Evening star., 1932-09-05
The Runaway Wife
By VERNE CONNELLY

about 10. Marcia, and If any one calls
before you leave, please tell them, will
you?"
Meaning Martin. suppose?"
"Yes. I am going to dinner with
Warren HILL
"Oh, listen, Jean-you know I am
going up to mothers tomorrow-the
train leaves at 2, so you better waken
me when you leave in the morning If
there's anything you want to talk over
before I CO."
IAN right, will-rd forgotten you
were going away"
Warren called for her. That's my
girl again!" he exclaimed when he saw
her, and pumped her arms up and
down vigorously, until she demanded
he stop. George. you're lovely-say.
it's worth q thousand dollars to see
you looking like that. And now I want
to see that little paper you brought
back from Reno, young lady-Tm going
to run away with you any minute and
want to be on the safe side"
ut might be legal, Warren, but 1t
wouldn't be safe to run away with me.
How far is this place we're going to?
I've got to be back by 10 o'clock"
What, another date?"
to see Martin she could not bear to
stay away all evening. for he might
call and she would noS be there.
Couldn't you have given me one
complete EVENING"" he asked in an ag-
grieved voice.
I'm going to be here a long time
and theren be lots Of evenings beside
this one"
why didn't you use that argument
on the other fellow?"
"If you are going to make fuss III
| forget the other engagement"
MY dear, tantalizing, beautiful girl,
I'll return you at the stroke Of 10 and
you can continue on your heartbreak-
ing way"
Marcia.
"She is going up to her mothers
tomorrow. Warren, why don't you fall
in love with Marcia-she'd be grand
for you?"
would she? Well, let me see
Marcia has red hair and you have
mop of silky black that crinkles up in
loose waves and breaks out in ringlets
at the right places. Marcia has cold
blue eyes that look right through you
and sees all the sore spots inside your
soul. You have big, liquid, dark gray
pools that are mysterious, like time.
yet compassionate as age un-
derstanding. Marcia has an abrupt, in
dependent manner. You are woman In
all her glory, faminine. desirable :"
"Stop!" Jean laid compelling fingers
on his lips. Aubrey has been in
f1uencing you with his poetry. I ap-
preciate the compliment, however, but
deplore your characterization OF my
best friend She has more real worth
in one little finger than I have in all
my body, and she is the kindest soul
on earth"
'All you say may be true. But you
are the girl man can visualize In
his home. Jean do you know
that life doesn't mean darned thing
to me unless can have you?"
T can't tell you how sorry am,
Warren. like you so immensely
I'm not giving you up. understand.
I'll wait fate may yet be kind.
If love can inspire love, then I know
I'll win.
Here we are-doesn't that look invit-
ing? hear they are going to keep It
open all Winter-a nice rendezvous, isn't
"Oh, yes. Can we go up there on the
balcony? It ought to give us a gorgeous
view of the sunset. It's closed. so it
won't be too cold"
Anything to please you, dear. They
dance downstairs"
They were given a table that over
looked a sweep Of terraced lawn, and
carried their gaze out to sea. 1t was
sunset and the sky blazed in final
burst of crimson before it slid away.
Jean gave little sigh of delight. Then
it seemed that the world was snatched
from under her feet and whirled about
her head in a fantasy Of faces and
sounds Martin sat few tables away
with Lillian Walker.
As soon as he caught Jeans eye. he
excused himself to Lillian and came
over to speak to Jean.
I'm glad to see you," he said. ex-
tending his hand. You're looking
great. How are you, HIP"
Jean forced a smile 1T Is nice to
be back" she said. Have you had Q
good Summer"
Pretty good. A yacht trip and the
mountains for couple weeks. You
remember Lillian?"
Jean looked across at the other girl
and nodded. Lillian returned the greet
ing coolly.
"I'H see you in the morning." Mar
tain said. IT meant to get In today,
but the weather has been so fine, still
have the country place open, so don't
come up to town often"
When he had gone back to his table,
Warren said: II read in one Of the gos-
sip columns that those two are about
to announce their engagement"
did you?"
"Tell me about Reno? Is 1t as wild
as it's supposed to be?"
That's a matter of opinion, guess.
II you have wild ideas, it's tame. II
you have tame ideas, it's Wild
Il could have read that In the news
papers"
I'VE really didn't do anything excit-
ing all the time we were out there.
You've been to see Aubrey, he tells me.
lot"
Eyes, I've enjoyed amusing the kid
have taken him driving a few times.
Did he show you his poems? He's classi-
flying them and arranging them for
book publication. told him I'd find
him book publisher"
I'm little sorry-I don't want to
see him disappointed"
Il won't fail him. I'll get the book
published If have to pay for it my
self"
You have heart of gold. Warren"
"It is all yours"
There was no need for Jean to hurry
home now, and as she knew 1t would
make Warren happy, she told. him not
to bother to get her home at lot
didn't really matter after all. He
shrewdly guessed the reason, and was
glad that they had encountered Webster
with this other girl. He still did not
give Martin credit for being sincere
about Jean, still believed that he was
merely playing about bit out Of his
.class.
| (To Be Continued)