The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-30
Chapter XXI.

Chapter XXI.
 ID ETURNING to the studio, Ivan paced the floor as he thrust his
 long, cruel fingers through his wavy hair. Furious that Avril had left him the other afternoon, he had made up his mind that he would have her. He realized that she had merely played with him for the sake of getting her drawings finished, but he was mad about her and would hesitate at noth- ing that he might possess her. He was sure now that she was fin ishing her work at the office and he de- termined that he would meet her as she left in the evening. Suddenly he stopped his mad pacing and, opening his heav- fly carved desk, took from a hidden drawer a small revolver. Carefully he loaded it and slipped it into his hip pocket. Then he drank deeply of some eastern wine. Once more he paced the floor, muttering incoherently. At last, with stealthy glance around the room, he departed.
 In Judy's office the afternoon passed all too swiftly. The girls were very quiet. Judy was working on some tlg- ures that demanded close application and prevented any exchange Of confl- dences. Five o'clock came and at last Judy cleared her desk. Well, I'm go- ing home. How about you!"
 "Oh, have couple of hours work yet on these drawings" replied Avril as she thrust the slender fingers of her left hand through the locks of red-gold hair that dropped about her forehead.
 "Why don't you stop now and come down tomorrow?' asked Judy.
 q promised that they'd be finished tonight and so here l stay until they are done."
 "Well I'll have to run along for this is a class night, but remember any time you are in the neigbborhood you must stop in and see me-" said Judy.
 "Indeed I shall and you must come to see me-" said Judy.
 "Thanks ever so much, Avril, good bye"
 During the next half hour Avril heard the echoes of laughter and the steady tramping of feet as the other workers in the office left for the day. For moment she almost envied them their steady jobs as she realized that once more she would have to look for work.
 As she scanned her drawings she de- cided that she must devote considerable time to studying hands for, of course, she could never approach Ivan again for help. At thought of him she sbud- dered. Then, pulling herself together she laughed. Perhaps she was taking the affair too seriously. Probably he had forgotten all about her. It was very quiet in the office and she realized that everyone must have gone home. For a moment she wished she had asked Judy to stay with her, but then that would have been give-away. Why did Don not put in an appearance? Had he forgotten about her. she wondered! Presently she heard footsteps in the corridor. For moment her heart leaped. But several people were com ing. She heard rough laughter and quick talk in a foreign tongue. Her door was opened by huge Bohemian At sight of Avril he stopped on the threshold. but with a smile she assured him he might come in as she did not expect to remain much longer.
 "Yes, yes," said the man, flinging an empty sack from his shoulder and quickly gathering up the waste paper.
 Another man appeared and passed into Don's room. As he did so she caught a glimpse of Don seated at his desk. Aroused from his meditations, he rose and walked into Judy's room. As he approached Avril she greeted him with a welcoming smile.
 Nearly finished?" he questioned as he bent over her shoulder and studied the drawing.
 Avril flung back her head and her red-gold hair brushed his face. Then suddenly the door was flung open. On the threshold stood Ivan. His dark eyes were bloodshOt, his clothes rumpled and his long, wavy black hair hung in matted strands about his pale cheeks.
 "So that's why you ran away, you cheat!" he shouted as, his hand sought his hip pocket and he swayed nearer, mutterinS imprecations against Avril.
 Convulsively she clutched Don's arm but quickly and gently disengaging her hand he stepped towards the madman There was sharp report and Avril fell forward on her desk. The big Bohemian