The Washington times., 1930-01-30
CHAPTER Xxx

"A ing down when Loyejoy
turned into Bullard Street that
Saturday night.
The wet black sidewalks re-
flected the lighted windows OF
the neat modest houses that
lined the street. A smell OF
Spring-sharp and sweet and
fresh-mingled with the smell
of the rain.
The night seemed very peace
full and quiet to Lovejoy as sle
stopped Toms car in front o.
the tall apartment house that
had been home to her for SO
many years.
She turned off the engine
and leaned back against the
leather cushions to wait Tor
Steve Oglebay.
It was fifteen minutes before
eight. She would have time to
smoke cigarette, inhaling the
smoke the way Aline did,
You don't. get any kick out
of cigarette unless you draw
the smoke into your lungs,
Aline had told her and she had
shown her how to do it.
Aline Could there really
be women like Aline, Lovejoy
suddenly asked herself.
Aline and cigarette smoking
and secret love-affairs seemed
as unreal as a dream all at
once to Lovejoy as she sat
there in common everyday Bull
lard Street, looking up at Aunt
Ems front windows with their
, curtains of muCh-mended lace.
There was something so decent
and honest about Bullard Street.
1t knew nothing Of baguette
diamonds and Silk-damaSk pa
jsmas and perfumed cigarettes
like Aline's. And if there were
any cheating wives there, Love
Joy had never heard Of them.
What on earth am ! doing
here, anyway? she asked her
helf.
It came over her. like a flash,
that she was no better than
Aline!
Here I waiting for Steve
Oglebay! she Thought. Keeping
a date with him-plannlng to
spend the evening with him!
For a second she deSpised
herself for what she was doing.
For a second she was seized
with a strong impulse to turn
Toms car around and dash
back home in it-back to the
safety and decency of the little
house in StallingS Lane.
But Just then, before she had
time to do any more straight
thinking. a great closed car
flashed past her and stopped
at the curb just ahead of her.
SteVe'S car.
And Steve was jumping out
of it and coming through the
rain towards her, the tip of his
cigarette glowing in the dark
ness.
Hello" he said as he opened
the door of her car. Move
over and TIL sit down beside
YOU What's worrying
you?"
Worrying me?" Lovejoy's
eyes were wide-Open against
the darkness. Why. what do
you mean?" :.
You said you wanted to see
me aboub something" Steve re-
minded her. Your voice sounded
as if you were worried--in
trouble" .,....: .., ....
Loveioy shook her head.
"No. I just wanted to see
you, Steve" she answered
quietly II just felt as II I
had to see you"
If she had told him the truth
she would have said:
I was peeSed because Tom
left me alone and went to play
poker. What I want is some
excitement. I want to go places
and see things! And almost any
man would do as companion
for me tonight-only I hap
pened to know you so l tele-
phoned you!
But women seldom tell the
truth to men who are in love
with them. They are much
more likely to flatter them-~-to
''String them along"
And that is what Lovejoy did.
TT suddenly came over me
that it would be fun to meet
you somewhere and spend the
evening with you she said,
1.-The way we used to-"
Remember the wonderful
dinners We used to have, Steve?"
she went on. Nobody ever
could order a dinner the way
you can. I haven't had any
thing to eat yet tonight, have
you?"
He shook his head. No, and
I'm not going to take you any
where for dinner" he said
flatly. I'm not going to do
anything that's going to blacken
your reputation, LOveiov. I'm
not going to do any Sneaking