
you suppose that woman is at this
hour? Not home from last night's
party, I expect.”
“You-—you're unspeakable” She
drew herself to the farther side of the
car. She was seething. Rocky seemed
engaged in a bitter brooding. They
sald nothing more until he opened the
door of the car for her to alight.
Doris retreated from his extended
hand. “1 can get out of this car quite
well without assistance.”
He seized her arm and pulled her
out roughly. “Stop acting like a fool."
They stood eye to eye, Doris on the
step above him, outraged, panting with
fury. At that moment nothing but
physical violence could have satisfied
Doris. This man had her so complete-
ly at his mercy. She was so helpless,
She had no place to go—no one to turn
to. And he insulted her, humiliated
her, She could not think of words to
express her fury. Everything else had
gone from her mind.
He too was filled with hate,
mouth was drawn into ugly lines.
eyes looked at her mercilessly.
“You—" he began.
The cheery volee of Oscar Du Val
boomed at them. “Ah, my children,
home again! Good. [I thought you
might be late for lunch”
Rocky reached out his hand toward
her, smiling hypocritically. It was the
last straw. She raised her fists in the
alr and struck out desperately. In her
madness she hit the umbrella stand.
It knocked over, hitting vio-
lently.
Taken by surprise, he uttered a loud
“Ouch.”
“I hope It hurts!"
Rocky whispered, venomously, “This
i8 the limit. This ends everything.”
He rubbed his wounds tenderly,
“And not too soon for me, either!”
sald Doris,
They went in to lunch. Mr, and Mrs.
Du Val noticed nothing amiss,
The meal seemed long and unendur-
able.
His
His
tocky
Rocky was silent and brooding.
Where did she
she go?
Du Val
mother
Doris felt depressed,
Where
She considere aking Mrs,
into her confidence, Rocky's
had been so kind—had seemed such a
helong? should
“l Don't Think | Care at All About
Having You Kiss Me,” She said
Confusedly.
refuge, Yet had that not been partly
because ghe was Rocky's wife, because
she was supposed to have the Du Val
seed flourishing within her?
Doris felt more unhappy than ever.
She had known, at least, all along that
she was not going to have a baby.
Mrs. Du Val would be very angry
when she found out how Doris had
taken advantage of her sympathy and
love,
What should she do?
But the kindly Du Vals were per.
ceiving at last that something had gone
wrong with the newlyweds, Doris did
not eat, Rocky glowered.
Oscar Du Val pushed back his chalr,
“Rocky you go off somewhere with
Doris for a few days where you can
be alone together.”
“Yes, yes,” sald Mrs. Du Val eager.
ly. "It Is not good for young people
to be always with us old ones—"
“We love It,” Doris spoke impul-
sively.
Rocky glared at her,
“As a matter of fact, Doris and 1
are leaving for New York this after.
noon, if you don't mind" he sald.
Doris’ heart leaped with fear. So
she was to leave this place—leave Mrs,
Du Val, her only friend in the world.
And where should she go In New York?
She rose. “I'll go and pack,” she
sald, “What time does the train
leave?”
«TN drive you ;In my ear”
Rocky.
Doris walked swiftly out of the
room so that they would not see her
tears. Rocky's bitter taunt recurred
to her-—he seemed to think she was
some kind of an evil woman, His eyes
were so unfriendly and eruel, If he
knew the truth he would turn her over
to the police. Perhaps he would any.
way. The least he would do would be
to put her away In an asylum,
She packed quickly. What the fu.
ture held In store for her she could
not guess, This adventure had turned
out to be farcieal. “To anyone else
it would be fareleal although it doesn't
seem so funny to me,” she thought.
Doris accused herself unmereifully.
She ought to have known that Mrs, Du
Val was not acquainted with her. One
does not run into friends so easily
when one Is lost in New York,
sald
How, now, would she find her friends,
her parents, her—(her mind shied
away)—her husband? Then she
thought again with terror of the man
in the cab, If she did find her friends,
it meant finding that man again,
Of course he was her husband.
