Chapter XX

And Thursday afternoon when Gloria went up the front walk to May's house, she was still wondering with whom Stan's engagement on Wednesday had been.

Sonya Chotek had left town. That eliminated her. Perhaps it had been Myra Gail whom Stan had seen!

A moment later Gloria was kissing Myra in May's big bedroom, as they took off their wraps.

"How are you, Myra?" she asked sweetly. "Didn't I see you downtown yesterday afternoon?"

"Not me," Myra shook her head. "I was out in the country driving all day."

Instantly Gloria was filled with wild jealousy. She was sure that Myra had been driving with Stanley Wayburn ... just as sure as if she had seen them together!

Burning with anger, she went downstairs and found the table where she was to play. Lola Hough sat there, waiting. Lola, in her old foulard dress, was bright-eyed and excited. These card-club days were high spots in her dull life.

"We're partners," she said to Gloria. "Myra Gail and May are going to play here, too."

Gloria was sorry she had to start out the game with Lola for a partner. She was a very poor player, and nearly always spoiled her partner's chance for the prize.

Myra and May sat down at the table, presently. Gloria dealt the cards. She fairly slapped them down on the table as if they were live things to vent her spite upon!

The very first hand Lola lost her game.

Two red spots of color rose in Gloria's face. All her anger toward Stanley Wayburn and Myra gathered like a cyclone. In its path, Lola stood quite defenseless.

"You poor simp!" Gloria flamed at her, "to make a bid like that when you had a bust hand! You must be crazy! I should think you'd learn a few rules of the game, if you're going to even make a stab at playing bridge!"

All the color drained out of Lola's cheeks. If Gloria had slapped her face she couldn't have hurt her more. She put one hand on the table and rose. Every woman in the room was looking at her.

"I'm sorry," she said. "Perhaps I shouldn't play cards with people like you, who never forget that there's a prize at the end of the game. I don't play a professional game like yours!"

May came across the room.

"Please, girls, don't quarrel," she said, trying to push Lola down in her chair. "Do sit down, Lola, and go on with your game."

But Lola was firm.

"No," she said with a breaking voice, "I'm going. There's no use in my trying to keep up with you girls.... I don't have time to play often enough to keep my wits sharp. And I shouldn't have come to-day, at all. I left my ironing to come...."

She went unsteadily upstairs to get her wraps.

"Well, let's get on with our game." Gloria broke the cold silence Lola had left behind her. "She really hasn't any business to be playing bridge, anyway. She's the worst player!"

Suddenly Myra got up, too.

"I think I'll go with Lola," she said quietly.

With utter dismay, Gloria watched Myra Gail get up from her table.

... It was one thing to quarrel with the shabby Lola, who had few friends—and quite another to have Myra for an enemy!

For Myra was a born leader. And the rest of the women were sure to side with Lola against Gloria if Myra did. Women were such sheep! They had no minds of their own!

In a flash Gloria was on her feet.

"Please don't go," she pleaded, laying one hand on Myra's arm. "I'll run upstairs and tell Lola I'm sorry for what I said. I'll bring her back."

She ran upstairs to May's bedroom where Lola was pinning on her unfashionable old hat.

"Please don't go, Lola," Gloria begged. "I'm awfully sorry for what I said to you just now. You know I didn't mean it. Please come on downstairs with me. Do!"

Lola shook her head.

"No," she said. "The things you said were too true, Gloria. I haven't any business trying to play cards with the rest of you girls. You're all crackerjacks ... and I guess I'm no good for anything but housework. Don't ask me to play any more to-day.... I couldn't face the bunch, downstairs."

At that moment Myra Gail came into the bedroom. She turned to Gloria, furiously.

"It's you who ought to be ashamed to face the crowd!" she cried, "after what you did to Lola! It was the meanest thing I've ever seen one girl do to another! Believe me, I'll think twice before I play cards with you again.... Come along, Lola, and I'll drive you home."

She marched past Gloria without another word or look. Lola followed meekly. Dazed, Gloria watched them go.

"Glo-ree!" May called her from the hall below. "Come on down so we can go on playing."

Gloria tossed her head and went down. No one greeted her as she came into the room. Gloria could feel the chill in the air.

She knew that the other girls were down on her because Myra was.

... Well, what did it matter? What did the friendship of women amount to, anyway? Gloria told herself she would have given up a dozen card parties for one drive with Stan Wayburn.... She wished she had gone riding with him this very afternoon!

She picked up her cards.

She was what May called a "mean" player. She played for the prize. She sat there now, tight-lipped and hard-eyed. She gathered in her tricks, intent as a kingfisher killing fish at a river's edge.

Gone was the Gloria of the limpid eyes, soft lips and babyish chin ... the Gloria whom Dick loved.

"Well, Gloria Gregory's won the prize, as usual," little Mrs. Wing cried, when the scores were added up, two hours later.

"And it's one that will suit her to a T!" May added. She went into the dining-room, and returned carrying a dusty bottle of French brandy.

"What do you know about that for a slam! She gives me liquor and says it will suit me to a T!" Gloria shrilled. "What am I going to do with the stuff, girls? If I take it home to Dick, he'll put me out ... he's so pure!"

"Don't take it home to Dick. Take it home and hide it. You may need it some time, yourself, for a party," May advised.

But Gloria knew that she wouldn't dare to have another party soon in Dick's house.... Then, suddenly, she thought of Stan. She would give him the brandy! He liked a nip now and then.

Gloria telephoned him from the coat-closet under the stairs when she put on her wraps.

"Meet me outside Dick's office building in fifteen minutes," she said, "I'm driving downtown to bring him home, and I want to give you something, first."

Stan waited a moment before he answered.

"In front of your husband's office building?" he repeated. "That's not so good. What if he should look out of the window and see us?"

"Coward!" Gloria cried. "You should be willing to take a chance if I am!"

She hung up.