Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-15
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, interrupted to swear she would tea
nothing II they would let her 60. Now
she lay looking at Molly, caring not
what would happen to -Gabreau
would be pretty bad, for Divitt will
stand mighty near anything but
treachery. That gate you tried to get
out by opens on the patio Of the T1jon
Hotel. Divitt ives in the lobby then
81 never tried to get away, but when
I FIRST come was lots goin' on didn't
like. I fgured-if wasn't dom the
things how did they concern me?
You're dom nothin' wrong here. End
no harms goin' to come to you. You've
got your reasons to hide and you're
hid, long as you play square"
Juanita had played square" all
week. Her meals were served in her
room on a little handicapped, rose
wood table Molly had picked up at
Pierre's. Conchita seemed to find joy
in connecting new dishes for Juanita.
II she was q prisoner, no one could
have been kinder than her keepers.
Molly brought her books and stamped
linen with bright thread. But the
books had remained unread and the
embroidery had lain in her lap while
she looked into the patio, seeing moth
ing unless in memory or dreams.
Once she had begun a letter, using
the fy-leaf of a book, but had halted.
How would she mail a letter? Not
through Gabreau. Slip it to some one
as she moved among the tables? Divitt
would see. There was no move she
might make that some one would not
see.
Dear Pedro,''~ she had written.
Don't worry about me"
And then she had torn the letter
into bits, burning them in the great
pewter wash basin, and had sat staring
into the patio.
Yes, she was hidden-safe and sound,
as Molly had said. Now that she had
stopped shaking at her bars, she re-
Taxed in the security they gave. Kind
keepers. a pleasant prison. Her open
window let in an oleander- scented cool
ness. There was languor in the air,
"a balm that she seemed TO lie upon
like a quiet breast.
All day in her room. and then at
night among the players. At first it
had seemed incredible that this scarf
beneath her eyes could be a disguise.
Surely any one who had ever known
her would know her again. meeting
her eyes. Yet the faces were unfa-
mil!sr
Often the glances and the words they
gave were insults, yet who should care?
These men could not reach her. Divitt
stood In the way. Gabreau. And now
now they seldom spoke to her at all,
believing she was Turkish Molly had
told only one person that the myste-
rious lady had escaped from a harem
in Istanbul-yet how it had got them!
The canard was shutting her in as
securely as the walls.
Music was coming from the Tijon
dining room as Juanita crossed the
patio. She took the tray and began
her pacing among the tables.
Some one was reckoning from the
roulette table. Adrian Fouche. With
him was the old lady who came so
often, and behind the old lady's chair
the tall man with the kind eyes-the
man whose glance Juanita remembered
had steadied her nerves that first night
Others sat around the roulette wheel.
but they seemed more part of the
crowd than the two who came with
Adrian. The old lady gas a figure
Juanita found herself watching every
night-happy when she won, sad when
she lost. because the old lady herself
followed the flying wheel with such in
tensity, the tall man beside her saying
words of encouragement when she had
guessed wrong, .nodding congratula-
tons when she won.
Her bets were never large. and she
usually left early, sometimes against
her will, uttering little protests. But
the tall man was adamant at these
times. folding her wraps about her and
guiding her among the tables. Divitt
moving before them as If 1t were the
wondered If they would be there to-
night, and now she observed a third
member Of their party, a man with
dropping ironic mouth and lazy eyes
He and Adrian were watching her as
she went toward their table.
The new man rose from his chair
at her arrival.
Not now" Adrian said TO him.
Wait till the senior comes"
Juanita held out the tray. The man
smiled at her, bowling.
"Akshanamlar hayer, Hanum," he re-
marked.
Il said wait till the senior comes"
Adrian repeated angrily
Cant even tell the lady good eve
ning?'" inquired the man, and smiling
again at Juanita, "Hanum effend." he
zanedersen bende sizi seVe bilirdim."
He returned to Adrian who had listened
with anxiety. "Ismerely informed the
lady that my friend like her very much,
but I think could like her myself"
Juanita smiled. extending the cigar
cite tray. Divitt had taken Gabreau's
place behind the roulette wheel. Ju-
anita knew that he missed nothing.
The senior has come" Adrian re-
marked, and Juanita glanced toward
the door. A dark. portly man was en-
tering. a man with a frown carved
between thick black brows
Juanita. staring, leaned against the
table. Then as he came toward them,
turned as If to leave.