She looked at herself earnestly In
the mirror. She was dressed In the
tweed that she had worn on the day
of her meeting with Mrs, Du Val. The
at her. She was absolutely alone In
the world, And now she was going
out In It—without friends, without
money.
door.
“Are you ready?’ he asked curtly.
“Certainly.” she sald promptly.
She gathered up her gloves.
took one look around the pretty fault
less room. Her haven. “Goodby,”
she thought silently, *“Good-by.”
Bending her head so that
might not see her face she
room,
She took her leave In a daze, Mra
Du Val full of admonitions, smiles and
tears—Osgcar Du Val neglecting his
precious work to bid her farewell
the kisses, the smiling servants—
Rocky at the wheel grim, saying little
-—then the grinding gears—and
last look over the shoulder—
Then she was riding over the road
beside Rocky.
He spoke once on the long lonrney:
Rocky
left the
the
1.
“I'l take you as far as New York,
unpleasantly., “But then I'm
afrald we'll have to part company—"
forlorn, Dorls
rather
completely
he said
horrified,
wotild
how
Frightened,
still felt that
than let him
helpless she was,
she die
know
“You ean drop me at the Biltmore®
she sald.
“Nh KR”
Doris’ throat
hot from the sun. She
would not ery. It
was dry, her cheeks
hoped that zhe
would be awful If
she broke
The
Doris decided that she
down In front of Rocky
never golng to end.
could sleep In
iid pawn
drive was
the park that night.
her bagg
ge and look
Rocky
arette
She eot
for a jo!
irette elg-
ting, hix mouth
The hills gave
smoked cig ater
his eves squir
sardonic and nnhappy.
way to the Bronx River parkway
Then turned off Fifth
nue into a side street and broug
II. He got aut. walked
Rocky
cir to a standstill nik
the ear and opened the doar,
at him
around
She looked
“Well?
“Get out !™
“But why
“I've decided you're coming with me
blankly
here?
to have a showdown with Dofls™
“Is this
“As if you didn't know it.”
Doris sighed. It She
opened her bag and drew out her pow.
vine on,” Rocky command
ed impatiently
“Oh-—all She had small
hope that Rocky's wife would be able
to unravel the mystery, but the cool
fron grill before Rocky's door looked
so Inviting.
is this where you lve?™
was 80 hot
1 ge
Ger case €
right.”
He smiled at her. "I'm sorry for all
my rudeness.” he said
“Oh it's all right. 'm about ready
to be handed over to the police any-
way." She felt weary and reckless
“There's something about yon that
drives me wild, I've seldom met a girl
who could get my goat as successfully
as you ean”
“I must be
Doris agreed
They entered the elevator, and
Rocky pushed the button. The tiny
elevator was painted dull blue and
decorated with three large mirrors,
Looking at herself Doris saw that
she was flushed and bright-eyed from
the heat. She thought that she had
never looked better in her life, nor
felt worse,
The elevator stopped. Rocky opened
the door,
“Doris, Doris!”
Rocky's voice boomed
through the apartment,
Rocky's wife was not there. As
they went in they saw that the place
had not been occupied for a lung time,
Dust lay on everything, and there was
evidence that an untidy Job of pack-
ing had been done there, but not re
cently.
*H--1!" sald Rocky. “My devoted
wife seems to have left me, bag and
baggage. She didn't even leave me a
note as far as [ ean discover” He
bent over Doris and seized her sud-
denly by the shoulders. “And now,
my dear young lady, it's up to you to
explain, Just exactly what is the
game?”
Doris stared back at him,
your hands off my shoulders.”
“When you answer my question™
But the glare in her eyes had had
its effect, She saw that he was pre
tending to be more angry than he
actually was, They seemed to have
reached a deadlock.
said Doris. “You know perfectly well
f know no more about your stupid old
wife than you do.”
A slight grin announced that Rocky
knew himself beaten. Ilis grip on her
shoulders became more friendly. “So
you think Doris Is stunid.”
The girl flushed. She did think so,
rather she had conceived a dislike for
Rocky's wife for some reason not
clear to herself. Yet she. did not want
Rocky to think so. “1 think It's stupid
to hear so much about her,” she sald
faintly. “1 don't know whether she's
actually stupid or not.”
