New Britain herald., 1929-07-13
CHAPTER XNXII

CHAPTER XNXII
 Nan rose the next morning at ' o'clock, after less than two hours of seep-sleep so tormented with fantastic dreams that she woull have felt fresher if she had not closed her eyes. That locked bath room door was on her conscience. What had he thought when he tried the door and found it locked?
 How noisy the water was. ]t would wake him, and he needed all the sleep he could get Nan knew he had not returned until after Il the night before. Every nerve in her tense body had listened for his step on the stairs. Had he stayed so long with Nina Blackhull? Or had he walked the streets, thinking, regretting Iris, screwing up his courage to go on with his mar riage, repeating cynical1y, And daresay she will do,"?
 It was not the cold of the shower which made Nan gasp.
 A ficrccly brisk rubdown with one of the enormous, thick bath towels which Iris Morgan had bought in prodisal quantities. Iris again. But now could she forge, Iris, when e erything i n the house reminded her of its former mis- tress? Nan asked herself wearily. Kneeling. she rinsed the tub thor oughly, then darted about the vel
 low and green. tiled room. making if primly tidy. He'd promised to keep it spick- -and-span for her. We'll, hea should have no cause fol complaint, she promised herself breathlcssly. When everything was done, Nan turned the key in the lock. then fled to her own room 10 dress for breakfast and the day at the office. She was brushing heard the faint sound of a knock, then the soft turning of knob A minute later, the noisy impact of streaming water against the shower curtain.
 Would he come in, after he had bathed. shaved and dressed, to say good morning? Well, I'm not go- ing to hang around to see,' Nan nodded fiercely at her reflection in the mirror Circles under my eyes" she discovered, with melan- choly interest, then pride made hrr try to conceal them with an extra coating of the powder she used. Pride, too. made her use an extra dash of rouge on her pale cheeks. She'd show him,
 But when, half an hour later, he entered the dining room, all hcl anger against him was submerged in pity. No powder could have blot ted out the dark shadows under his deap-sct black eyes. His tall lean body was dropping with weari- ness or Encouragement, but as soon as he caught sight Of Nan very businesslke in her severely simple dark brown silk crepe, ht strengthened his shoulders and smilcd-a smile so sweet and kindly and frank that tears rushed into the girls eyes.
 Before lle took his seat he bent over her, laying a hand softly or her shoulder as he touched hel check with his lips.
 "How-how did you get along with Nina Blackhull last night? Nan asked, as she poured his firs1 cup of coffee with hands that trem- l bled betrayingly. "Oh-ycs, Es- tellc, we're ready for the fruit Then will you run upstairs and see if Curtis is up and dressed?"
 John Curtis Morgan dug his spoon in his melon. 'I believe ml | junior partners hunch was cor rect" he smiled at her. She's oh. viously a thoroughly selfish anI yicious woman, A raNing beauty of course. Just he sort to turr the head of vounsster like Davic | Rlackhull. Without saying 8 pontblank. let her undorstan pretty clearly that l knew the sub 1 ject of the quarrel between her bus i band and her stepson the night O. ! the murder Thinking l knew tn, 1 truth from David himself. and no from your amazing intuition, sh' spilled what will undoubtedly b, her story on the witness stand ! how he fell in love with her an.