Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-26

, him. honey-and II you do, don't you
care. He didn't see you that night"
Perhaps not. But I spoke TO him IN
English"
what did you say?"
II don't know. I just remember hear
ing my voice-and striking him.
Molly was silent q moment, then she
matted ,JuanitaS hand. Its all right.
He was drunk. He won't remember.
Anyhow, II you meet him, face him
don't run"
The marquesa found the cigar she
had selected at supper and began to
smoke.
"Helrs bells!" yelled Molly. cant
you find some asafetida?"
The marquesa got into bed and drew
the curtains.
Get into bed" Molly said to Juanita,
and opened the window, letting in the
droWSy dawn-rattle of Royal street.
Juanita smiled up at her Sleepily from
tumble of dark hair.
Poor kidd" though Molly, putting
out the light, closing the door softly.
"She's not much younger than me, but
she seems like kid-my kind. Lord,
I'm gettin' SOFT
and she went home by way of the Tijon
patio and through the little gate.
Babreau in his short bed heard Molly
as she came through the gate. There
were few sounds these nights that Ga
breau did not hear. Many the draught
Of sedative had Conchita given Gabreau.
you got slip or you be seek. How
dis place gon' ex-eest eef Gabreau
seeck?"
But he KEGS her, mamanI He jerk
way de veil and he KEGS her mouth. 1t
49, Int Yfron rI1 lxnnc
-thoo de veil"
Conchita knew how keenly Gabreau
had watched at the gate hoping that
Ledbetter would come. Gabreau would
forbid his entrance as he had been in
structed, and Gabreau would do more
he would follow Ledbetter into the dark
street, and on some pretext-perhapS
with the hint of message from Juanita
would lure him into an alley and have
1t out with him.
But even Conchita believed that delay
would soften Gabreau's desire for VEN
geance. Even Conchita did not guess
that Juanita'S entrance into the world
under the wing of the marqueSa-for
what purpose he surmised all too accu-
rately-conjured up such visions of her
meetings with Ledbetter as tossed him
like driftwood.
He will see her close. He will mebbe
not know her. He mebbe will. Any
hows, he will love her. He will Spik
soft. He will give her mooch flowers
and presents. She will listen. oh,
Madre de Kion! Oh, purgatorio!"
Tonight Conchita. to soothe him, had
lighted the candles before the picture on
the imprDviSed altar. Her aging eyes
had not seen in the chrome the like
ness that had drawn Gabreau to buy it.
She OWNED that love had been in
measure to thank for the labor he had
spent in building the little stand had
felt that Juanita was the inspiration
but Gabreau was becoming more
plus. Gabreau indeed, was becoming
kinder. At first he had said often, II
am the blood of Napoleon" With this
he had justified whatever thing he
might do. He did not say this any
more-not since he had set the picture
on the stand behind the candles. He
had relinquiShed some thought that
went with that. Ay. thought Con-
chita, If only he would relinquish the
tossing agony that remained.
Tonight she had lighted the candles
and had fallen asleep. Gabreau had
lain still till he heard Molly come
through the gate. Then he went to
window, watching Molly cross the court
and close her door. Juanita was home
now. he knew-asleep in the great bed
in the room to which he had taken the
flowers. The fat woman with the big
earrings was sleeping beside her.
Gabreau went back to bed. When
Conchita woke at 7 to go to the kitchen
she found him sprawled asleep.
Gabreau awoke in a darkened room.
1t was his Office to wait table for Molly
and Divitt and to be on call for any