Evening star., 1932-09-12
The Runaway Wife
Bv VERNE CONNELLY

an armchair and stared almost unsee-
ingly at the two persons in the room
Aubrey is dead" she said at last.
Martin killed him."
Marcia's face went white. Had she
heard rightly?
What. what did you say?"
Between the two of them they man
aged to tell her the ghastly story.
DR.. Junet thought he had never seen
q woman so angry. He could see that
Marcia felt as he did about Martin. As
for Aubrey, 1t was only q question Of
time anyway.
She got up "You are privileged to
protect Martin Webster If you want to.
but I for one will not be q. party to
it. We can't punish him for what he
has done to Jean, but we can make him
pay for doing what he did to Aubrey
I'm going to report him-have him ar
rested"
mo, no, Marcia!" Jean jumped up,
clutching at her arm.
sit down." commanded DR.. Junet.
IT you report Martin, you will almost
certainly involve Jean. and the scandal
will be something that neither one OF
them can live down. for Jeans sake,
don't do it."
Maybe it would be a good thing for
Jean, too. She has been a hot-tem-
pered, uncontrolled child too long
she's got to learn the consequence Of
her actions, too. here's young boy
dead because Of her"
Don't. oh, Marcia, dont" Jean
cried
Marcia's arms were about her In An
instant. Darling, forgive me. -"
DR.. Junet said. Listen. Marcia, and
you, too, Jean you know fol-
lowed Aubrey's case at the hospital
remember, Jean, told you in the be-
ginning that he was q pretty sick
| boy his heart was in bad con-
dition-I knew he wouldn't live long,
but I could see no use in worrying
you until the thing actually happened.
Martin didn't really kill hint was
He was in an awful state over you
yesterday. JEAN" Marcia said. "He
was here when you called the nurse
and when l came home he was raw
ing he asked me q dozen ques-
tons as to the location Of Martins
country home and town house-he was
suspicious. You know what a scene
he made the night before. when he
came home and found you crying when
Martin was here :"
1T must have been he who called
my house last night he was very
insistent as TO Miss Rogers where
abouts =" DIR. Junet said.
i don't see how he found U.s." Jeans
lips quivered, but she quickly regained
her control.
I'VE find that highly neurotic. sensi-
tive people under intense excitement
are almost clairvoyant at times" said
DR.. Junet.
He worked as reporter for while,
you know, Jean. and was always trying
to figure out solutions to murders"
DR.. Junet went away then, assuring
Jean that she need have no further
concern as to Aubrey. He would make
all arrangements for the funeral and
carry out her wishes in every regard.
Jean was very weary. She went over
to the couch and curled up on the
cushions, like a forlorn child, thought
Marcia, though she did not show her
the affection or comfort she would have
shown child. for Jean was already too
emotional. Marcia had q masculine
horror Of tears.
She said abruptly. Jean, why did
you go to Martin Webster's house last
night?'
| all, can do as please, can't -"
Yes, you can, Jean, but yoC are very
yOQIS ZU-dllO NAL LII "CU-
ster is nearly Is years older than you
He should have known better"
1T wasn't mis- fault =. wanted
to 60"
II don't believe It, Jean-tell me the
| truth"
That is the truth He was furious
after night before last when he found
out had been married to Jim and had
kept 1t from him so long-even went
to Reno and got divorce on my vaca-
ton that was pretty rotten Of me.
wasn't it? You see, never think of
how things actually might look to other
people until after it is all over and
get perspective on them. I don't
blame Martin-I've always been SELF
| ish little beast"
You are a sweet child. Jean, and
Martin has been repaid million times
Just in being able to know you. could
kill him for the way he has wrecked
your nfe-you've lived for him all this
time and he isn't half a mani
(To be continued.)