Evening star., 1932-09-14
INSTALLMENT XXI.

\dE next morning Jean o"OAe
Eeart. a sense Of further i'm
| pending tragedy. Then she re-
membered-Martin was Ill, per
haps dying. Quickly she was out Of
bed and opening the front door to get
the paper. First, with catch in her
throat she turned to the death page,
then more slowly with a sense OF
relief she began at the front page and
scanned the items until she found what
she sought on the fourth page.
She put the paper down, determined
to 20 and see Martin. He was gravely
ILL., She dressed very quietly SO as not
to waken young James nor Marcia, and
was out of the house before O'Clock.
She went to a restaurant for breakfast
and waited until decent hour for call
ing. She took cab to Martins home,
and dismissed 1t with a palpitating
heart and a surge Of fear that once
! again fate would strike at her. Then
she bravely rang the bell and waited
as composedly as she could until Ben
/ son answered He regarded her as
coldly as If he had never seen her
before, without a sign of recognition.
Good morning, Benson" she sald.
I've come to Sc Mr. Webster"
Il don't think it's allowed, miss.
He Is very sick
Il know he is-that is why I came. "
will you wait in here?" he asked,
and led her into the drawing room.
! Jean sat down, too weak to stand,
and waited until Benson came back to
take her to Martin.
Good morning, Miss Rogers" said
cold, icy voice that brought Jean out
of her reverie.
Good morning" Jean answered
gravely. confused that Lillian Walker
should be here in Martins home, wear
ing lounging patamas and looking as
If she belonged Can help you?"
IT don't think so, thank you. came
to see Martin"
"Mr. Webster is very ILL., He Is not
allowed to see any one except me and
! the nurse. II 1t Is a matter Of business,
DR.. Junet will take care Of that"
"You know quite well that it isn't
matter of business" Jean flared. Mar
tin and love each other. end have
a right beside him when he is III. II
, he knew that I am here, he would in
sist that come up"
Lillian smiled cruelty, condescend-
ingly You are really most amusing"
she said Martin and I have been
practically engaged since childhood.
and now in the last few days we have
come to a definite agreement. As soon
as he is able to be moved we are going
doa Hisa PeeSs fashs6 sou on viii mot be-
ueve it unless Martin himself tells me"
"You should know that is the truth.
Have you heard from him in the last
two or three days?' Lillian knew that
she hadn't, because Martin had been
entirely too III to make any telephone
calls.
NO" Jean admitted, but we were
at Southampton the night he was in
jured."
"Yes, I heard about that. but If
we're you I wouldn't take that as an
indication of love" This was a bit of
inuendo, without knowledge back Of it,
but it sounded to Jean as If Martin
had talked about the night they spent
at Martins fashionable Long Island
home. Suddenly Jean was doubtful OF
Martin. Could Lillian be speaking the
truth?
Benson came into the room. "Dr
Hildreth is calling. Miss Lillian" he
said. 'and he wants to know"
It'll take the call, Benson" She got
up and said cruelty. IF you'll Il pardon
as Martin is awake I will tell him you
called, and II he wants to get In touch
with you I will telephone you and ar
range an appointment. Good-by, and
thank you for your solicituoe."
Jean was choking with hatred and
tears. Blndly she found her way out
of the house end out on the avenue.
She did not see or hear the car just
turning in at the drive, and was almost
run down. It was DR.. Junet. He was
out of the car and at jeans size in an
instant.
MY poor child" he said, what are
| you doing here?"