Evening star., 1932-07-21

ference If he came back with a ticket
she would refuse TO dance with him.
Refusal was against the rules. She
would lose Lees job. What diff
ference? 1t was lost, anyhow. There
would be stories in the papers, pictures.
Tom Stewart would know she was
a liar, a cheat person wives attacked
publicly in the night clubs.
Tony turned wearily into the street
of the drab house. 1t had been the
busiest day she had ever known since
she went TO the Modern Galleries. Not
a minute for reflection. for plans for
nursing the bruise that chafed and
rubbed raw with every turn of her flee
ing consciousness,
II only she had listened to her own
better Judgment If she had shut her
ears agslnSt Lees insistence that she
owed something to friendship for what
Ii afforded her If she had stood firm
and remained in the third floor back
instead Of going on that party with Mr.
Leonard and Donald Kemp She had
known that Tom Stewart would come
for her that night. come asking for Lee
and seeking her Tony. Had she fed
from that guilty knowledge? If SO, she
was paying dearly fer her guile. her
cOWardice. One could run from truth,
but one could never outdistance truth.
For while guile might seem to win
the race. In the end, truth would forge
ahead, upset all ones cleverly laid
schemes and graceful intentions. Upset
them when it was too late to do any,
thing about claiming the stake, happi-
ness.
1t was fantastic to think that she, Tony,
cared deeply about Tom Stewart. Fam
tastic, but true. How could she con-
q hin =
happened? She couldn't. 1t would be
Jolly to try. And if, by some queer
k1nk in the cable of truth she had mis-
interpreted the message in Toms eyes,
ne would regard her as a sentimental
idiot. She must hold her tongue. Try
to extricate herself and Lee from this
SrnHchlng tangle into which they had
oeen preclpltated
Lee was munching chocolates. pacing
the floor with Tapping black satin
mules when Tony came in.
donald Kemp is on his way hither"
Lee greeted. I phoned him-you left
MS number on the table. He saws not
to see any cne or answer any questions
until ne gets here. He says just to go
on rs II nothing had happened and if
that El Tango detective CT any one else
shows up, be deaf and dumb
Do you think we should have done
IL drawn Mr.. Kemp into it. I
mean"
L don't think anything else" Lee
asserted. squashing a chocolate be-
tween nervous teeth. He was among
those present, wasn't he? Maybe he's
got wife, too, for all we know. Mavbe
he wouldn't like it spread on the front
page that Mr.. Donald Kemp was out
taking in the town with a couple of
beautiful dolls who had nothing better
to do. Well. here's his chance TO save
the old homestead He seemed willing
enough. Said he'd catch the first
train"
Then he should be here tomorrow
morning" 1t was a relief to know
Donald Kemp would implant his domi-
nance between them and the disaster
that must surely oVertake them and
shame them until it was too late for
truth to matter. Had Lee, with her
native shrewdness for design, hit upon
the truth? Was Donald Kemp trying
to save his own face, as well as the
faces of his casual companions? Some
how the possibility that Kemp was
married had not occurred to Tony. He
seemed free spirit. Free to confer
her favor where he would. without
dalliance, without reservation.
(To Be Continued