White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-08-29
CHAPTER II-Continued


anywhere" Amy Ralston said. Then
she made curious remark, slightly
humorous, slightly vulgar, and in.
tensely prophetic If she had known.
with your looks and those pearls no
one would ever dare hand you bill,
Linda"
Bills! They both smiled. 1t was
SO unlikely that Linda would ever
again be troubled with billsl
The wedding was the smallest, Sc
lectest affair imaginable. Linda's
looks made it unique. Her proud face
seen on the society page Of the right
paper said that small sudden weddings
were the only sort to have.
The bridegroom was proud and
happy man. He was true product
Of the fevered times, and there were
features to this wedding which nobody
knew about and which gave him new
thrills of responsibility.
Twenty-four hours have made
changes in many love affair. Linda
was married on Tuesday, and by
Wednesday night she was wondering
why she had never noticed that Roth's
manners we're not all that they should
be and that he was more than bad
tempered. Meals should have been
served by a genie, and no service ever
pleased.
Really, If it was going to be like
this-Linda shrugged her beautiful
white shoulders. They were in Boston
and she was surprised to find herself
at hotel whose name meant nothing
to her, and she had been In Boston
many times.
II thought anything would do for
the few hours we will be here" her
new husband said hurriedly. "The
big places are always full at this sea-
son and we don't want a fms :, do we?'
"You could have telegraphed for
rooms," she protested, puzzled.
Roth began to pace the floor nerv-
Ously. His color was high and the i'm
patience She was beginning to know
came into his eyes.
''Now look here, Linda. They've
kept you in cotton wool too long.
wanted you because you're different
from other women. You've got an air
that makes everything you do seem
right. Even this second-rate hotel
would seem smart If you made habit
of coming here"
Linda was bewildered. She knew
he was trying to tell her something
without committing himself, but she
could not guess what 1t was. She felt
annoyed and little cheated
"But when there is no reason for
second-rate hotels?" she murmured.
He flushed deeper crimson and
screwed up his eyes in way she par
hcularly disliked.
Reason? There's jolly well rea-
sons enough" He clapped his hands
on his pockets with an odd boyish
gesture that touched her through her
bewilderment and dawning fear. 1t
reminded her of Jim Haverhill. Then
he grinned at her sheepishly.
"Fact is, dearest, I'm stony. Oh,
know you're shocked, but you'll get
used to shocks. It's rather lark,
IL you look at It from the right angle.
Married to beautiful, luxurious crea-
| ture and hardly bean in your pocket.
Cad, 1t makes fellow sit up. Linda,
don't look like that"
"Why did you marry me? Why
didn't you tell me?"
"Why-do you think I'm cad?
Leave you sitting on the church stoop?
I'd say not. Besides, didn't plan It,
cabled for money and expected
plenty, but the old wire came back
like a knock behind your ear. No
more money. I'd spent 1t ALL"
Linda's head whirled. "How could
you have spent all your money with
out knowing it?" she managed to say.
She had never known until that mo-
ment how much she had counted on
Roth's fortune. He had seemed secure
as a stone wall. She felt him staring
ct her. and suddenly she saw behind
the high lights of his dominant gray
eyes merely boyish boastful some
thing that brought contempt stronger
than fear into her being.
"All my money!" Roth burst out
| laughing. $50 that's II" and she felt
ashamed.
II never had very much" he went
on indfferently. Lord love you,
child, you can't run about as I've done
without spending pile. That Afri-
cpn expedition, when the other fell
lows didn't pay up, put the final crimp
IN ma" Ard then he added hlithely