Montgomery County sentinel., 1931-05-08
Joan Finally
Changed Her Mind
BY RUBY GRUBER
tCel 1891. Mcclure Ncwspansr sVndirate.l
INNI' ,spTvtCp


tWNI' serviceh
Joan slid her high gearcd sports
- roadster into motion, and swinging
out into the fast moving traffic up
Michigan boulevard, gave vent to her
enraged feelings by passing car after
car.
The beauty of Lake Michigan 50
lazily tapping the shore, the bright
bathing suits dotting the beach, passed
unseen by Joan A secluded driveway
farther up the lake brought only pain
full memories. she turned her pretty
head as she neared the shady lane,
her chin sci In determination not to
give way to tears He had parked
there one afternoon told her OF his
ambitions, and he also told her che
was the most beautiful girl he had
ever met
Jack Brandon had seemed 50 nice.
II was true she had only known him
a week, but Joan was beginning to
think about the tall good-looblng Jack
far more than she had ever thought
about any one else. He worked in the
law office of the district attorney and
was rich in his own right. Not that II
made any difference to John lie had
seemed 50 eager, so refreshing, and so
real compared with the shallow social
men in her own crowd He had
rushed her at breath-taking speed
with phone calls, flowers, a show and
dinner. Then the luncheon for today
was his suggestion, as they sat I'm the
soft moonlight Of the Country club
last night. Joan had arrived on the
exact minute, happily anxious to see
this man who had crept into her
heart.
But Jack did not come
Joan waited fully thirty minutes,
seated at the little table cOzlly hidden
away from the world by two huge
palms. They had dlned there once
before-it seemed ages ago, bnt In
reality it was only last Monday. He
had held her hand and gazed into her
eyes. then shyly raised her white
palm to his lips and kissed 1t almost
reverently. Today he had not
even come TO meet her
Joan's eyes filled with tears as she
allowed her troubled thoughts TO
vision again the picture she saw as
she came out OF the tearoom, Jack
was getting Into yellow cab with n
girl
Almost numbed with surprise Joan
got into her car As she now swung
the car into the driveway Of her home
she hoped that her mothers bridge
party had not yet begun Joan fel,
very much like crying, and wanted to
get to her ow room. But luck was
against her, the bridge party was he
ginning
She stood In the hall The wide
archway TO her right showed the bridge
tables surrounded by well-grOemed
weil-fed. happy matr0ns Her tall.
stately mother moved gracefully from
one table TO another.
"Perliins," Joan called softly to
the butler.
ayes, Miss" the submissive Perkins
answered
"Any phone calls for mei" she
asked anxiously.
"Not any, Miss" Perkins answered
Thanks" she started up the stairs
Her one hope had been thnt Jack
might have 'phoned at the last mo
ment The young girl might have been
his sister. or some relative.
She would call his office. Softly she
tlptocd down the stairs to the tcle-
phone and gave the operator the
number
"Wlll you connect me with Mr.
BrandOns office, please" she askej
the girl who answered
"AIr Brandon Is out for the after
noon. DO you wish to leave mes
sage?"
"No. thanks, no message Joan
hung up the receiver.
Now, to get to her rOOml She could
not bear the thought of going In
among all those chattering woman As
she galned the foot Of the stairs her
mother came through the doorway
"Joan, am 20 glad you came Mrs.
Grnnfred telephoned at the Iasl min
ute. The baby is feverlsb and she
hated to leave him alone With the
nurse. You must 6ll IN"
"Yes, mother" Joan answered
After all, what did II matter what she
did? Playing bridge would keep her
occupied. and she could have that cry
later.
The afternoon passed slowly TO the
girl. But, as all things will do. the
bridge party finally ended.
After the last Of the guests were
gone, Joan went 10 her room.
"Marie--l will not be nj home 10
Mr. Jack Brandon nj any time" JOnn
spoke TO the maid "You will please
tell Perkins"
ayes. Miss JOan,' the maid an
swered "'rbeso flowers came right
after you left for town, ind laid the
note on your desk" The maid turned
to the large bunch Of roses crowded
together In n wide vase
"They nre lovely Joan PM hoT
face against the fragrant petals
Then she picked up the note
Joan dear:
Sorry cannot meet you bul We
lust located witness 10 the ruyl0r
murder am taking her over to the
inil. TO look over few suspects W.
have under lock and key Know you
will understand and soc mo tonight
All my love,
Jack"