Evening star., 1928-10-01
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Starr
INSTALLMENT XIX.

When endeavoring to dis
z 7 cover the identity of the visitor
~ of the night before. it had
never occurred to him that it
might be she.
He swore softly to himself as he
went up.
Under any other circumstances he
would have been wildly delighted. Their
love affair had been SO pitifully short;
he had not dared to dream that they
would meet again so soon.
"Greta, by all that's wonderful"
"Hullo, Alan," she said again. How
are you?'
Avoiding her gaze. he drew her to a
secluded corner in the hotel lounge.
why on earth didn't you tell me
you were coming?"
My dear, 1 simply couldn't. Daddy
cabled that he was i'll and wanted tC
see me, and 1 started off at moment S
notice. I oughn't to have stopped Oh
here, really
He bit his lip
And you got here last night?"
Yes"
He struck the palm of his hand with
his clenched fist.
"Apd to think Of a whole precious
evening wasted because 1 was out!"
She eyed him curiously.
you're quite sure it was wasted
Alan?"
why, yes, of course. dear"
"You weren't spending it, by any
chance, with the charming lady 1 saw
you with just now?"
He had expected this thrust, but il
made him vince just the same. There
was an explanation needed here-an
explanation which he knew that he
could not give. He had been cock-a-
hoop a few minutes ago. as bucked as
anything over that raid-and now Fate
had trotted in Greta at the wrong mo-
ment to draw shadow over every
thing Inwardly he cursed Tavernel
and his schemes. 1t was Taverner, hei
own uncle, who had chosen him fol-
this Lothario stunt-and the CALLING
thing of it was that he couldn't look tC
him to get him out of it. No woman
in her senses was going to believe that
an intrigue with Mafalda Pasquali was
part of his days work!
No" he returned steadily, II was
out walking with an American. Why
didn't you leave your name with the
night porter?"
Il wanted it to be a surprise fol
you
: A break in her voice suggested the
proximity Of tears. He caught hel
hands before she could withdraw them
from his reach.
"Greta," he whispered "I want you
to listen to me. Do you remember my
warning you in London how difficult
things might be? When I tell you thai
that woman means nothing more tC
me than that table, want you to try
and believe me. I'd explain the whole
thing to you now, only-I-I daren't
explain, Greta. 1 can't put it any
clearer to you than that
He made her look at him.
Look here, old thing" he continued
with a touch of sternness, ''it's no use
bothering your pretty head over mat.
ters you don't understand. haven
changed one iota since 1 saw you ir
London You haven't-and never viii
have-a serious rival on this earth. Tn
afraid you've got to be satisfied with
that. It's asking lot, know, but
still ask you to trust me"
A faint smile hovered on her lips.
II do trust you," she protested. "I'vt
been trusting you all along, in face o.
things that would have sent most girl!
hurrylng to Rome without bothering tt
see you at all. AS soon as I had fixeC
up at a hotel near the station, / came
straight here-and found you out.
called about a dozen times last night
until I should think they were sick O
the sight of me-and I was sick O.
hearing the same answer. When a
last l got to bed I'll admit my loyalty
to you was a little frayed And then
on top of it all, to find you this morn.
ing in the arms of a bewitchine
Italian!"
Dighton grinned.
Hardly in the arms!" he put in hur.
riedly.
We'll, holding hands then! Is she
frightfully nice, Alan?"
He made an impatient gesture.
MY dear girl, / assure you / don't
care two boots for her.
Greta pouted.
II don't think I should have minded
so much if she hadn't been so pretty!'
He held out his case to her.
please have a cigarette and change
the subject. We've lost so much time
already that it seems a pity to waste
any more of it quarreling. When dc
you go TO Romeo"
This afternoon"