Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-25

own personal problem.
AS they turned into her street she
glanced apprehensiyely toward her
house. It was in darkness. Her father
was not waiting up for her. after ell.
Either he had taken 1t for granted that
she was with Neil or he had decided
1t was better to let her have her head.
The former conclusion was more likely
She stood for moment at the bot
tom OF the stone steps, while Kenneth
pressed her hand.
III be seeing you Soon," he said.
II was more question than q state
ment.
oh. yes" she said decisively. 'I like
your friends so much"
And me?" He fingered, drawing her
close, trying to read the answer in her
eyes, Swallowed by the night.
And your She returned the pres
sure of his hand. She did like Ken.
Perhaps she more than liked him. Per-
hapS this was love. or the beginning OF
1t. There was something romantic
about him-inSpiring The little fiery
tongues OF his intellect, darting out un-
expectedly, were a constant surprise and
delight. 1t was JOY to walk with him
into the paths where thought lurked
He was such an ardent comrade,
Good night. Kit-dear" He pulled
himself away with an effort and went
whistling down the street.
Cathleen ran up the steps and turned
the brass knob of the door cautiously.
Just as cautiously she pushed 1t inward.
But the door did not yield Now she
put the weight Of her body against il.
Had the latch stuck? She turned the
knob again and put her shoulder TO
a nj
bulge.
She must ring the bell Perhaps her
mother or Danny would hear It and let
her in. She never carried key Night
keys were for the men of the Carroll
house, not for its women Thank
heaven her father was a sound sleeper.
Cathleen's finger was on the button
OF the bell when she suddenly drew It
back and her hand dropped to her side.
In that instant realization stopped her.
Her father had locked her out. So that
she must ring the bell. So that he could
come down and confound her. There
would be scene, high temper, scath-
ing words, perhaps even physical VIC.
lence. He would extract promises from
her as penalty for her disobedience--
promises she could not, would not keep
She tried the door once more to make
sure she had not been mistaken. No,
the door was bolted.
What shall 1 do? What shall I do?"
The question kept racing through her
head as she crouched against the door.
Then. all at once. she knew she was not
going to ring the bell. The price Of
admission was more than she would
pay.
"Ill run and catch up with Ken"
she decided, and flew down the street.
III tell him what's happened. His
mother will take me in"
But at the corner Cathleen stopped
No! She would not go to Kenneth Hall.
She would not let him know her father
had locked her out. They had spent
such a happy evening together. That
1t should end like this!
She might try the homes Of any Of
dozen girls she knew. There was Ellen
Nolan. whose mother was her mothers
best friend
NO" she said aloud. mot Ellen.
Mrs. Nolan's tongue wags faster than a
clock ticks. Shed have 1t all over the
neighborhood tomorrow Dan Carroll
locked Cathleen out
No, she couldn't go to the Nolans
She couldn't go anywhere, to face
curious. suspicious eyes. And she hadn't
a cent of money. Even If she had, could
she walk into a hotel at this hour
without a hat, in a tennis dress and
sport shoes-and ask for a room? Shed
have to walk until morning.
Or-the bench in Washington Square
The one she and Kenneth had pulled
behind the shrubbery so that they
would be undisturbed when they read
would go there. The bench was fairly
we'll hidden.
Cathleen scudded along like q scared
shadow and slipped into Washington
Square Park Blessed old bench! She
sat down and looked about her. The
park was empty.
It was chilly at this hour in the
morning. A heavy dew had fallen. She
felt damp and cold. Now and then
some one hurried through the park. An
occasional car Numbered by One was
coming now. She could hear the motor,
its throb getting louder.
The car turned into the street close
to where she was hidden. A long,
cream colored roadster with the gleam
of metal. Neil Neilsoni And there was
a girl with him
AS his car drew nearer she saw a
man step out Of the bushes nearby and
raise his arms His head was inclined
forward. He extended his left arm,
holding his right arm close against his
body He was taking aim at something.
AT the car!
A guni The man had a gun Cath
leen tried to scream. She could not.
Her throat was CONSTRUCTED so that she
could do no more than gasp. The man
moved forward a step. Now he was BE-
tween her and the street light. She
could see him plainly. He was not
holding gun, but something -forked.
A sling-shotl
She heard faint twang, the shatter-
ing Of glass. The car swerved. then
shot forward to disappear under the
Washington Arch.
Cathleen sat very still. The man was
there. close by, hiding now in the
bushes. She heard footsteps on the
walk, coming in her direction. A sec
ond man. passing under the light. He
turned his head. She could see his
face. 1t was Joe Nelson, Neil's father!
Now he slowed his steps, peered at
the spot from which the man with the
sling-shot had emerged. When he was
opposite the clump of bushes, the man
stepped out and approached him.
You're sure you didn't hit the boy?"
she heard Joe Nelson ask anxiously.
mot a chance" the man said. 1T
couldn't do more than ping the wind
shield"
You beat it to Jersey and stay there
till I send for you." Nelson growled
He hurried on and disappeared into
Fourth street. The man with the sling
shot slouched out of sight.
Cathleen's teeth were chattering
Why hadn't she rung the bell at home
faced her father, had it out with him?
Had she gone mad? Was she really here.
hiding in the park? Or was she asleep?
Was this bench. the man with the SLIM
I-@< An-I@A