Nogales international., 1930-01-21
Fourth Instalnent
Synopsis
What Happened Before

Cl-ry Lesson an attorney, meets Lucy Harkness,
known Devil-May-Care because of her adven-
tusous, cventful life. In game in which partners
for the evening are chosen, Lucy is by Tim
Stevens, who has great reputation as successful
hcsrt-breaker. Lesson is bit jealous. linn
Stevens tells Lucy they going aboard his boat,
the Minerva, and she accedes in order not TO be
"a gutter" Asked if she is sorry that he won
he company, Lucy says she is and that
yidently Fate has arranged it. Tim thereuPon
tells her to stop looking regretfully after Lesson.
Aboard Stevens boat, the Minerva, Ste
vens tells Lucy of his love. When she re-
plies with contempt for him, he grows vio-
lently angry and she becomes afraid of him.
He says he will never let her go from the
Minerva until she accepts him. To escape
him. she leaps into the water from her CABIN
window swimming a short distance unoeI
water.
Lucy reaches land and meets DR.. Fergus
Faunce on an island. He takes care of her
and takes her home. Everyone is worried
about her, and when she meets Stevens he
is frantic, regretful and still ardent in pro-
testationS of love.
Now 90 On With the Story
1--WE start from here, then; l took
you away with me; l frightened you
/ drove YOU to almost certain death.
But we start from there. Is that
it?"
"From where else could we start ?"
she countered.
"And you :. you can't forgive me,
Lucy Harkness?"
"Can you make me? That seems to
be the question" she answered.
He rose from his chair, fatigue
dropping from him like bath-gown
from bather on the beach. That
amazing virility which was himself,
but which this morning had been alb
sent, returned to him in a rush.
Il don't like equal chances" he
cried. 81 want the odds against me.
Two to one ten to one, a hundred to
one!"
"They are," she reminded him.
"And . and what shall we tell
-. People are curious"
81 came home" she said calmly, in
my bathing-suit. If your crew and
Modane-"
They'll say nothing" he promised.
'And, naturally, we won'tP she
laughed.
"And you'll see me, speak to me,
as though nothing had hapbened?"
"Il1 do what Fate directs" she
promised.
He shook his head.
you're no saint, Lucy Hardness.
If you were, I'd not love you. You're
flesh and blood and wavy hair and
long Iashes and pink and tan skin,
and +. human! You cant TOOL me.
You're going to do something ..."
Which ought to make life interest
ing, Tim," she chuckled. Trying to
outguess a woman is hard enough
under ordinary circumstances, but tl1l-
der these But perhaps your blood
has cooled. In emotion we want
things, promise things, do things that
contemplation causes us to regret. An
hour ago death was an adventure
which you welcomed. Now Irritation
seems dangerous. Well, go your own
way, Tim Stevens"
''I'll go yours" he cried. "The way
of Fate"
She laughed.
"We'll see
'You hate me. You'll get even
some way :" He paused, toe
puzzled to continue.
"Of course hate you," she returned
evenly. 81 think you're low, bestial
But what has that to do with Fate? 2
"Youre daring me-" he asserted.
"And you are afraid to take dare
she accused. "But I've given you al
the time l can this morning. I'm du'
at the Beach Club"
He held out tentative hand. Sh'
shook her head.
mot yet a while, Tim. Perhap
never. You know, after all, you didn,,
trump my ace, or move as | putted
You did-tried to do-a thing tina
you must have known would hav
caused me to kill myself. But enough
of that. We start again"
After he left she leaned back in he
chair and closed her eyes.
1--WE start again." she murulured
"But where shall I lead him?" Th
curved lips Strengthened harshly, AM
the hands that rested upon the arm
of the wicker chair suddenly grippe
them. Then she relaxed. She wa
able to summon a perfectly natura
smile to her lips as, in response to tn
noise of the iron knocker upon tn
gate, a Jap admitted Lesson to tn
patio.
A nice-1ooking boy, she told hersel
as he advanced eagerly. Clean, we
built, and enthusiastic. She. liked thi
latter quality i'll him. She liked fres
eagernesS in the viewpoint of life. To
much of it had gone from her; pei
haps because the people she knew
played around with were too sophist
Gated, too ennuied with the bushes
Of living. Perhaps she could regal
some of it from Lesson.
"You didn't come back to Mr.
Clary's last night" he accused, as
bent over her hand.
did you expect me to?" she il
Quired.
"Of course. 1 hoped So"
"But you lost" she said.
"On a FOUL" he reminded her.
She shrugged.
"We threshed that out last nigh
! like winners, as l told you"
"Did Stevens keep you away?" /
asked.
She Strengthened in her chair.