“You sweet,” sald Rocky anespect
edly and kissed her.
It seemed forever that his lips
stayed on hers, but It was actually
only a moment before she wus push
ing him away. "I don’t think 1 care
at all about having you Kiss me” she
sald confusedly. “I don't believe
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
wonderful that way”
emptily
“Take
For enlightenment as to what is to
be In the way of smart fashions
watch the stvle-wise col
She knows
way these i
nge to wrest ads ee in i
lege-goling girl
almost uncanny the
ates man
ion from
stvie contors + ofc the
style center before the
vim public
at large gets an Inkling as to what's
going on.
Which is why
school wardrot #
ng-away-to-
young moderns
are so as to future style
trends, X
chile
the
some of
these
making
winter,
reven
So, on the theory that what's
for the college girl is for
tal peep at
vices which
usinsts are
and
chie
rest of us, let's
the fashion
school-faring
for
the coming sutumn
OF course, the logical thing to begin
with Is practical daytime clothes, but
we are so excited about the perfectly
lovely formal we saw in a college-girl
outfit to tell about it
The fact that it Is made of white ben.
galine is what intr our fancy.
Which Is the * #8 saying that the
swankiest thing on the boards in the
way of new fabric for party frocks is
heavy ribbed silk. It Is quite like the
weave which was so fashionable in the
long ago, and now It Is “In"
we can't walt
igued
I
ame
long,
again.
In studying the trend of styles.col-
legiate comes now another thrill in
that fashion bids fair to go Chinese.
The simplicity of this oriental styling
lends itself admirably to youthful ef
fects. Take it In the matter of the
new, little round tight turbans, with
their close-up cuffs and their pert lit
tle peaks at the very tip-top of their
crowns, they say “Chinese” at a glance.
Tilted over placid young brows, the;
look delightfully school-girlish., The
newest coats which are cut a la man-
carin because of the absolute simplic-
ity of
fectly
their lines,
with the picture of
These coats fasten authentically
15
over to the ot
youth.
Chi-
way
lose either with
e sort of a tricky metal
little inch-high
», in that one side is brought
her to «
butions or so:
col
look properly prim.
not
ut for dresses as well.
are good style
choice we would call
nning rough crepe
seated In the picture,
attention to the stu
frock on the girl
It is decid r new because
i has wideat-the-arm-
ridged
hions it and
the notably voguish
collar is black
an lamb border,
have a
¢ dress, now
“last word" from
pictured at the
in this group Is typi-
The belt is green
the plaid story does
not Anish woolens, for the
most scrumptious plaid velvets have
arrived. They are being made up into
3 1
the deep
vibrant blues
satin with
Every coll lassie should
tailored plaid
that plaids are a
Paris.
right to the 1«
I day-tim
‘Ty
I
cally collegiate,
suede. However,
with gay
monotone velvet skirts,
Two fashion tips gleaned from the
ored scarf (pictured to the left) is the
mass shirring which decorates the
sleeves, the scarf and the belt, and
the fact that the skirt is sheath-fitting
according to fashion dictates.
Glimpse the bracelets, for massive
bracelets are necessary luxuries which
college maidens simply must have.
latest
soft felt hats which look like a man's
fedora. Our college
immensely,
©. 1922, Western Newspaper Union.
BLACK FOUNDATION
OF FALL WARDROBE
Deserting the bright colors of mid
summer, the smart Parisienne has re
turned to her favorite black for morn.
ing, afternoon and evening. In a re
cent interview a Franch woman whose
name is synonymous with chic on two
continents, outlined a typical Parls
wardrobe. For daytime, her cholece is
a lightweight black wool coat, cut with
wide shoulders and trim fitted waist.
This she wears over a black
sheer wool frock.
Her afternoon dresses Include a yel-
low and black printed crepe, worn
turban of black velvet, This she al
ternates with a black satin jacket sult,
with white satin blouse,
For informal dining she wears a
simple black crepe frock, whose long
slender lines are accentuated by panels
of pale blue at the sides.
