Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-16

INSTALLMENT VII.
VELYN had no very clear idea
l. of how she came into the hall
Her one overwhelming desire
IL was to get away. She had
neither part nor lot in what
was happening inE the library now
Neither the Abbotts' indignant protest
nor Sir Cotterells triumphant relief
concerned her at all. She wanted to
get away.
Manning found her already in her
raincoat, examining on damp black
felt hat with shaking hands. He said
''Hullo, old girl-you off?''
She nodded, biting her lips.
sWell. will you give me a lift? He'll
stay here now: but / must get back
TO town."
Il must get away-I'm through,
said Evelyn in dry whisper.
Manning gave her a little push to-
ward the door.
Got your car there? All right, go
and get in. won't be moment
She turned, catching at him.
You won't let any one come. ]
No. What do you take me for? You
go and get in. / must just let them
know I'm off-that's ALL
Evelyn went out to the car and put
the hood down. She wanted to feel
the rain and the wind. She had just
buckled the last strap when Manning
ran down the steps.
shall ! driver" he said, coming
round to her. my dear girl, We'll
get sopped."
II don't mind. Yes. you can drive
Il simply hate getting wet" said
Monkey. He made his crossest face
and took the wheel
The car was started. He took a
Hook at Evelyn.
Want to talk?"
mo"
After that they drove for 80 miles
in blessed silence while Evelyn let
the tears come as they would and felt
the rain drive cold against her burn
ing face.
The rain had thinned to a drizzle
and the gray day was dimming into
dusk. when Manning said suddenly and
cheerfully: M
! There's a clean handkerchief in my
coat pocket on your side If you'd like
it."
He heard Evelyn's shaky laugh:
Monkey, you are an angel"
Yes, / knOwI am"
"You really are"
"My dear, Lacy has me trained. If
or America who knows the exact mo.
ment when a woman wants clean
pocket handkerchief better than I do
just you point him out and I'll assas.
sinate him quietly. AS a matter of
fact, I'm frightfully glad you didn't
bottle up and do the hard, stony WON.
an all the way back to town.
It's such lovely large handker.
chief" said Evelyn. i've got one-in
fact, two, but"
mo woman's handkerchief will stay
the course of real good cry. They're
all right just to dab your eyes with
when you want to look pretty and
pathetic, but when it comes to bust
ness they're absolutely no earthly
good"
Monkey, when do you 60 back?'
said Evelyn presently.
Tomorrow, expect: but I'm no
absolutely sure. Fact is-this is con
fidential. please-they're offering me ;
job at the war office. It's fixed up
but I'm going round there tomorrow
and then I'll be able to let you know
for certain. / don't really expect IL
get away till next day."
Monkey. who do you think he is?'
His brow wrinkled sharply as h,
threw her a quick. upward glance.
did you mean who, or which,"
1t was too dark for him to see he
face. but her voice thrilled with i'm
patience.
Monkey, don't fence. Tell mer'
I'm not fencing; I'm being eau
tious."
Don't be cautious. want tn,
truth-what you really think"
II think He paused for o,
long that her foot tapped on the pave
ment. MY dear girl. it's no goot
doing that. I think-well, what il
there to Think"
DO you think he's Jack or Jim?''
81 think he's one Of them. And
you don't know which one, well, hov
in heavens name do you expect m
to-" 50
That's what you really Think"
That's what I really think"
Evelyn turned. went up the steps
and let herself into the house.
1t was about an hour later that tn
telephone bell rang. Evelyn went int
the dining room, shut the door, too
up the receiver. and said,
"Hullo.'
Can I speak to Mrs. Laydon?
The voice was a mans voice, and Eve
lyn recognized Ii instantly. 1t wa
the voice which she had listened to i
the library at Laydon Manor only tina
afternoon. 1t had sounded strangel
to her there, without one kind. ia
miliar tone; but now some trick Of tn
wires altered it, raising the pitch an
bringing out quality which set men
DRY quivering.
Mrs. Laydon Speaking. Who
it?" She spoke with her hand presse
close against her cheek.
There was q noticeable pause. The
the voice. the familiar voice, answer
ing her question with single word:
'Laydon.
Evelyn's hand pressed closer. La,
don-yes, that what's he was, just
surname, just-Laydon. A grandso
for Sir Cotterell, and an heir for La!
don Manor-but for her, what? HUI
band-lover-friend- nothing b,
an empty name? She held the r.
ceiver to her ear and would not speal
What had she got to say to a name
If there was anything behind tn
name, any one with a need that sf
could meet. the next move did not i
with her. She heard Laydon sa
anxiously Are you there?' and 81
heard herself say Yes with So
of mechanical case.
Then Layton:
"1 want to come and see you"
She said yes" again.
Il must see you. You'll let MI
You went away so quickly"
eyes"
"when may I Gomez"
'I don't know"
eagerly.
"It's too late tonight, I suppose?''
eyes"
"You're sure?"
eyes"
TOMORROW them"