Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-21
SEVENTH INsTALLMENT.


tn HE first thought that flashed
into Rhoda's mind when she
saw the woman who was sit
Il ting at the specified table was
that there must be some mis-
take about it. Noting the black hat
and the dark blue dress didn't altogeth-
er do away with it, either. She'd
expected a very different-looking per-
son. This woman looked-rather nice.
She had delicate features and blue eyes,
and you'd guess her age in the early
twenties-well. 25-or not much over.
The instant she saw Rhoda she got
up and came around the table to meet
her. "Td know you anywhere, Miss
Mcfarland" she said. AZ was sure 1
wasn't mistaken. You're your fathers
daughter, all right"
There flashed into Rhoda's memory
something Martin had said about the
woman at the Alhambra; that she
looked younger, somehow. than her
voice sounded. 1t settled any possible
doubt about her identity. This wom-
ans voice was hard and metallic, with
the silver plating worn off in spots.
She mustn't be thinking things like
thisl She must talk! She had a re-
hearsed line that would do. TITS pei
fectly marvellous to meet some one whu
knew my father" she said.
Lets not try to talk" the woman
suggested, cozily. until we've settled
the important question OF lunch"
Her manners, Rhoda rejected, be-
longed with her voice rather than with
her looks. She insisted on ordering
an extrayagant lunch. and the way she
OVERRIDE Rhoda'S protest was rather
too Self-satisfled. She wasn't merely
vulgar, though. There was lot more
to her than that Martin had said she
was clever and dangerous and he was
probably right.
81 guess the first thing you'll want
to know" she began as soon as they
were rid of the waiter. as how I found
you. 1t was pure luck-if there is sucn
a thing as luck, really. saw you the
other night at the Alhambra-that is,
thought 1t was you, only 1t seemed
too good to be true You were dancing
with gentleman I know. Mr.. Max
Lewis, and as soon as I got chance
asked him about you. But 1t turned
out he didn't know very much about
you, himself So l told him he'd got
to find out for me, and yesterday he
sent me your address. don't know
yet how he found It out"
Rhoda heard an edge in the hard
voice that suggested she wanted 10
know. "Oh. Babe must have told him, .
she said. HE brought her home that
night. We live together, you see.''
Then, with a rush. she went on
into another speech she'd rehearsed
1t was better to get it over with. You
must be wondering why changed my
name. You see, wasn't Of age wheri
my father died. And I didn't want y
lot of people bothering and inter
fering-telling me what 1 could do and
what I couldn't. And / thought II
would be easier to be let alone If
changed to Rhoda White. I could
change back now, of course. only there
isn't any reason why I should"
well, I'm glad it didn't bother you
that knew" (She wasn't. Her voice
gave her away every time. 1t was fiat
of a weapon she'd counted on.) "You
won't mind, then, if call you Miss
McFarland?"
mot a bitl My best friends know
it's my real name. Only, why don't
YOU call me Rhoda?" She hoped her
voice didn't give her away, too. The
next moment she had to manage TO
call her companion Claire.
Il hope you've got time today for
us to get started really making friends,
Claire said when this basis had been
established
IT don't have to go back to the office
at all this afternoon" Rhoda told her.
1t sounded like an answer.
I'm a working girl, myself, said
Claire, 'or I have been until lately.
Are you a stenographer? That's what
1 was. There may be ways that look
easier, but in the long run they don't
pay. Whereas now you take me. was
never out of q good job, and the last
man I worked for gave me tip on
the stock market that made enough
out of so that I don't have to work
any moreover, unless like. He
owed 1t to me, all right. I'd made
him more than that. I'd practically
managed all his affairs for six years. ="
Rhoda's unasked question must have
showed in her face. Claire took u
deliberate drink of water and then
went on as IL she'd never stopped. 1T
was easy. though; didn't take near ali
my time and 1 used to do outside
work-afternoons and sometimes eve
nings. That's how 1 happened to WORK
"Oh, I see" Rhoda agreed brightly.
"I remember how often he used to go
back to work evenings. I always hated
to have him do it."
lonesome!"
Rhoda felt her face burning as II It
had been slapped. This woman's pro-
fession of sympathy was an insult she
couldn't stand. She looked down at
her plate and managed to swallow a
few morsels of the food that was on it.
When she thought she could command
her voice she preached the main subject
Of her interview.
"You asked in your letter about a
paper you had given him to keep for
you"
Claire heaved a sigh. Eyes" she
assented. II suppose We'll have to talk
about that and get it over. I hate to
do it, but I've simply got to get that
paper-if it's still in existence. You
don't suppose it's been destroyed, do
you?"
1T haven't destroyed any Of my
fathers papers," Rhoda told her. IF
yours was among them when he died
it's still there"
"Well. I hope they're in a good safe
place. The thing ! gave him ought to
be in the bank"
They're not in the bank. There
was a whole trunkful of them, and i
sealed it up just as it was. know it's
perfectly safe, though. If you'll tell me
what your paper was like, I'll try to find