The Dolores star., 1924-04-18
CHAPTER vIll-consinued.

sue hp anu CNNEA nv ''NH7aA'
out OF the room. and he did not move,
cor did she. until they heard the flop
OF the swing-door into the kitchen.
Then she turned and faced him. and
he moved step toward her-and
stopped. Something the same look
pus in her face that he had seen just
after he had kissed her. the look that
pad made him think Of Beatrice; not
A wOman's look II ala child's. 1t
Wss troubled now, and desperately
FesOIute. Her pose was not a woman's,
either: 1t wus-a schoolgirls. He
gaW her lips were trembling and felt
o lump come into his throat.
Il must SLY II quickly." she began,
and then for a matter of seconds
stood silent. 1t was true, what you
said in the car that day. 1t was all
trus. That's why 1t made me so angry.
! didn't know it till you said it, That's
that's one Of the things | had to
tell you. l didn't think I'd ever do
it, bur | haven't been sleeping very
well. And none of the things | tried,
20 get it out Of my head, were any
good So | thought If | told you-
Sou see why. don't you? | mean, you
understand it isn't"
yes. understand" he told her
hastily. This SsS quite untrue. In
che revulSlOn of feeling that had swept
over him he was Hewildered The
thing to do, he udIuoniShed himself,
was to remember every word she said
so that he could think out her incred-
tble meaning afterwurd. They wouldn't
have much more time now. Henry
might be coming back any minute
"a wish you'd sit down." he said, and
SITTER she had obeyed him. in sort of
entrqnced dOcility, he added. "If
there's anything you want me to
do"
There isn't" she interrupted with
o gasp: mot thing. It's just"
Che broke OF there and clasped her
hands ticht in her lap. between her
knees. There's something else |
want you 10 know. I've never told
John what really happened that day.
But | didn't tell him-what you must
have thought | did | said it wasn't
anything. gave him my word It
wasn't. l just wanted him to let me
alone and not ask questions. But of
course lie thought"
Yes, Of course" Joe assented at
sandom. That's all right"
He was horribly angry" she per
sisted. Il don't know whether he is
get or not. He doesn't act that way
any more. but perhaps that's just be
cause he doesn't want me to-worry
about it."
"Well, that's all right" A CLEAN of
smile broke through on the words
"You don't need to worry about me,
anyhow. III look out for myself |
have been, all along. for that matter"
She nodded. II couldn't bear to have
sou think, If anything did happen,
that 1 was the one who-started it.
] knew what you'd think of me When
you'd really been the on" who-saved
me. didn't suppose men did chival-
rous things like that. That's what it
was. Because II wouldn't have
meant hnythin@-mnch To you"
"lt's al! right" he repeated The
poor phrase seemed to be all he could
lay his tongue to. After moments
struggle, not with embarrassment, but
with the mere stiffness of his mind,
he added. There's nothing more for
you to worry about. You can for get
all about it,
She smiled in rueful dissent to that,
and he met 1t with smile of his own.
At last he had something to say.
THAT was a surprising word you used
.--chivalrous. I don't believe it was
ever hooked on to me before. I've
never been what you could call a
Galahad-"
~ know" she broke in. There was
q spark of animation in her tone now.
She was no longer fro-en 81 heard
ali about that before ever knew YOU.
always thought you must be one of
fhe-horridest people. that way, had
ever known. I suppose that's why
partly why-it got me when you acted
the way you did III the car"
~ can't see" joe said. that there
was anything mIwh to that. 1t was a
ptrlng we couldn't play out, and /
said So Maybe If hadn't had good
capri NbuluIl nave
seen that we couldn't play it out"
When she spoke again, at the end
OF short silence. her manner had
stiffened, SO thar once more l. was as
II she were trying to recite something.
~ suppose | must have been one of
the most ignorant people in the world.
] didn't think | could tell you this. |
don't believe IT'S thing you'll be able
10 believe. But it's true. and it's the
only real excuse | have. / thought
] knew a lot, as much as most people,
nut | didn't. I knew-nothing at all.
1t was all new-that day. As If I'd
never been married-or anything. You
can't believe that-can you?"
u knew it then" he said not look
ing at her as he spoke. THAT was
what pulled me up, gave me time to
think" He added a moment later, at
wasn't what we wanted-either of
us.''
He had strange sensation that this