Free Gentlemen Formerly Dressed by Sulari Gentill Page A

that’s what I came to tell Mr. Sinclair.” Allie bounced excitedly in her seat. She pulled a flyer advertising an hotel staff dance from her purse and handed it to Rowland. “See there… the last name listed under the other acts.”
    â€œIt says Sarah Dabinett.”
    â€œThat’s me!” Allie squealed. “That’s my stage name… Allie Dawe is so dull, don’t you think, but Sarah Dabinett has flair!”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œI’m a singer, you know,” Allie went on. “Or at least I have always wanted to be. Uncle Alfred wouldn’t hear of it when he was alive, but now I can pursue my dreams.”
    She was so obviously delighted that Rowland could not help but smile. “This seems like an excellent start to your new career, Miss Dawe.”
    â€œOh, it is!” She closed her eyes and pressed her palms over her heart. “It’s ironic really. Lord Erroll came to the house to express his condolences—he’s a dear old friend of Uncle Alfred’s. He heard me singing at the piano and asked if I would like to perform at a private club he knew. One of the singers had fallen ill you see and they were short an act—that’s what they call the singers—acts.”
    â€œA private club?” Rowland’s brow rose.
    â€œIt’s perfectly respectable, I assure you!” Allie was quickly adamant. “Lord Erroll said Uncle Alfred regularly attended. Of course, he won’t be there tonight, being dead. Anyway, he wouldn’t have approved. He could be a dreadful hypocrite where I was concerned!”
    â€œDoes your mother know about this, Miss Dawe?”
    â€œMy mother’s in mourning, Mr. Sinclair.”
    Rowland glanced at Edna uneasily. It all seemed dubious at best.
    â€œDo you know much about Lord Erroll, Miss Dawe?” Edna asked.
    â€œI hadn’t met him till he came to the house,” Allie admitted, “but Uncle Alfred had often spoken of him. Why, Lord Erroll is one of his closest chums! My mother says he’s from a very fine and well-connected family, and he was most kind and attentive.”
    Rowland glanced at the flyer again. The staff dance did not start till eleven in the evening.
    â€œI came to ask if you’d care to come and hear me sing, Mr. Sinclair.” Allie gazed as adoringly at him now as she had under the influence of several brandies.
    Milton chuckled.
    â€œYou’re all invited of course,” Allie added quickly.
    Rowland looked at Allie Dawe. She was holding her breath as she waited for his answer. The last thing Rowland wanted to do was to encourage her infatuation, but the situation worried him. Allie seemed barely more than a child, naïve in the extreme. He wondered what kind of man would call on a girl who had just lost her uncle, and means of support, to make such a proposal. “Yes, of course. We’d be delighted.”

7
    â€œBAD BLACKGUARD”

THE EARL OF ERROLL
JUDGE’S DENUNCIATION
    (Australian Press Association)
    LONDON, June l8
    Mr. Justice Hill, pronouncing a decree nisi in favour of Major Hill, with £3000 damages, described the Earl of Erroll (the corespondent) as a very bad blackguard.
    The Earl met the respondent in Kenya. The judge said that the respondent previously had committed adultery with the petitioner, so she was a woman of easy virtue. Thus, it was a hateful thing to assess damages, as they must not be punitive. It was obvious that the wife was a person of the lowest character, and a liar, but that may largely have been the Earl’s influence. There were no children. He had to consider that the wife had independent means, but she left bills of £2000 when she left Kenya, which her husband had discharged. “If I add another £1000,” he said, “it will meet the case.”
    The Brisbane Courier, 1928
    â€œT hat girl’s set her cap for you, Rowly,” Clyde said after Allie Dawe finally