Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-01-08


a new light.
Mr.. Ross spoke Of shooting.
With a sudden release of his preten-
tious self, as If he had stepped away
from the footlights into the reality of
sunshine, Hartley told of his expert
ence that morning. Out of his dis
comfort and lack Of skill he spun an
extremely funny story.
Then, to purge his conscience. he
described the h~ardships Of living in a
tent at the ranch.
why. they had two empty cabins!'
Ross said. "Why did Corbin put you
in a tent?"
Because 1 told him I wanted 1t, for
one reason" He glanced at Peggy and
her blush confirmed everything he had
suspected.
Mrs. Ross quoted slyiy: ITO sleep
in the open-to catch a hsh for break
fast"
Hartley interrupted her with a laugh.
"A press agent can certainly build up
an absurd character for a man."
"Oh, all businesses advertise" said
Mr.. Ross, who in his quiet way was a
diplomat. Nov In mine, for in
stance :"
But even as he pretended to listen
to the anecdote which followed, Hartley
observed Peggy's expression of Devil
derment, her inability to taste the food
ON her plate, and finally the distress
in her honest brown eyes
When he had a chance he was ruth
less. He knew it was brutally quick,
but he also knew that in the end she
would be grateful to him. He adj
dressed her father, who alone at the
table understood, Hartley felt, the re-
nunciation implied In his confession.
But our kind Of advertising Is even
worse, sir. For we ourselves come to
believe it. Ever since Johnson's piece
appeared I've been trying to live up
to it-trying to be in character. All
that stuff about my love Of the simple
life was sheer bunk. Vet I've heard
myself uttering statements, to be con-
sistent with it, that I knew weren't
true. Why, it takes generations to pro-
duce the real outdoor man, like Corbin,
for instance. He belongs here. I don't.
My life-all my interests-are in the
theater. I could never be happy away
from it longer than a week"
And that" he ended, turning
abruptly to Peggy, sis the only sincere
thing I've said since I landed, six days
ago!"
The East Indian servant, in his
morning robe Of black silk, made nom
committal answe to Holmes inquiries
about his mistress.
Don't think missy in"
But where is she? I asked at the
studio and they said she was here"
Hartley pushed past him and strobe
down the tiled hall. GO and find out.
Lord, how cool and restful the Ii
brary seemed, with it's tier after tier
of books and its vases of fresh roses.
In a Venetian mirror he surveyed him
self, dressed once more in ordinary
clothes Of brown hon.espun- What
would MAZDA say to the extra pounds
he had gained-what would MAZDA
think OF the skin still peeling of his
nose?
After a few moments the mar re-
appeared and announced that missy
was in her room with her secretary.
He followed the tall, thin figure up the
stairs, but at the door of Njada's sit
ting 0 he was overcome by a parox-
ysm Of coughing.
S you've come home to die on my
doorstep" she called out. miss Kitch-
ell-the doorstep, please"
He perceived MAZDA reclining on a
chaise lounge near the window open
ing on to the balcony.
1t seemed as If he could not reach
her side quickly enough. He kissed
both of her slender white hands. "They
ought to be insured for half a mil
lion!" he declared.
Miss Kitchell gave him an approx
ing glance as she put the cover on the
typewriter. I'll finish these letters
in the other room" She closed the
door behind her.
Behind Njada,s small. sleek head
were countless little pillows of scarlet
and green and gold. Her gov was
Of cloth of silver, but, except for the
pleasure these details gave his esthetic
sense, he took nc notice of them. He
was looking into her eyes-the same
black fringed eyes of the little girl in
the o%rphanage. 1t was the essential,
Interchangeable MAZDA he loved.
WAS the girl a f1op?" Never before
had he heard this note of jealousy in
her voice.
His heart leaped with joy. Mo-
was the flop, darling. ! was a fool"
Il could have told you that and
saved you a long trip.
She vas laughing at him now She
understood him better than he under
stood himself-but he rejoiced in it.
With her there could never be any
posing-always he could be himself. He
felt like a tired child who has come
home after a long and arduous journey.
But he did not tell her that then.
Instead he said, II " knew how
beautiful you werel"
I'm not made up yet" Instinctively,
she put her hand up to her hair.
But he took 1t in both his. II wasn't
thinking of that kind of beauty,
MAZDA" He held her closely in his
arms, knowing he would never let her
go.
After he had convinced her of this
fact she said.
And I suppose from now on well
Aovrn ~ lnnA n rt~ov,lA 1tfN0h