Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-05-27

season and we don't want N fuss
do WEI"
You could have ~telegraphed FOR
rooms" she protested, puzzled.
Roth began TO pace the floor
nervouSly. His color was high and
the impotence she was beginning
70 know came into his eyes.
Now look here. Linda. They've
kept you in cotton wool too long.
] wanted you because you're diff
ferent from other women. You've
rot an air that makes everything
you do seem right. Even this sec
ond-rate hotel would seem smart IL
you made a habit Of coming here"
Linda was b~ewildered. She knew
he was trying to tell her something
without committing himself, but
she could not guess what II wns.
She felt annoyed and a little
cheated.
But when there r. no reason for
second-rate hotels:r she MUIR
INJURED.
He flushed a deeper crimson and
screwed up his eyes in a way she
particularly disliked.
Reason? There's jolly well rca-
sons enough He clapped Ills
hands on his pockets with mn odd
boyish gesture that touched her
through her bewilderment and
dawning fear. II reminded her az
Jim HaverhiIl. Then he grinned az
her sheepishly.
Fact Is. dearest. I'm stony. Oh.
I know you're shocked. but you'll
get used 10 shocks. It's rather a
lark, If you look at it from the
right angle. Married 10 a beautiful
luxurious creature and hardly n
bean in your pocket. Cad, IL makes
a fellow sit up. Linda, don't look
like that"
why did you marry me? Why
didn't you tell mef'
"Why-d0 you think I'm a cad7
Leave you sitting on the church
stoop? I'd say not. Besides, 7
didn't plan it. l cabled for money
and expected plenty, but the old
wire came back like "a knock be-
hind your ear No more money.
I'd spent 1t all"
Linda's head whirled. "How
could you have spent all your
money without knowing itT' she
managed I'd say. She had never
known until that moment how
much she had counted on Roth's
fortune. He had seemed secure as
a stone wall. She felt him starin-
at her, and suddenly she saw be
hind the high lights or hIs dom
inant gray eyes merely a b0yisE
boastfuI something that brought
contempt stronger than fear into
her being.
"AIl my money!" Roth burst out
laughing. so that's it.1 and she
felt ashamed.
II never had very much" he went
on indifferently. Lord love YOU.
child, you can't run about as I've
done without spending a pile. That
African expedition, when the other
fellows didn't pay up. put the final
crimp In me-" And then he added
blithely, Its a good thing you
don't have to depend entirely On
me-"
Linda was enveloped IN n blaze
Of swift indignation. you n
ried me believing / had money -
she accused, and writhed in shame
and self-disgust. Its lust that Old
joke about the bitter bit
But ne shook his head. "No.
Linda, l knew all about you. /
looked you up. Of course. You're
taking too tragic a view OF IL all.
10 doesn't require actual monev IN
ger along. There's WAYS or getting
everything you want. You possess
something that's worth more than
money, and I've a little Of the sane
thing. II got over with you and
your people. which proves ii. we
don't need money. YOU and II. We
can have everything without it."
She was struggling with a sensa.
10 or utter collapse. Certain
phrases he used Inundated as facts
appalled, her. His IL looked you
UP, of course" filed her with
loathing for him and FOR herself
he had looked her up. but she had
Deen a fool and taken him, on trust.
Worse than a fool-a failure.
Why, you are just an adventur-
I'll. she cried scornfully.
Perhaps" he shrugged, "but not
bourgeois. / am afraid. my dear.
you have more 10 learn than I
thought. You haven't found oat
mat its not what you are but what
people think YOU are that counts.
All clever persons know that. or
they're not Mt to meet the world
Go BE CoNTINUEDl