Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-03
no,,t If this room +"

"Out Of this room"
There was rigidity about her that
he did not like, determination. What
did she know? His mind was working
fast over this and that Something
must have slipped up somewhere.
IF you're not sleeping you'd better
see a doctor"
IT shall try the other first"
After that she did not see Kirby
Phelps for week. He had apparently
come into her life. served his purpose
and vanished. The week was an I'M
comfortable one for she had not only
moved-she had locked herself in.
One night she heard Wesley trying the
door, but he went away quickly. She
began to suspect that he was frightened,
that he was carefully preparing de-
Tense against attack, and that when she
did not attack he was worried.
But as the days went on he gained
reinsurance. If she had known any
thing concrete she would have said so.
He eaSed a little At the end OF the
week he bought her bracelet.
ITS beautiful Yves. Thank you.
He tested her then and there.
Don't get kiss for it?"
She understood. and there was pity
IN her, pity for his weakness, for his
loneliness, for the hold of his flesh over
him. She kissed him. But he could
not let well enough alone.
you've locked me out. my girl"
She looked him squarely in the eyes
then
Are you sure it makes any differ
ence, WeS?"
There was the issue brought to the
surface at last. And he could not face
1t. He muttered something. turned
away. What did she know2 What had
slipped up?
1t was the next day that Phelps came
to call. He did not stay very long. and
when he had gone she felt that some
thing warm and vital and kind had
gone out of the house. She went up
stairs and stood staring at herself in
the mirror. Her color had come back
She and Kirby met occasionally after
that at Eileen's. Tommy had built a
new house in the suburbs. It was a
noisy house. Eileen was making her
way by amusing people. Kirby Phelps
seemed amused at these gatherings but
apart from them. On the few occa-
sions when Missile went there he would
say:
Come out on the veranda and get
some air. They'll never miss u.s."
Nor did they.
He would put Missile into q chair and
talk to her. He had strange dreams;
OAlC IOIS &c was dOOIlcu, bNCeDk LOT pleas
ure: men were going to fly in heavier
than-air machines. They would cross
oceans and set up new standards OF
time and distance; undersea boats
would be practical. Had she ever read
THE Mysterious Island? Well. read
it. He would send It to her. Queer
how every discovery was an idea first
First there was a vision. and then there
was fact. She would listen, try to
follow him into this new realm of his.
One day he said to her abruptly:
you are not very happy, are you?
You look as If you could be, but you
are not"
II don't know. I don't think about
it."
But I think you do. Is there any
thing to be done? You don't mind my
asking that, do your"
For Kirby Phelps realized now that
he was deeply in love with her. He was
an honest man; he liked to move and
live in the daylight. and the first thing
he did was to go to her. He was pac-
ing the floor of the parlor when she
came down. his hands in his pockets,
his head bent. He wanted to know
where he stood, what ne was going to
do. And he lost no time about it.
Missile he said without sitting
down. do you care for me? Sometimes
I've thought you did,
: She looked at him with her candid