Evening star., 1931-12-13

II TO me L0e 1rSC Time L IdQ dinner at
the Soundview Golf Club, and I was
n at once enchanted by her appearance.
y ] watched from distance almost as
fascinated were the two men who
sat with her at the little table under the oak
tree. 1t was easy enough to see that both OF
them were in love with her Once she leaned
over and touched the sleeve of the one op-
poste her as she made some remark He look
ed down at the jewels on her fingers and moved
his arm away so slowly that the gesture seemed
scarcely noticeable had there not been a sug
gestion of furtiveness about it. Glancing up,
he met the other mans direct look Their
eyes narrowed slightly, The situation was cleo
tric. I turned to my companion.
Exactly who is she?" wanted to know.
"Wen" Norman Strain replied "she is Kath-
arine Millard, herself, that's all, and the most
charming woman at Great Neck"
''Miss-or Mrs.?" persisted. Don't be a
dumbhead Norm. I want to know all about
her"
Mrs, of course" returned Norman. Patricia
Kelly, you don't suppose woman as fascinat-
ing she is could possibly attain the age of
80 without having been nabbed by somebody,
dc you? She is widow now, however. Jack
Millard was thrown from his polo pony three
years ago and instantly killed, leaving her with
house, remarkable collection of jewels-and
very little money"
"She is wearing remarkable collection right
now" laughed. Regard those flexible dia-
mond bracelets on her left wrist and the emer-
ald-cut whale of diamond on her fourth
fingerl Ye gods, it must weigh at least IL
carats."
Undoubtedly" agreed Norman. And she'll
probably have to sell 1t next week for third
of its value in order to pay her household
penses. All jewels and no cash, poor darling
She ought to marry some nice fellow"
Whats the matter with either Of the two
she Is with2" demanded Both look like nice
fellows-and heaven knows they interested
enough"
Interested enough" Norman repeated. Cad,
yes! Brothers, you know. Therein lies the
tragedy. George and Peter Elkins have been
mad about her for the past year and ready to
go to any length to get her-but that very COL
lection of jewels scares them off. They don't
know that it is all Katharine has She adores
both-not sure which she prefers, and that
doesn't help the strained feeling between the
two brothers. George probably figures that his
$4,000 year is not enough to ask a woman
who has that much money represented on one
OF her fingers to marry him. Peter, it seems,
has had the offer OF an excellent position some
where in South America, but he still stays on.
Things won't continue they are now very
long Something must break soon"
I AFTER that same evening some one intro
l. duced me 10 Mrs. Mllard and learned
that she was spending the Summer with the
Nortons al Great Neck. few days later we
met again at lunch at Piping Rock, and as the
weeks wore we got to be very good friends
Tt was during the latter part of August
that we were compelled to spend the night at
Katharine's house on Sixtieth street We had
gone to a new play. 1t seemed that George
Elkins had bought the tickets sometime before,
but had been called out of town and I was
asked to 60 in his place. We were caught in
q storm. A washout had stopped all trains
Katharines town house had been closed since
the first of June and she hadn't gone near it.
"But the beds are made up" she explained
"and I'll get the key from the Elkins, who live
next door"
So half past IL found us, damp and bedrag-
gled, ON the Elkins stoop. There light In
their hall and we felt 1t no imposition to ring
the doorben. Mr. and Mrs. Elkins, Miss Ar
buckle, an elderly maiden cousin, and Peter
E1kins were bending over the bridge table in
the drawing room. Mr.. Elkins, distinguished
looking, white-haired man of IS, and Peter rose
to greet us. Katharine gave both men a be-
witching smile. ] doubted at that moment
whether the absent brother George stood first
in Katharine's heart. Perhaps Peter realized it,
too, or had suspected it for some time His
smile seemed to have strange, wistfuI quality
They implored us to stay all night with them
but Katharine refused.
But won't you be afraid to spend the nipht
In that big house?" asked Miss Arbuckle mo
servants, nobody to protect you Why Mrs
Millard you haven't even been near the place
for two months"
mo- Miss Jennie, haven't" laughed Katha-
rine, "but neither has any one else for that
matter. ATM sure that no burglar could pos
sibly wish to bother such dreary old house"
"I'n go over with you and see you safely in"
volunteered Peter. Once again studied with
keen glance this brother of George Elkins He
was tall and thin, like George. In his eyes
there was alteration and A. certain aaripo rack.