Going to See Many Uses
The new back-flare coats which Moly:
neux of Paris is designing at the very
ing effect on future styles. Made In silk
or chiffon, they can be used for eve
sports coats, with gloves, hat and
shoes to match. There is a yoke af
the ‘shoulders, beneath which gathers
fall in full sway. The length of the
coat Is slightly shorter than three
quarters and the sleeves are straight
and come to the wrist. There Is no
fastening unlesa it be a button or bow
tie at the throat, the vest of the coat
flopping open to show the dress under
neath,
Plaid Taffeta Girdles
Plaid taffeta makes girdles on some
SWISHING SKIRTS
By CHERIE NICHOLAS
Enter on the stage of fashiom the
iady with the swish-swish silken skirt
which is floor length, yea, even tralls
ebout In sweeping lines, Formal win-
te fashions are just like that. This,
because we have gone back to the Ed.
wardinn age so designs tell us, for our
style inspiration. The handsome black
taffeta dinner gown pictured Is typical
of the new movement,
Use Zippers on Cardigan
to Replace Seven Buttons
Cardigan sweaters, jackets, sports
shirts—=all those wardrobe items which
open all the way down the front-—may
now be found with zip fastenings. For,
as you know, a slide fastener has been
separated at the boltom, And to op
erate one is certainly speedier than
fastening the seven buttons which are
the average number on a fall cardigan.
AGE OF THE EARTH
A century 1s a very short epoch
compared with the aeons with which
geologists reckon in thelr chronology.
Concerning our notions of the length
of time, the general bellef of a hun
dred years ago was that the history
of the earth comprised less than
6,000 years or 60 centuries (Bishop
Usher's Bible). Now the lowest est)
mates of geologists for the time
since the beginning of the Cambrian
period Is 60,000.000 years, or 600.000
centuries, while most geologists
reckon with several hundred million
years for these eras.
Why
Liquid Laxatives
are Back in Favor
or —
The public is fast returning to the use
of liquid laxatives. People have
learned that the properly prepared
liquid laxative will bring a perfect
movement without discomfort
at the time, or after.
any
any
The dose of a liquid laxative can
be varied to suit the needs of the
individual, The action ean thus be
regulated. A child is easily given the
right dose. And mild liquid laxatives
do not irritate the kidney:
Doctors are generally agreed that
senna 1s the best laxative for every-
body. Senna is a natural laxative. It
does not drain the system like the
cathartics that leave you ty.
Dr. Caldwell’
liquid I:
for its laxative acti
average person's bowe
clockwork in a few weeks
1
You can always get Dr. Caldwell's
Syrup Pepsin at any drugstore, ready
for use. Member N. R. A.
Does Your Mirror Reflect
Rough, Pimply Skin?
Then Use
Cuti
utieura
and have a clear skin
Anoint the affected parts with
Cuticnra Ointment. Wash off
after a short time with Cuticura
Soap and hot water and continue
bathing for several minutes. Pimples,
rashes and all forms of skin troubles
quickly yield to this treatment.
Write for special folder on
the care of the skin
Address: * Cuticura,” Dept. 148,
Malden, Mass,
A Marvelous Face Powder
completely overcomes oily skim and shiny nose.
Benefits enlarged pores. imparts that soft, ved
vety, youthful appearance every woman
Easily apphbed. Stays on all day even in warm
weal Gives a noticeable bloom and charm
to all types of skin. A perfect base for any kind
of make-up. By mail only $1.00. No stamps,
Fifth Avenue Specialty Compan
151 Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y.
Complete course in i
any subject Sly H
$15.00. Order NOW,
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1910 Monroe SL.
A DAY SINGLE
$4 pousLe
These are the NEW low rates
now in effect of the HOTEL
VICTORIA, NEW YORK.
Agaoinunder the popular mon.
ogemen! of Roy Moulton, the
NEW HOTEL VICTORIA assumes
first importance as the perfect
headquarters for visitors to
New York. The word “weLCOME™
tokes on a new meaning here.
IO0OO0 ROOMS
All newly decorated. Eoch
room equipped with ao PRIVATE
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