The Bismarck Tribune

JUDITH GRANT, artist's model, loves ALAN STEYNE, as does CHUMMY MORLEY, her best friend. Chummy had loved Steyne years ago and lost her memory when he went away; so, though he loves Judith, Judith insists he must marry Chummy, who regains her memory when she sees him again. Judith studies dancing and becomes star of a musical show backed by rich BRUCE GIDEON, who is infatuated with her.

Meanwhile, Chummy learns that Judith and Steyne are in love and breaks her engagement, but Judith refuses to marry Steyne, telling him he belongs to Chummy.

Gideon tries to attack Judith in his apartment. She escapes, and he begs her to marry him, but she refuses and goes to Europe on a professional tour.

Chummy and Steyne prepare to get married, but suddenly learn Judith has been badly hurt in a theater fire. She is brought back to New York and tells them she may never be able to dance again.

BASTIEN DUMONT, a young artist who loves Judith, visits her at the hospital.

NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

CHAPTER XL

DUMONT saw Judy oftener than anybody else during the next three or four days. She seemed to like him to sit with her. She was gentle and kind to him. She took a great interest in his work.

They were days that passed like a dream to the young artist. He was unbelievably happy. Each day he thought Judy looked more as if she were coming back to life. She said she had hardly any pain left, and she was healing up splendidly.

They were truly golden September days, and all his life Bastien never forgot them.

One day she said to him, just as he was going away:

"Bastien, are they saying that I am going to marry Mr. Gideon?"

"I believe most of them think so, Judy."

"You can tell them I am not. He asked me to, Bastien, but I said no."

"I don't think I ever believed you would, Judy," he said. "Only, of course, you were about with him a great deal."

"I know. I played a little game with him, Bastien, if you want to know. He didn't want to marry me—you can imagine that. He didn't think I was good enough; but he found he couldn't get me any other way."

The young man was white. His hands were clenched.

"Judy!" he said, and he shook with a frenzy of rage.

"It's all right, Bastien," she said. "You needn't worry. Mr. Gideon asked me to marry him, and I refused. We're more than quits. You can tell the boys that I'm not going to marry him."

"Judy, you always said you would never marry until you fell in love. Aren't you ever going to fall in love?"

"Oh, Bastien!"

She heaved a deep sigh, although she laughed, too. He saw the sadness in her eyes, and he wondered and wondered, having no inkling of the truth.

"Bastien," she went on, "Chummy hasn't been near me since she first came—that was four days ago. What has become of her? Do you think they've been married?"

"Oh, Judy, we should have heard," he replied.

"Oh, I wish they would!" she cried. "I do wish they would!"

Her eagerness seemed natural to him, so he missed the feverish note in her voice. As he said goodby, she took one of his hands and laid her cheek against it for a second, just like a child. Before he could stop himself he had bent and kissed her hair.

"Dear old Bastien!" Judy murmured. "You're such a pal!"