Evening star., 1932-11-13
"A PATH 7
---.-.---------------Iy CouiussIy
CHAPTER 81.
BY Conisssby


~LIVE told Santa what had hap
4 pened.
This can't 60 on" He rum
" pied his hair wildly. IF she
fancied things there may be
dozens of others who do the same"
But darling" Santa Knocked him
"let them fancy. To me this is all
screamingly funny"
Her lack of sensitiveness staggered
him.
Il fsal like killing any one who
Gcesn't regard you reverently, Santa
She crossed the room and butted
him
Who wants to be regarded rever-
emily? With you l don't care cent
what anybody thinks about me. We
know we're respectable. And if we
weren't, since we're happy, would it
matter?-I'm afraid it would to you"
why earn a reputation which we
don't deserve?" he asked patiently. I'VE
gain nothing by letting friends who
happen to see us together believe we're
playing hooky."
H-r g.ggles halted him.
You G~e q cure, Give What do
you want me to dc? Have handbllls
printed, announcing the dates of my
divorce and remarriage? OF course, If
=
He slipped his hand over her mouth.
Don't say it."
Her mood of mischief faded to peni-
tence.
"But give me time" She clutched
him. "To hide here with you is so
restful."
He reached for the telephone.
I'VE ought, at least, to tell your
parents"
She snatched the receiver from him.
"No''-and fell to weeping.
The sight of her tears was more than
he could bear. Cursing his weakness,
he acknowledged himself defeated.
His honor was involved She must
make haste or a barrier would arise
between them To divulge her plans
to him would spoil everything. The
date she set for telling her parents
was when the apartment was ready for
occupancy. To break the news when
they had a home, impressed her as
more seemly.
At last, on Saturday morning over
breakfast, she ended his suspense.
I've found wonderful apartment"
That's good, if you think I can
afford it."
well, here's what I propose: This
afternoon. instead Of attending a mat
inee, let's take a look at it."
I'D love to-" he consented eagerly.
''We've seen all the best plays and, to
tell the truth, I'm tired of theaters."
Its to rent furnished" she volun-
teered the none too truthful informa-
ton. I'VE can move in this evening,
if you approve. How about meeting
me uptown at the Angouleme for
lunch? From there It's only step and
we can inspect it."
- IaI 4al eIao
set to work packing, called the office,
surrendered the room and paid the
bill. Long before lunch time his clothes
were hanging in strange cupboards and
his shirts were lying orderly in drawers
which once had belonged to his prede-
cessor.
From the new apartment, before set
ting out to keep her rendezvous with
Give, Santa held a mysterious tele-
phone conversation.
''That you, Mummy? It's no news
to me that I didn't write. Had my
reasons. I'm in New York. Is father
YOU to come to tea Have a surprise.
VIII you stop talking long enough to
take down the address? That's right
Central Park West"
At the Angouleme she arrived flushed
and brilliant-eyed minutes ahead OF
time. She tried to pick out the girls
in the room who were married, divorced
or maiden. She couldn't. That was
comforting. Give never said it, but he
always seemed to see a gigantic two
branded on her forehead.
A pair Of young women seated next
to her were talking confidentially IN
smoke-cracked voices. Cigarettes drip
ped from their mouths, their knees
vI,cro rTn=cad their skirts KiltPd
But, dearie, you aren't egg.
egg learns nothing from experience; 1t
Just grows stale"
Santa took courage from the philoso-
ply. Because she wasn't an egg; she'd
gone behind Gives back in the matter
of the apartment. Shed learned from
experience that to hold a man you must