San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-02
Sandy Keeps in Touch
With Outside World
Through Alice.
CHAPTER Sc

Half Of Sandy's clothes, spread out
on chairs, were drying before the fire /;
the other half she was ironing. In
closet she had found an old lounging
robe. This was now pinned rakishly
about her. More because she felt
hostile and wished to defy an imagin-
airy Ben Murillo than because she was
enjoying them, she lit cigarette after
cigarette as she pounded the iron back
and forth over the white silk sport
dress. She talked to herself.
"He can advise me in matters of
propriety! Correct my unseemly con-
Duct" -..--
The iron swinging in long, vicious
stroke: "Oh, what ado / care! Why
should / think about it," The iron
slackening-tucks pressed down with
elaborate care. Better do it well. .
Only rag you've got"
She hunched her elbows on the
board. resting her chin in her palms.
Saturday afternoon-a week gone; a
week since she'd run so wildly from
her home, putting her whole life def
initely behind ner.
She didn't regret this step. She was
blazingIy, defiantly exultant about 1t.
But now. staring at these few flimsy
clothes. the rather terrifying poverty
OF her equipment for a new and diff
ferent life made her suddenly very
still.
Il can't stay on here forever" she
whispered.
"No-but you've got to stay until
Won get some clothes-somewher !!
WHY did YOU give Alice to understand
that you'd grabbed few things? She
would have sent YOU some of hers"
She shrugged II wo' 'er II / can
get a job?' This started a new train
of Thought. She saw herself in the D.
and-1O-cent store earning $3.50 a
week. Bob Mcneil said that was about
the only thing she could do unless she
was prepared. The picture was pre-
posterous. Working behind counter
ali the rest of her life-very likely.
Almost inaubidly she now wins
pered: 81 can stay here until l get
the tipping down pat. Why can't stay
hereF Immediately she grew warm
and her breath hurried. why can I
II" she repeated angrily. "Oh, tnat
old bunk! Men don't look at Things
that way today. i can stay IL l
want
Quickly, with a firm. challenging
step, she walked up and down the
long room, swinging her shoulders, All
ideal place TO stay. Lucky she haI
such a chance. AS safe here as thougi
she were buried
Her steps Jagged. She halted. an
image of Ramon as he kissed her COCA,
bye confronted her. He had laughed
and flushed Its a thrill having you
here, Sandy. 1t makes me feel as
though we're married-you IN TINS
house" She had laughed, too, liking
the warmth of his eyes. liking the tire
that flew along her nerves.
Well-what of that! OF course sue
liked Ramon. She liked MANY men,
Easy for her to like them
she refused vigorously to go an!
further with these thoughts. SATURDAY
he was coming TO dinner. Elgn'
o'clock he would come walking IN.
Her checks stained and hot, she pc
gan TO dress. She said: Lord, 1ts
quiet here! 1 wonder if there's any
maid"
There were three letters, two from
Alice. The first caught Sandy Ike
"The Jig is up, Sandy" Alice had
this habit of making startling re-
mark, following it up with goading
slowness. She had sense of dramatic
extremely irritating to her listeners
'The liz is up. Your husband knows
you're all right. He means TO get
you back by hook or crook. III tel
you how it happened. Wednesday AIT,
ernoon after he left here, l dashed
to your house, getting Name to drive
me. But he'd evidently raced back
himself. for he was there. L SAID 10
him: Has Sandy returnedT
His face looked as though it were
starched. No, she hasn't
II said as though dying of alarm
Well have to do something. God
knows what may have happened
HE had murder in his eyes: Il
believe you also know, Miss (get the
Miss) Mcneil! 1 propose to DO
something very quickly
"'What do you propose to DO:
"'That's my business!
"'Well, it's mine Also
"'You can do as you please, Miss
Mcneil
mo chance, Of course, to get your
things. Better buy some. Unless Ida
can break into your room when he
asleep. / gave her the skeleton Keys
and told her to try it. She's strong
for you. =.
81 left and evidently he went at
once and phoned to mamma. she
gave him the goods--innocently, OF
course. She believes you're having a
lovely visit with Judith. / gather
from her account that your husband
asked very considerably about her
health and could he do anything for
her. OF course, this touches her and
she gets the weeps telling me Ben is
such a good man and why isn't Sandy
happy.
Il guess ma asked when you were
coming home. He answers I'm not
sure. Did she write to you, motherF
Ma says: oh, yes-I had lovely let
ter. She and Judith are having
wonderful time
"That let's him see the lay Of the
land! He sees that ma hasn't a sus-
picion why, when or how you left.
But he's dead sure / know all about
it. He told ma he was going to the
city and get you.
II wouldn't put it past him to put
a 1atartiva on yol1r trail Match