Nogales international., 1930-06-06

could not believe that the first act Of
her vengeance was played. Some
body put a pen into her hand, and a
squat forefnger showed her the place
where she must sign her name. For a
long time she held the pen, and when
she wrote it wavered in her fingers
and the scrawled signature looked like
nothing she had ever seen.
Leaving for Paris that night-the
Meurice, or was it the Bristol? There
was some confusion in her mind about
these details; anyway, they did not
matter if she kept her courage. The
two o'clock wedding had been an in
spiration. She went back to her
house-Luke was coming to. dinner :;
they were to leave. Immediately after
to catch the night boat from SoG"!:-
hampton.
Luke's voice was trernulous. They
were alone in her pretty little drawing
room, and he was sitting by her side,
his arm around her. She was very
still and unyielding, but he thought
that he understood this.
Luke was bubbling over with ex-
citement-he was like a boy who had
received a new and wonderful present.
"I say, did you see that queer-look-
ing man standing on the pavement as
we came out? A fellow named Lewing
"a thief of some kind. / wonder if he
came to pick pockets? I'll bet he did ;
touched his hat to me as I came out"
She was not listening, and, after he
had gone, could remember nothing that
he had said except something about
Rex. It was indecent of him to men
ton the boy. Dainty rang her up, but
she would not see or receive him. She
must go through now without help.
Luke was coming at seven. At six she
called him on the telephone, and had
one panicky moment when she feared
that he had already left his fiat and
could not be found. Then she heard
his voice.
"Dar1ing, isn't it odd7 I can't be-
1ieve it still think of myself as a
crusty old bachelor"
"Luke, I want you to do something
for me-" She found her voice at last.
"No-no, don't interrupt. It's a big
thing. 1 don't want to go away to-
night, not for day or two. l want
to be alone, not to see you. My nerves
are in a terrible state; | think l am
on the verge of a breakdown.
AS she went on, he listened with a
growing sense of alarm and dlsmay.
And yet he was not thinking OF HIM
self.
"I've been selfish brute. Of course,
darling, I quite understand"
The conversation did not occupy five
minutes of time; he could hardly real
ize what was happening, to what he
was agreeing, before he was sitting at
his writing table staring blankly at the
telegraph forms by which he was to
cancel so many pleasant arrangements
Dainty, waiting at Waterloo Station
with a full view of the barrier,
watched the mail-boat passengers filter
through to the platform. He saw the
barrier close and the red tail lights OF
the train disappear into the darkness
and went home hurnming little song
flor Mr.. and Mrs. Luke Madison were
not among the passengers.
|
i Luke did not even trouble to see
Margaret at once. Before lunch he
remembered and telephoned.
81 want to see you, darling" hi
4 began.
"Why?" 1t was difficult to disguise
the suspicion she felt.
II want you to sign little docu
ment," he said gaily.
) So that was it! Dainty had warned
her. Only she had never dreamed tlla
she would be asked to renounce hel
} marriage portion so soon.