Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-18

HNAcG haA 40ANhEnNus ~ was bNAN
ing uncomfortably ia her temples.
She sat ~motionless, until the other
passengers had filed out Of the bus.
She had TO 20 then, or be carried
on. She deliberately walked across
the street. He dida't speak; merely
started up his motor. She walked
around behind the car and got in.
Then they were in notion. Plainly,
he was going to he difficult. She
found herself a little afraid of him.
In a sense. he had some right 20 feel
annoyed with her. She'd kept him
guessing.
"You said there was some place
you wanted me TO take YOU, Stella"
Yes. We're going to falkland.
Near Ackland.f'
"Oh! The scene II the murder"
yes" Her tongue was released
now. Nervously. swiftly. she talked.
About the case and the attack on
Homer; and then about the problem
Of Martha. Il was a relief to talk
about Martha. About anything which
might appear to explain her preoccu-
patton of mind. He LEI her run on.
merely asking a road direction now
and then.
LAKELAND. set back under the tall
pines. was attractive. Many cars
were parked outside. The rows of
tables or the glassed-in and screen
ed verandas were lighted by candles
In yellow shades. Snatches OF exotic
~cacophony. currently regarded as mu-
sic. blared out into the twilight.
We're going to try a little detec-
tive work" she remarked, as they
crossed the yard.
He said nothing. They were shown
to a table; and went through the
process Of ordering dinner casually.
Rather like a settled couple. she
thought. His eyes disturbed her.
They took her in. weighing her. judg-
ing her. So she brought up the
Martha topic again. Something
would have 20 be done about the
child. She couldn't think what.
The thing "a do. cf course" said
Hallam, quietly. authoritatively, ais
70 get her out Of the home. It's no
place for a youngster with any vital
ity."
She knew. a. he uttered the words.
that her own thoughts had been
cropping for that conclusion.
he went on, speaking quietly but
eyelng her. What they're trying to
do is to smother the fire that's in
her. Pinch back her budding facili-
ties. They won't succeed. The hui
man individual must be helped along.
Encouraged to grow. You can't kill
life. IL YOU try you'll just turn it
sour. Can't you rescue herr"
II don't know. It's Tretty difficult,
Ernie"
They fell silent. She wished he'd
take those eyes off hcr. She looked
out at the dancing floor. The lights
were dim. The couples circling about
impressed her as odd-looking people;
the men mostly young and or n
rougher sort than you saw about Ack-
land. the girls pretty. but rather
ever-dressed and ovcr-painted. The
party at the next liable was pouring
gin into ginger ale from a flask.
And a number Of couples on the
floor clung together. ~unsteadily. The
negro orchestra waved about and jig
gled in their chairs as they crashed
out the jazz dissonances. The drum
mer sang in a voice )f deep timbre,
tossing his sticks in the air.
Stella drummed lightly on the
table. IL only Ernest would take
those eyes off her. What was he
thinking?
She said: Lets dance"
Merely being active was something
Of a relief. Better. at least, than
sitting there. Ernest danced we'll.
He did everything well. He was ma
ture. strong. determined.
Back at the table, over the SOUP,
she said: Ernie. I want something
to drink" an,
II didn't bring nv flask"
THE waiter'll ne back in a min
ute See if he won't bring in some
thing.
But the waiter, after quick
scrutiny. shook his head. "No," he
said "0h. no."
ASK the headwaiter to come here
said HalIam.
"His name il Albert" Stella put
IN. eagerly. when the man had gone.
A tall. handsome Greek appeared.
Albert" said HaIlam. cant YOU
get me : little whiskay?"
! Again that sense Of being under