Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-11-12

Published by Special. Arrangement With tn
Chicago Tribune Syndicate
(Copyright; 1891; BY Robert McBlair,
IN THREE PARTS-PART THREE
She took his arm down the wild
stone steps and along the graveled wall
toward the water. A pallid blur allow
the farther horizon was all that re
NAMED of the day. On the dull waite,
the boats were dim and unearthly, theil
riding lights making jagged scars. H,
didn't speak for some while after the,
had spread a coat on the stone bench
for her. The tip of a yellow 400 rost
over the trees and illumined the par
in the exact center of Reggie's hair
The whole thing was like a stage set
and when she felt his soft, warm hanc
on her cold knuckles she had a small
desire to laugh.
Betty he said. II want you I've
got to have you. What are We going tc
do about it?"
Well. l am married-so far" she
answered.
THAT can be fixed up" he said
moving nearer And 1 can wait. I'll
wait ten years for you, Betty, if you
tell me to-"
His arm was around her and he was
drawing her to him. She thought:
well, this is the next step, but why
can't it seem real? Here's Reggie, I've
been crazy about for years, and here's
the moon and the moment. I wonder if
anything will ever seem real again?
It's as if I'm a ghost. too
She let herself be moved into his
arms while she was thinking: Just
about now that girl and Bill will be out
somewhere. Will she have this unreal
sensation? Bill is so impetuous, like
a child, getting himself into things and
then failing around trying to get out.
She'll make him promise to marry her
tonight. I wonder how she will feel
when he puts his arms around her?"
She closed her eyes upon the moon,
wondering how it would feel to be that
girl while Bill folded her in his arms
like this; how it would feel to be kissed
as Bill would kiss her.
She was aroused by the touch of
Reggie's lips and the bristly pressure
Of his mustache. She tried to move
away, but he held her; she tried to
speak, but his mouth was hard on hers.
A wav of panic went through her;
she struggled and with all her strength
wrenched free. She found herself stand
ing on the graveled walk, painting, while
Reggie, a plump, black figure, sat with
his mouth open, his dark eyes aston
ished.
Reggie" she said between breaths.
Reggie, it's all right. 1t isn't your fault.
l think you're a peach, butt can't ex-
plain it.. I mean, I've just suddenly
reallzed-I've got to get hold of Bill.
I've got to keep him out of some
trouble he's getting into if I'm not too
late. Will you be good to me, Reggie,
and take me to the house so l can send
a telegram at once? And I want to take
the first train to the city. I'll leave my
things here, except a handbag"
AS they hurried silently to the house,
however. she realized that she hadn't
told him the exact truth. The truth was
that Reggie was real enough when she
love; he was real as long as he "a a
ghost. But, like the eerie pattern on her
wall at home, his fascination vanished
upon closer acquaintance. And the
truth was, she knew now, that unless
she had Bill and held him, nothing
else would ever matter to her. She left
Reggie behind as she flew up the wide
stone steps and, in the telephone room,
sent off her wire.
tCar,a ~ o,,na f0 tho n ro VIZ oorf Co
rious."
Twenty minutes later she was whirl-
ing to the station with a silent Reggie
driving beside her.
II think / understand" he said when
he told her goodbye. you know, when
you love a person, you see things. But,
remember, If it doesn't work out, and
you tell me to wait.
She saw that he wanted her to kiss
him goodbye. but she simply couldn't
do it. IF it doesn't work out!" 1t &C.
CURED to her suddenly as she took her
seat in the train that Bill probably
wouldn't come this time at all. That
girl was there to work on him, interpret
things for him. That girl would know
that she was trying to get him back!
And, anyhow, it was probably too late.
If he was coming, he could get home
before she could; he would be there
when she arrived. But he wasn't COM
ing. 1t was even possible that he had
hurt himself, that the airplane had
crashed; and if he had, he wouldn't
send for her; not with that girl there.
The train moved SO slowly that she
wanted to get out and run. 1t finally
got in, though, after she had chewed
a hole in the finger of one glove. She
took a taxi, and from the street in
front of their apartment looked up.
There was no light in their windows.
She entered their dark apartment and
switched on the lights. Everything re-.
manned as they had left it, am
wasn't there. For a moment she thought
of going out to where he was spending
the weekend-with some cousins of the
girls; but the picture Of the expression
that would come on that girls face put
an end to this.
She walked into her bedroom, which
had been their bedroom, and took off
her hat. The small figure with tumbled
chestnut hair in the dressing table mir
ror did not look strange to her now.
Those deep blue eyes, with that terror
stricken edge of white, we're indubit-