Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-14
THE VTCAR10M By Gardner Hunting 3
-1.-- @So2-~ Copyright By Public egno

tcopyrioat, 1s2s. By Public LEDGER

showed her the flaws in her own jaunt,
reasoning which she had overlooked OF
peryersely ignored. Van Wrinkle, ane
that scene of his resurrection on thu
beach, were inexplicable even If every.
thing else she had seen In Brainard's
studio were reasoned away or lost sight
of. Accepted as guest in her home
And yet, why not? An unfortunate
| gentleman!
But the first shock to her nerves
| had passed, and Phyllis Norman was
no neurotic. There was a wholesome
substantial strength in her that could
| rise in staying powers as well as IN
ability to meet emergencies. AS sne
dressed for dinner that night the agi-
tation she had felt at thought both
of meeting Radley again and at re-
newing contact with the problem she
had to face had left her. When she
met Brainard down in the library
| where her father had a hearth fire
going in the cool of the Spring eve
ming. she gave him her hand with
readiness to go half way--and more.
And he smiled at her, so much like
his old self again that she became
happy at once.
Van Wrinkle met her with an eager
ness that had the quality of an al
fectionate dogs delight in being near
friend. He called her Phyllis with
out apparent consciousness that he
was taking any liberty or creating any
new mystery. 1t startled her little:
then she resented it: then she argued
that If the man was what he seemed
to be he was at worst sort OF harm
less lunatic, to be hundred for the
moment And curiosity was stronger
In her now than fear.
Carol and John were there, of course.
Her mother accepted Carol quite as one
of the family. Besides, the girls
mother was away in the East, and Carol
had a faculty for making herself at
home where she chose and when. Miss
Relief Brainard arrived late to COM
plete the party, which Mrs. Norman had
arranged to omit none OF the studio
group.
Cocktails were brought into the IL
brary. Van Wrinkle looked at them
uuizzically. II might think I'd stepped
backward rather than forward in my
life" he said, with that casual air he
adopted for the most part toward his
predicament--and an allusion that
made it seem unreal. Eight years! he
added, raising his glass Whats be-
come of the prohibition law we tried
not to observe in 1922"
Nothing" said Radley shortly.
"Then Liquor Is King again?"
Hes in process of abdicating nat
urally now" answered Brainard. He
was before probationary some of
his subjects didn't fancy having the
thing hurried"
Sooner or later all liquids find their
level" said Mr.. Norman, land the gen
eral equilibrium is preserved-as with
liquid events
But Mrs. Norman would not let them
take up the great subject till they were
at table. Then she could not prevent 1t.
well, what's the big development,
Rad?" asked John. tits hard for me to
keep away from your place for an hour
at time"
"You needn't keep away, john" re-
piled Brainard. What do you think
we've been looking at this afternoon,
Van Wrinkle and II"
Phyllis attention divided between in
terest in what Radley would say and
his familiar address to the stranger.
She turned to the Van Wrinkle, who
had been seated next to her. He avoid
ed her eyes and laughed uneasily.
She turned back to Radley, her
thoughts fluttering, as Carol demanded
his explanation.
Hold your breath. them" said Brain
ard, "for I'm going to plunge you in be-
You'd your depth! We saw-a gentle
man who we think was Mr.. Balboa, TAX
ing his first view of our little ocean out
herein fifteen hundred and some
thing. wasn't it,"
His audience was indeed breathless
for an instant. Then arose chorus of
ridicule. But in the midst of her
laughter Phyllis saw that Van Wrinkle
was not smiling. This intensified the
joke for the moment--for Radley had
drawn the long bow too far. Van
Wrinkles seeming mystification spiced
the real relief she felt.
But Balboa didn't look at the Pacific
from Hollywood" asserted Carol.