The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-05-26

behavior. She had turned and for
second or two she swayed as II
about to fall Mr.. Gardiner reached
forth to support her but she moved
on through the open doorway and
then. seeming to gather strength
from sheer force OF will. she
steadicd herself and turned to
smile reassuringly at him.
I'LL bring the pearls in soon."
she called back from the outer
door and then closed 1t quietly be-
hind her.
There was an aching pressure in
her head and the floor of the ele-
vator seemed to drop from under
her feet and leave her suspended
in air as she was carried swiftly
to the street level. Other passen.
gers looked at her queerly and she
was aware OF It but did not care.
There was so little to care about
except the menace that stood in
the way OF her marriage to Ma.
thaniel. That alone absorbed her.
Other thoughts only nagged disa.
greeably at a tired mind.
Her only really valuable posses.
sions. the pearls she loved. were
not hers. Well. she had feared It
might be like that. The shock Of
having her fears confirmed had
passed. She felt DULY that 1t did
not matter: it would only hasten
her search for work. After all,
they wouldn't have helped much
toward paying Dean his 100000.
1t wouldn't have helped much to
accept money from Mr.. Gardiner.
either. Perhaps there would be
nothing at all for her from the es.
tate. She did not want to he In
debt. to be owing money on the
strength Of any hoped-for funds
so uncertain as money from that
source.
Out on the street she leaned for
moment against plate glass win
dow and tried to think what 1t was
she had meant to do next.
Get the pearls? Yes. but there
was something before that. 1t
eluded her and she let it go. 1--WE
got to find another place to live
right away" she told herself. Up
and down the street. cars OF every
description. except commercial.
were seeking their tortuous way.
and Virginia stood at the curb un.
til cruising taxi stopped at her
signal. She ted the driver to take
her to the Ritz. but before they
turned or Fifth Avenue she re.
membered what It was she wanted
to do first of all. She must get her
balance from the bank.
1t did not surprise her to learn
that her account was overdrawn.
She had expected that as she had
expected to lose her pearls. but
there was no shock attached to
this bit OF news. Her emotions
were chilled. insensitiye. In the
place where her heart had been
there was lump that pulsed to but
one thought. Mel Mel !.
Well. she had enough money to
take . room in a second-rate hotel
She hadn't kept her taxi waiting
this time. so she walked. 1t was
not far and she felt the exercise
clearing her mind little. On her
way she bought a paper.
From the Ritz she telephoned to
several hotels that were adver
tised in the paper and made a mem.
orandum Of their rates.
BY the time she had finished
packing she had decided upon the
one she would 60 to.
To Virginia. when she was being
shown to q room there. It was q
depressing revelation of the differ.
ence In hotels. To have come to
this!
When the bellboy was gone she
promptly locked the door. Az she
turned the key her ears were as
sailed By voices coming from CON.
Meeting room.
"What the hell! Gimme that
money or III knock you silly!"
Ito he C0ntinued)