San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22
CHAPTER 4

THEY stood there too Mortified to
I L speak. Beatrice Afurillo's eyes
seemed about to swallow up her face.
Angus Mcneil kept his mouth open.
1t was chalky.
1t was the only thing Sandy no.
! ticed-that gaping mouth and the 81
lence, stiff, raging with accusation. She
| felt queer weakness in her wrists
and her jaws.
She got her voice out with a little
/ hysterical catch and went TOWARD
them: Hello, Beatrice! Close your
mouth, father-keep your teeth in"
His jaws snapped as though some
one had pounded him on the back.
Sandy went on brazenly. "There's no
mystery about it. We're not having
any wild intrigue. We worldn't choose
shack like this. The battery ran
down, the garage was closed. couldn't
walk ten miles in the pouring rain.
I We only came in here to wait till it
stopped. 1t didn't stop. We had to
stick :"
"You seemed to find it rather agree
able." Each word jabbed out like a
! vicious dagger.
~Oh. if you're meaning the small.
matter of Timmy's arms, well got
rather sobby when it come 1 o'clock.
Jimmy had to keep me from raint-
ing"
Her father came over and took her
arm: I'll talk with sou tomorrow
morning, young man."
Timmy's young mouth trembled, but
ne answered manfully: "Now. sir"
And Sandy, white as death. flung her
chin up: Don't be ridiculous, father
Stage stuff suppose we should have
sat out there in the machine and died
Of cold 10 keep the cockeyed world
/ from talking Jimmy couldn't help it..
Angus Mcneil had large green eyes
They turned black when he was an.
Cry. They were black now. He picked
Sandy's hat from the couch, clapped ii
on her head.
She tried valiantly TO carry 1t off
with an air. She said: well, come
along, Jimmy. Such nice, sympa-
thetic father as I've got Don't mind
that he doesn't thank you for breaking
house open to save his child from
the storm. Don't mind that. He's got
to take us home, anyway"
CANDY'S mother, her. two married
~ sisters AVID an older brother were in
the dining room, sick with the tension
Of the waiting. Cups Of coffee were
set around the table. 1t had look OF
nervous disorder-a hunk Of French
bread half eaten, cup here, saucer
there-as though no one had remained
| l.. - al y
bites.
At the spectacle of Sandy. whole,
unframed, a peculiar indignation
swept over them. They were as.
founded that she dared return unhurt
after causing them such torment.
She said little fatty, wishing very
much to sit down and weep-thinking
that, at least, her mother might haze
rushed up and put her arms about her
she said: "Hello, everybody! Sorry
to keep you up late"
1t was touching off dynamite.
They stared incredulously. 1--WE
thought you'd been killed :" her sisecr
said accusingly. I'VE thought you'd
gone over bank"
"Well-it's too bad I'm not brought
home dead and save you the disap
pointmentr'
When they. heard what had hap.
pened they began talking all at once.
Why didn't she do thisf Why didn't
she do that? She could at least have
found a phone somewhere! They
would have come for her
Her father cut in with a brutal
ccldness: "They were quite comfort
able We found them in each others
arms. She's satisfied now-disgrac-
ing the family.'
Sandy put down the coffee she
had taken. She tried to put on q
bored air, as though this absurdit