Evening star., 1931-12-24
SEVENTY-FIRST INSTALLMENT.


learned that Joe Nielsen had de-
cided to come through" on the
L bomb plot. The reporter from the
Express had come to give her the
news when he sought her at Julia's
studio. and had arrived in time to join
in Dannys rescue of Cathleen from Neil
Neilsen'S fury.
Joe Neilsens agreed to take the
rap on the bombing if We lay of the
other charges" the editor of the Ex-
press told Cathleen. We've got him
right on that little deal. We're willing
to call quits so long as he goes for
through in his district or any other
New York area. And it leaves you out
entirely. Miss Carroll You're a game
young woman, I'll say that for you
Thank you" Cathleen said. Il
guess any one is game when they are
fighting for their" She was going 10
say independence. but substituted
/ life" She had been compelled, IN
seeking one to fight for both.
/ Tomorrow she must go to Crestwood.
Mr.. Drew wanted to be undiSturbed
while he turned out some important
work She was to report at CrestWood
/ early in the afternoon, prepared to re-
main for dinner.
I DRIVING up USlOle lllt Nlut, Olu-ldSll-
/ ioned veranda of CrestWood. Cathleen
! wondered that success could be so
: empty Deep inside her was a dry we'll
/ into which the g:!ttering stones of
success dropped with an empty thud.
) She had wiped the Nielsen stamp from
the Carroll name. She was wage
earner the author of book she had
never dreamed she could write. She
was her own woman. But she had
won her goal and lost it. Success was
| here but love had passed her by. The
most precious of WomenS achievements
she had not Won-requited love.
! AS she came up onto the veranda.
! Tom Drew rose from a deep-seated
/ chair and extended his hand in greet
! ing He was uneasy, apologize almost.
"Cathleen, l must tell yOu--Dad isn't
home"
She drew back, away from the warm
hand clasp "Cathleen"? Why not
/ Miss Carroll" as always?
! But Mr Drew sent for me to come
to Crestwood." she said.
Il sent for you, with Dads permls-
sion"
J "You-I don't understand" Her
chin came up.
Il had to-" Tom said Il must know
You eVade me. Cathleen. l can never
J
portunity. Take OFF your hat. l want
to see the sun on your hair. And walk
With me- please, down toward the
riVel
! She ought to refuse him. to turn
angrlly on him and demand that she be
taken back to the station at once. But
/ She could not. What had Diana
Drapers tance to say TO her that must
be said to her III private?
Under a gnarled oak at the end of
the river path, Tom stopped and drew
Cathleen down onto rustic bench be-
side him.
"Catheen," he said, are you prom
ised to any man-in marriage"
How dared he ask her that question?
Did he mean to play with her-if she
was free? To use her as Diana was
using Kenneth Hall?
Il don't see how my answer can be
of interest to you" she said. her voice
low and clear but if it is. III tell you
! that l am not promised to any man. l
am my own woman.
He took her hand, compelled her to
look into his eyes.
Is there-could there be a chance
for me-" he asked softly, and his eyes
were pleading.
Cathleen felt her world whirling
| dizZily.
Tom" she exclaimed, how can
there be, when you are promised to
Diana?"
He shook his head, drawing her
slowly gently, to him.
There's been mistake" he said.
"Dianas a friend. We've known each
other since childhood. I've been
sort Of big brother to her, l suppose
you'd call it. But as for loving her-
Cathleen, there's only one girl for me.
There Will always be Just that one.
You. dear girl are She"
Cathleen sat very still while her
world continued to whirl Diana had
tricked her 1t was Tom the big
brother who had watched over Diana
and her doings-not Tom the Suitor, as
/ Diana had led her to believe. Tom was
free-free to love and to be loved. Even
as she Cathleen. was free to love him
and be loved by him.
Cathleen's Whirling world plunged
! and carried her into Tom Drews arms
A long time afterward Tom remem-
bered there were to be guests for dinner
Dads introducing the author of the
new diary this evening" he confided to
C2thleen.
"Oh-no!" Cathleen's excitement
was out of all proportion to his re-
mark, Tom thought. He mustn't. 1
thought it was to be a secret until after
publication"
1t Was-but Dads changed his
mind. He has decided to let few
close friends in on the secret. He
hasn't told me thing about her yet. y
Then Mr Drew hadn't told Tom 1t
! was she who had written the diary?
! My guess is that your fathers big
surprise is very plain and-pokey," she
said, laughing into Toms bue-blue
eyes.
My bet is on fair, fat and So" Tom
said
When Cathleen came down to din
ncr q picture of happiness in the
"buttercup dress" knot of Toms
brown pansi"s snugg!e1 against her
check, she found Julia and Paul Ali-
son among the guests.
You didn't tell me y,u We're COM
ing" Cathleen whispered reprovingly
to Julia
Mr.. Drew told ME not to- Julia
explained. And Paul threatened dire
| things if I told YOU
Something in Julia's voice caught at
I Cathleen'S heart. She glanced toward
Paul, who Sto d chatting with MIR.
Drew. Pauls eyes were on Julia In
them C?thle2n saw the story Toms
eyes hal told her down under the
III \ =