Evening star., 1932-05-01
TANGLED LIVES
CHAPTER XVIII.
By ANN FORESTER
Author Of Spite Wife. "
THE SHOWDOWN


Joyce stared at JEFF Therruld,
the color slowly seeping from her
~ But the shock of his words
brought Joyce back to her senses.
Nothing was to be gained by flying into
a panic. -. She would have to out
wit him.
She swallowed. why E. are you
doing this?"
The mans heavy face lighted with
approval. That's better. Going to be
sensible, aren't you? Going to talk
common sense?"
His eyes we're caressing her Joyce
had seen that look in mems eyes be-
fore. In Normans eyes. All, but
this man was different.
"Yes I-Ill talk common sense"
Good girl. Sit down"
Joyce slipped down upon a chair.
The man looked at her and his gaze
Softened.
You're a beautiful kid. If you
weren't 1 wouldn't have fooled along
this last month. 1 don't have to. :.
But there's something different about
you and 1 was willing to humor you.
But man gets tired of stalling, Joyce.
I'm talking plain"
She nodded. She had dropped her
eyes so that he could not read the sick
fright in them. The lashes lay dark
and feathery against her cheeks. He
took in the cleaning, bent head and
Therruld'S lower lip came out re-
fiectively. A lovely thing worth
humoring. But there was a limit. .
Crazy about you, he said be-
tween his teeth. THE first time 1 saw
you l made up my mind-well; saw
that you were looked after, didn't ~"
Wide violet eyes flashing to his face.
"You ... Why, it was Nadine"
Therruld's lip curled in derision.
'Use your head, Joyce. Who do you
suppose put Nadine up to it? That
tramp? Why, Madness so stingy she
wouldn't help her own grandmother
out! She hates the ground you walk
on. Jealous of you-and she has cause.
You've got her licked and she knows
it. But have Nadine and Len Bates
where want them. I hold them here"
He stretched out one huge hand and
slowly clenched it. The watching girl
shivered.
"You mean-that was only "a stall
about finding me work with that
woman as a model?"
Certainly. But don't let that bother
you You don't have to work any more
than Nadine does. Not so much, per-
Bates. And you're prettier than Ma
dine"
And it was you-all the time-that
time she Sprained her ankle?"
Jeff Therruld laughed and the sound
grated on the girl. She's a resource
full devil. I'll have to hand that to
her! I didn't know how l was to get
to know you-you cold. reserved little
iceberg"
Therruld bent his head so close to
her own that Joyce could feel his hot
breath on her cheek. It's me you
have to thank for looking after you-
right from the first. Even that dress
you have on now-Ive wanted to see
you in white satin ever since that first
night on the train. You're a beauty,
honey.
This dress! No wonder it had fitted
so PERFECTLY The cleaning satin sud-
denly burned like Hercules poisoned
shirt
II fell for you hard" Therruld went
on. Joyce knew he was looking at her
and she did not dare lift her head.
You were different from Nadine
didn't know any other way to work it.
There was no time-I was afraid you'd
get away when We reached the city. So
I put Nadine up to scraping acquaint-
ance with you. She took the idea and
sewed frills on it. She went to the bat
for me. Shed better-I have her and
Len just where I want them. -
At the menace in his tone the girl
shivered.
Il wanted you to get taste of good
living" Therruld went on. II can give
you pretty things-a better apartment
than Nadine. You'll have more liberty,
too. I'm free and Lens afraid his wife
will get On"
Sick self-contempt even under the
had felt there was something wrong
and she should have left Madness
apartment long ago! She gripped her
hands hard Be cautious. She was
IN trap. A sudden wrong move might
spring it,
She looked up. Forced her lips to
smile. We'll, so it's you who has
been $3.50 good to me? That
that sort of makes things look different,
doesn't it? d.. ="
Deep in his throat Therruld laughed
and drew Joyce in his arms.
No use struggling! that warning in
ner voice was saying. Relax! Lay pas
sive, while he kissed her mouth, her
Lair, her closed eyes. =. Pretend it
was only dream. &. A slow shudder
passed over her from head to foot.
Joyce withdrew gently from Their
ruld's embrace-holding him off with a
slender arm braced against his chest
Smiled.
You take my breath away! And
look-my hair-all down! You've made
me look like fright! No-please-let
me go and fix it!''
IN go with you"
Something wild leaping in her breast.
"NoI" Then frightened at the sharp