Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-01
CHAPTER v.
DAGGER FINDS LOVE CRUEL.

"A FTERWARD Howard asked him
" self many times how it had oc'
"A CURED. As he reached to stead!
4 \ her when her horse SHE'D, sh'
nestled instinctively into thu
crook of his elbow.
Then he was conscious of her face
turned up TO him, her eyes glowing, hel
lips parted expectantly. The soft pres
sure of her mouth brought him to his
senses. He almost pushed her from
him.
'Here-no philandering, he heard
himself say dryly. We ought to get
home"
He drove in the spurs and Dagger
initiated him. He didn't look at her
She never spoke. When at last he
refined in his sweating mount and stole
a glance in her direction, her features
were set in the mask she affected in
games of chance.
Sorry, Dagger" he exclaimed i'm
pulsively. Shouldn't have done that.
All my fault"
1T wasn't" she answered as CURLY
''Why shouldn't you have?"
well, it's not the kind of thing
81 wanted you to-"
you're only child, dear"
4 made you do IT,"
''Nonsensel 1t was the stars, and I
know you like me a little"
1T like you a lot-a hell of lot" she
painted.
"You think you do" he said gently.
"But. you see, I'm ever so much older
and have a wife and"
IT hate her, the pale thing!" Her
vehemence startled him. so do you,
Blaine. You know you do"
mo, I don't hate her." he denied.
ct wonder sometimes If I didn't expect
too much of her"
You didn't. You wouldn't" Dag
ger choked down sob. "You-you're
to decent"
Me decent?" He laughed savagely.
"And just stole a kiss from girl of
your age?"
She threw her arm back and slapped
him full across the face.
"You-you couldn't steal kiss from
me. You or any man! 1 kissed you be-
cause wanted to-and made you kiss
me because I wanted you to. And I
slapped you because wanted to. And
I'm going to ha-ha-hate you because I
want to-"
Dagger lay sleepless, her brain a
Seething furnace, her soul racked by
tempests of rage-rage at Howard, rage
at herself. rage at fate.
Was this what love brought in its
train? Better hatei But slowly, as the
1t wasn't Towards fault he was mar
ried nor that she loved him.
She wakened to a flood of sunshine
across the floor and her uncle's drawl-
ing voice outside the window.
Hey, yew, Juan. snake out that stuff
to the car-and then yew tell Mr.. How
ard it's here"
Dagger sat up with jerk. The car!
Howard-he was going away. He would.
nh he
quickly, she stepped outside.
Howard was distinctly i'll at ease.
"Oh. didn't want to disturb you,
Dagger. I-ah-aS said last evening
time was getting East and-ah--"
Blaine only made up his mind def
nitely after you'd gone to bed, dear.
He felt badly over going and thought
yelling said in his gentle way
For him, maybe, but not for me-"
she answered airily. 1T wasn't square,
Blaine, was it, now?"
1T wasn't square, Dagger" he ad-
nitted, but honestly thought it was
kind"
She came close to him.
Here's kiss for luck-and to prove
won't forget you"
Its something to remember" How
ard replied. Don't worry. won't for
won't we?"
'Oh. yes. always friends" she as
0ented bravely
Mac threw in the clutch and the car
churned forward, raising a cloud Of
dust
Dick yelling drew her to him, his
mouth close to her ear.
Easy, old girl" he muttered. Every
things all right"
Course it's all right mean all
wrong" she retorted GROSSLY.
Better have some breakfast" urged
yelling.
I'm not hungry" she protested.
ANY healthy girl Is hungry In the
morning-unless she's in love. And you
aren't, you know"
But I am, Dick You know I am.