Evening star., 1932-08-02
She Threw Her Head Back, Struggling
TO Free Herself.

scar across his face, the Count some
thing or other, kept refilling the red
headed woman's glass. Tony learned,
soto voce from Hal Sample, that she
was a great heireSS. Even Tony, un-
familiar as she was with society no
menclature, recognized the name.
AS the evening wore on, the guests
became as much of horror to Tony as
the house itself. They all drank in
ordinate amounts from priceless glasses
without discrimination as to content.
The noisy ones accelerated their noise.
The sullen or belligerent ones became
more sullen and more belligerent. How
Tony wished she had needed Donald
Kemp's advice and refused to accom-
pany Lee on this adventure.
Jock Selden was concentrating on
Tony, regarding her continuously with
half -mocking, half avid eyes, He was
drinking a great deal, but drink had no
apparent effect on him except to en-
boiden his pursuit of Tony. Lee, more
ribald than Tony had ever imagined
she would be, turned full battery OF her
wiles upon Selden. He was deliberately
ruthless about rejecting her advances.
"You lay of Selden," Lee warned
Tony. Don't you try to snitch him
from me, like you did Tom Stewart;
malice for Selden's rebuffS.
Tony flushed, indignant at the unjust
attack.
81 have no interest In, Jock Selden,"
Rhe said. 1.-The whole lot OF these peo-
ole, and the house, too, are repellent 10
me If the car is outside, I'm going 10
ask the chauffeur to drive me to the
Lombard"
"Aw now. m'dear don't be peeved,"
Zee begged contritely. TITS the wine
Eve been guZzling. The way them
bubbles boil up in me Is nobodyS pus-
tneSs." When Lee was excited She was
9ikely to revert to the language OF her
childhood.
Then why do you take it?"
'I don't know. It gives me kick.
Makes me forget"
a The count with the scar across his
mace came for Lee. They were going
70 play a game called murder" and she
ywas going to be the victim. Charming
I$Rame, mademoiselle. Guests assembled
lsdn the salon. Lights pouffl Noir mutt.
IA scream in the dark. Lights encore
gEwhat you call heenl-boom! Madem-
soiselle Is found to have been strangled.
She reclines on the floor. One guest IS
then the solicitor for the State, what
you call attorney at law. He interro-
gates. He finds the murderer. VOLTA!
why should get strangled?" Lee
wanted to know. Say, this game
might be on the level"
Non, non, non' The count was
profuse. TT is that we make the
game. The victim, she must be beau
ti-ful. For that we choose you, made
1noiseIle" The count was no fool He
knew what brought women to sur
render. Lee did, with a triumphant
glance for Selden.
i've a notion you want to cut and
run" Selden said to Tony when they
were alone for the moment. so do I.
We can slip away without telling the
host what a rummy time we've had:
The others will never miss us. Ill call
the car. if you like"
"Oh, thanks" gratefully from Tony.
SIve had enough. But don't want
to drag you Off"
please do"
The game Of murder was going on
poisily up to now, SO that Tony and
Jock Selden managed to depart un-
noticed.
Tony thought the drive back to the
Lombard seemed longer that she re-
membered She did not quite like the
way Jock Selden crowded against her;
the way his arm across the back OF
the seat was encircling her. Streets
through which they had driven to the
beach house were well lighted. This
street had lights only at long inter-
walls.
She said. leaning forward and peer
ing out of the window, Haven't we
gone out of our way? Perhaps the
chauffeur is lost"
you never expected he wouldn't get
lost did you. Toinette?" Selden
laughed His arm slipped down, tight
ened around Tony'S waist, drew her to
him. She threw her head back. strug-
gled to free herself. Selden went on
Laughing, triumphantly, possessively. He
bent over her, his face close, the vice
Of his arms tightening.
When Lee threw open the door OF
their suite in the Lombard something
more than an hour after she had been
the center of the murder" game in
the beach house, she found Tony
packing.
K What's the big idea OF sneaking
standing in the center of the room
arms akimbo, body swaying unstead-
sly. Her face was scarlet with spleen
and the heat Of wine.
Tony went on slowing garments in
her bag.
IT didn't sneak away with Jock" she
said quietly. Il couldn't stand those
people any longer I wanted to come
back here and Jock offered to find the
car. He said he was fed up, too"
"The h you say! You get place,
gou've never seen. places you'd never
get TO poke your nose inside II didnt
EAke you. And What do YOU dn2 pou'