Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22

into her husbands study. Clad in a
frock of some soft white clingng stuff,
she looked adoraby lovely. Basil
Wentworth. a gentleman to his very
fngertips rose from his chair with alacrity, as
he always did when his young wife appeared.
my sweet" he said, how beautiful you
are!"
1t struck Bash as strange that Isabel did not
answer. He went over to her and gently raised
her chin with his foref1nger SO that he could
gaze into her f1owerlike face. 1t was only then
that he saw she was trembling and that there
were two great unshed tears in her violet eyes.
my love!" he gaSped. fear gripping at his
heart. "There is something wrong. You are
Ill unhappy. Tell me, my little white dove,
what is it,"
with sudden cry as though of pain Isabel
flung herself forward and, with her head against
her husbands breast, gave vent to convulsive
SobS.
Dear heart" he said tenderly when she had
become calmer now tell me what it Is that
upSetS you
pray do not make me speak of it. BASIL" she
pleaded st am so wretched. I feel that the
whole world must know of my shame"
But insist. my dear. am your husband
and there must never be any secret between
For moment it seemed as though Isabel
could not speak Then she lowered her eyes
and said in barely audible voice. ut was Guy
Mannerng.''
"He called this afternoon, Basil, when you
were looking over the estate with the bailif.
had been playing the piano for him when
he asked to the conservatory and while
we were in there he suddenly seized my hand
and said that he loved me-"
RAsI WENTWORTH paled and the muscles
of his clean-cut jaw quivered.
"The cad!" he rasped out at length between
Clenched teeth.
GAS soon as he uttered those words" Isabel
went on, "I ordered him to leave me-and he
did so. But have been burning with shame
ever since. I have not known how to tell you
of this thing: until now had not the courage
to mention to you that he had called"
After long silence Basil said: Come, my
love. Do not worry. Tomorrow go to London
by an early train to find Guy Mannering. He
shall be made to pay for this insult" He spoke
without passion but this very fact seemed only
to add to the sinister meaning of his words.
All through the night Basil Wentworth lay
awake His thoughts drove him almost insane.
Guy Mannerng, his best friend, the man with
whom he would have trusted his very life, had
insulted his wife and tried to bring d1Shonor
on the ancient name of Wentworth! But the
scoundrel would be made to pay dearly for his
infamy.
The following morning Basil Wentworth left
his breakfast untouched. The old butler noticed
. with concern that the master was holloW-eyed
and that his aristocratic features were set in
look of grim determination when he left Went
worth Hall for the station, but he was not to
know that the neat parcel the master carried
contained heavy hunting crop.
Arriving in London, Basil Wentworth pro-
ceeded to Guy Mannering's club. but he did
not go inside He strolled about. waiting
Soon, to his great satisfaction, he saw Manner
ing emerge from the club and pause outside the
door while he smoohed his black mustache
and glanced superciliously up and down the
street.
Then, as Mannering came down the steps,
Wentworth sprang at him like a panther and
gripped the lapalS of his coat. you cad. sir!"
he Kissed. "You confounded cad Take that"
he said, striking Mannering across the cheek
with his riding crop. And that! And that"
Whereupon Basil Wentworth released Man
nering and turned on his heel. His honor
satisfied. He had thraShed Mannering on the
mans own club steps, leaving marks on his
face that he would carry for the rest of his life.
DODNEY SCOVILLE BETTERS put down his
pen and stretched nightly. He was tired
after working his novel all the evening.
Whisky and soda stood on side table in his
den He mixed drink and filled and lighted
pipe; then gathering up the sheets of manu-
script from his desk, he sat down In vast
leather chair beside reading lamp and began
to peruse what he had written Here and there
he made alterations Finally, he put down the
last page and gave himself up to smoking
meditativeIy. Yes, the novel was coming along
nicely. Three weeks and it ought to be
finished The thought that his books always
got into the best-Seller class was extremely COM
forting. Then, too, there would be a tidy
check for the movie rights The part of Isabel
Wentworth ideal for Gloria Swanson. AS
soon as he got this job off his chest he'd take
his wifehe adored her-and push off to the
south of France for a couple of months.