The Washington times., 1931-01-15

about it, Tracy framed up the
whole story. He drove off
about a quarter mile or so,
waited, perhaps half an hour,
and returned"
But why-why should he tell
such a ridiculous story?" Connie
asked in amazement.
Duke Carson made no gesture
whatever; merely he looked at
her with a steady gaze.
your guess is as good as
mine. Anything is possible.
Who shall say what idiotic
motives stir a man when he is
in love?"
But he's not THAT much
in love with Kitty!" Connie
protested. Actually, I don't
think he is half as crazy about
her as she is about him. I
don't think, really, he is capable
of any such romantic urge as
to. fix up such a ridiculous story
just so he could spend the night
under the same roof with her.
That requires a certain amount
"a certain kind of imagination
It hat he doesn't h ave. I
simply don't know what to
think"
HE is capable of more than
you suspect?" Carson hazarded:
"You don't like him, do your"
"Why do you ask me that?"
''I don't know sort Of felt it."
"You can hardly expect me to
think we'll of a man who tried
to marry you until you found
out his character-and who
then Immediately turned to an
other girl-your sister-because,
as you imagine, he is attracted
by her money. I shouldn't
think you'd admire him a
great deal yourself"
Used to Him
"I don't admire him at all
but I suppose it's just that I'm
used to him." Connie said,
thoughtfully. After all, he is
agreeable and I did throw him
pretty hard. He's not bad, he's
weak
Like the champion who
could resist everything but
temptation, eh? Well, I know
a lot like him, and agreeable,
too, in their only several ways.
I'm glad you don't judge peo-
pie harshly. If you weren't
pretty liberal you couldn't
stand for me, you know"
Again something of the pre-
vious magnetism began to stir
itself up between them-but its
force had been lessened by the
return of Jim Tracy and his
startling story. Connie felt
that now she had better grip
on herself.
"We've strayed a long way
from our original purpose. I
wanted you to come up here
and help me about Kitty, and
so far as I can see she's headed
straight for marriage with. Jim
Tracy. What are we going to
do about it?"
He Begins to Realize
But Carson refused to talk
scornfully. What can I tell
you about other people when I
don't know what to do about
myself? If a man wants a
woman and a woman wants a
man, it's such a hideous thing
for anyone to stand between
them. That's a field I've never
gone into. You see, I have
a great deal of sympathy for
them both, because I'm begin
ming to understand something
of what they must feel"
His tone was almost mocking,
but Connie could not respond
in that vein. Whatever she felt
toward him-whether it was
love or fascination or magnetic
attraction, it had to be Seri-
Il don't like you so well
when you try to make jokes of
things" she told him.
Jokes? If you only knew
how far I was from joking!
Can't you see that I'm fright
ened to death?"
"Frightened?" her eyebrows
lifted. ,..
Eyes, frightened, terror
stricken, panicked. You have me
bluffed clean against the wall.
I'm afraid to death of you. I've
been sitting here hanging on,
hoping to get the nerve to tell
you how I feel you're so
lively so wonderful :"
His voice broke and stopped
with q heavy emotional silence,
as tense as the instant Of i'm
pending lightning
CONTINUED Tomorrow
Copyright, 1881, King Features
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