Evening star., 1931-12-31

! excused. to chat with some man in the
| observation car. Judy. duled by weariness
falls asleep She awakes at 2:3O am. tC
find Stan has not returned.
CHAPTER Nv.
w YHAT did she know about Stan
n after all? The question
wv seemed blazing at Judy in
letters of fire out of the
rocking blackness of the
train drawing room.
After all. how much did she know
about this handsome stranger whom
she had married?
Phil Davis. alone of all Summerf1eld,
had met Stan Carter before Phil had
known Stan at college. Phil said they
had nicknamed Stan The Duke at
the university because of his lofty
ways.
Judy'S mind skinned back over the
meager information she possessed.
Stan was the Youngest son Of a wealthy
Californian family. He had told her a
little about his relativeS-but very
little. His father was dead, she knew,
Stan lived with his widowed mother
and two sisters There was an old
grandmother - his fathers mother
There was a half brother too, the son of
STAINS father by former marriage.
Stan spoke of him as Nick" and from
the way he spoke, Judy knew that Stan
did not like him. They lived together
in big house in Lockwood, suburb
of San Francisco.
This much she knew: but what, after
all did she know of Stan himself?
What thoughts went on in that hand
some. narrow head? Over what was he
brooding when his dark eyes were so
i e. n mn
hours he had left her here by herself,
frightened lonely Why would a man
leave his bride alone like this, on their
wedding night?
Doubts, anger. fear beating down on
her like mighty wings in the dark,
smothering her Her heart leaped and
hammered painfully as the door OF
compartment opened. A hand switched
on the light. Stan closed the door and
stood there steadying himself against
the swaying of the train.
A tense moment when the wide eyes
of the girl fastened fearfully upon him.
STAINS face was chalky and his eyes
we're pools of black ink. There was a
little spargle of moisture on his fore
head Judy knew that he was quite
drunk
He stepped to the side of her berth
and stood, supporting himself by the
curtains.
stan! Where have you been! Why
did you stay away so long? was
frightened"
He gave no sign Of having heard her.
His eyes were fastened on her with the
fixed expression of a sleep-walker. and
there was a strange faint smile etcheo
about his mouth.
,Y-ifo
The girl gasped as his hand went out
toward her, but he only grasped her
chin and shook her head gently to and
fro while he spoke softly, bitter little
mocking note in his voice.
My wife. Little Judy. Pretty little
Judy"
She had thrust his hand away. She
was scrambling from the berth. Stan!
What do you mean! Why are you act
ing like this!"
Pretty little Judy :"
She tried to get by him and reach
the door. His arm went around her,
and to Judy, faint with terror, it was
like an. iron bar, holding her TO his
tall body.
Don't try to get away. You're mine;
NV wife. Pretty Judy, my vile.
"Stan-Stan dear, let's not stand talk
ing like this" Judy forced herself to
speak in a low controlled tone. Stan
was drunk She mustn't agitate him.
He was likely to go into one Of his
black moods. No telling what he might
do. A scene-there mustn't be scene.
Oh. for both their sakes, there mustn't
be a scene!
Lie down, dear. You dont-you
don't seem we'll Please, dear. Please
- coaxing him, as though she spoke
to a child. Smothering the cold fear
and the hot anger in her own heart.
No time to upbraid him. Use her
head. Mustn't be a scene. . .
Still he held her crushed against him.
Their reflected figures showed In the
long mirror. close in ironic embrace.
STAINS black head bent over her own
upstrained face Stan-looking down
with that queer smile.
You're a sweet wench, Judy. A
sweet wench to appear to a man in
hell"
Silence. filled only with the cresking
of the train rushing into the night
while this strange drama was being
played without an audience.
The girl spoke first. Blue eyes firmly
meeting the moody black ones. "A man
in hell. 1 DON'T don't under
SIduO. "lly5 SIoll' Hic JOH Al AiSAA'
Why?"
Her words seemed to reach him. She
senSed that he grew remote. That he
was Withdrawing into himself, His eyes
grew cunning A small muscle twitched
in his cheek as though he set his
teeth.
why Stan? Tell me what you
meant?"
Pretty Judy" He put up his free
hand and taking her chin shook her
gently" You love me. Don't you?
Say it. Tell me you love me-"
"Stan-plesse-"
DO you know what I'd do If you
ever didn't love me, Judy? Do you
know what I'd do? I'd twist that pretty
head right off, sweetheart. Because
you're my wife I wouldn't let you
make a fool out Of me. Remember
that, Judy. I won't let woman make
fool out Of me! Nobody's going to
laugh at me- I'm that way, Judy. I
can't stand having people laugh at me:
But you wouldn't try to make fool
Of me-you love me, don't you, Judy?
Tell me- 1 want to hear you say 1t.
Judy felt her frightened heart Shak-
ing her body. needle Of fear piercing
her brain-fear and a sharp dlsmay.
This wasn't real - this unbelievable
scene. This was some dreadful scene
from which she would wake. This
wasn't Stan. the ardent lover who had
swept her off her feet with his i'm
petuous lovemaking Stan, for whom
she had left all her known world. A
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