Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-12-29

and ! wasn't 70 ask questions or
worry about him"
But she did accept you Thursday
night?" Penny persisted.
Yes" the boy admitted. his face
darby flushed again. This is aw-
fully hard, honey, but I'll tell you
once for all and get it over with. d..
I took her to dinner. We drove TO
huntsville because she said she was
sick OF Hamilton. When we were
driving back she suddenly became
very queer-reckleSs. defiant 49,.
And she asked me If I still wanted
TO marry her. and I said I did. !
asked her right then TO say when,
and she said she'd marry me June
first. but she added" and the boy.
TO Dundee's watching eyes, seemed
TO be genuinely puzzled again by
what must have sounded odd at the
time-"that she'd marry me June
first II she lived to see the day"
obi Penny gasped. then. con-
trolling her horror, she asked with
what sounded like real curiosity.
Then what happened. Ralph? Why
do you propose to her on Thursday
and to me on-on Sunday2"
"A gorgeous actress sacrificed 10
the typewriter" Dundee told him
self. as he waited for Ralph Ham
mond'S reluctant reply.
Cant we forget 1t. honey? ....
You do love me q little, don't you?
Can't you take my word for 1t that
I'm cured now-forever?"
Penny's hands went UP to cover
her face and Dundee had the grace
TO feel very sorry indeed for her
sorry even II she intended to give
her promise TO Ralph Hammond, as
a sick feeling in his stomach proph-
esied that she was about to do.
How can / know you're really
cured. II / don't know what cured
you?" he heard Penny's faltering
voice ask huskily from behind the
screen of her hands.
Il suppose you're right the boy
admitted miserably. There's lie
need TO ask you not to tell anyone
else. Although I don't want TO sec
her again ever-Why. Penny.
wouldn't ever tell Polly and Give
Yesterday, after 1t happened. though
Polly guessed and went upstairs e.
I tried 10 keep her back"
I don't - quite understand
Ralph Penny interrupted. You
mean something happened when
YOU we're AT Nita's house yesterday
morning."
Les. Judge Marshall had prom
ised Mia to have the unfinished
half Of the top story turned into q
maids bedroom and bath and a
guest bedroom and bath. Give let
me 90 TO make the estimates. OF
curse ! was glad Of the chance
TO see Mia again. hadn't beer
with her since Thursday night.
But she had TO take Lydia IN fol
a dentist appointment, and they
left me alone in the house. ! had
10 20 into the finished hall ia
make some measurements. and III
the bedroom I found-oh. God!r
he groaned, and pressed a fist
against his trembling mouth.
You found that Dexter sprazue
was staying there. was using the
bedroom that used TO be mine
didn't your Penny helped him nj
last. in desperation.
How did you know" The boy
stared at the girl blankly for a mo.
ment. then seemed to crumple a.
II from a new blow. II suppose II
was common gossip that Nita and
Sprague were lovers. and I was the
only one she fooledl.. My Cod To
think all Of you would stand BY
and let me marry her--a chear
little gold-digger from Broadway
living with a cheap four~flushel
she couldn't get along without and
had to send for"
Did you-want to kill her
Ralph?' Penny whispered hoarsely
touching one OF his knotted fist,
with a trembling hand.
Kill herr. Good Lord, mol
the boy flung at her violently. -Tn-
not such an ass as thatl You girl
are al alike! Polly had so IIttl,
sense as to think I'd want TO xii
Mia and Sprague bothi Sh,
couldn't see. and neither coulc
Give, that an ! wanted was to get
away from everybody and get *
drunk ] could forget what a foo
I'd been"
"Wha. did you do. Ralph?- Pen,
ny asked urgently.
What, ] got drunk, OF course
the boy answered. as if SURPRISED
at her persistence. Darling, vol
wouldn't believe me II I told vol
how much rot-but Scotch 1t tool
TO put me under, but that filthy
b~ootlegglng hotel clerk would have
charged me double II he had known
how much good 1t would DO me-
"Hotel?" Penny snatched at the
vital word Where did you 20 Il
get drunk, Ralph"
II never realized before YOU had