Evening star., 1932-01-23
Spite Wife As. As & 1:,.,,.;

n
CHAPTER XVII.
~ ACK again in Lockwood. The
- big frame house filled with sun
shine and the rush of the sea
IL Just memory to Judy.
Nick was gone. He had left
early on the morning following their
homecoming. judy awoke from sleep
to hear the car backing out OF the
garage to take him to the flying field.
She lay there and thought about him
in the early morning. Strange TO
look up at the sky and wonder where
Nick was. Something miraculous about
Nick flying away like this. sort OF
mimic death. Only, of course, Nick
would return, flying out of the sky like
a silver scale floating between Heaven
and earth. But Nick never acted as
though 1t were miracle. He went at
it in his matter-o -of-fact positive way
That sure, quiet way Nlcks way
And she was back here again-hem-
med about with Mrs. Carter's bridge
parties-Amys beauty treatments and
eternal fiirtations-Veras committee
meetings and caustic remarks. She
couldn't get in an airship and fly away
like Nick.
STAINS tender anxiety of the night
before was diluted with impatience this
morning. Got to hurry made a
date with Dart and Billy to go down
to Del Monte for the golf tourna-
ment|"
At Judy's spoken disappointment his
voice grew petulant "Oh for the love
of Pete, Jude, it's only two days! I've
planned on this for a month! what
the deuce!"
Judy felt Ill and cross this morning.
Her head ached. Her throat felt queer,
She pulled a silk robe about her
shoulders and sat up in bed watching
Stan tie his golf shoes.
"But the Office . . don't see how
you can get away SO much"
STAINS eyes narrowed and he threw
her an unpleasant glance. We'll, II
you want the truth, I walked out on
Thatcher and Crosswell two weeks ago.
I don't need their lousy commissions! !"
"Oh, Stanl Why didn't you tell me?''
Because you'd beef so much about
It," Stan stood upright and stretched
for his sweater.
She watched his handsome head
emerge at the top and there was some
thing like despair gnawlng at her heart
Had she really nagged Stan? she, q
only tried to urge him ahead in busi-
ness so they could get little place OF
their own. Their own life-not this
hybrid arrangement of two families
under one roof. She could have cried
with shame and anger. She could have
slapped that good looking face OF his.
Instead she said hoarsely: i lust
thought man was interested in his
business first"
II would be II the business were
mine!" he replied sulkily. But how
the h can fellow get ahead work
ing for some one else! II your good
friend Nick would loosen up and let
me have the money my father left me
enough of 1t to start myself IN business
I'd get somewhere. But no. he doles
it out-in monthly dabs that don't
mean a thing but spending money!
You have so much influence with MIN,
maybe you can do something about
It'll" he finished unpleasantly.
Judy said nothing. Nothing to 40
when Stan was in this black mood
Besides her head hurt when she tried
to think
She lay down and did not speak
when he gave her hasty kiss. III be
back, honest-you know Eunice Is CIV
ing party at the end Of the week"
Oh, yes-Eunice's party. Deco
rators and caterers from the city
the details had been chatted over Lock-
wood telephones for a month accom-
panying trills of jealous feminine
laughter.
Lying back in the pillows, watching
the leaf play of shadows on the ceiling
from the garden outside, Judy went
over this mornings scene.
So that was why Stan was so savage
about Nick Nick wouldn't let Stan
and Amy and Vera and their mother
touch the principal of the estate. No
sweet Job, thought Judy with wry
humor, managing the Carter estate.
Nick, she knew, adored his dead father
He must have, to take on that ungrGve-
full job of executor.
Judy's uncomfortable dip in the ocean
had ended in cold. An unromantic,
tenacious head cold-the sort which no
one can take seriously save the un-
comfortable victim. The first rains OF
the season set in and for week she
aimlessly from room to room, dragging
through the endless days with an
aching throat and watering eyes.
Tony WentWorth-Judy's most In
innate friend in Lockwood, If the ad-
jective could be applied to such a
casual Observation-Disclosures her re-
grets-but Tony stayed away. Tony
needed the excitement of bridge lunch
cons and dinner parties. A rainy after
noon with a sick friend held no allure.
Mary Lockerbee, on the other hand,
came and stayed almost until the din
ner hour. Judy had always admired
the older woman, but she was q trif1e
Ill at ease with her. Handsome, prac-
tical Mary Lockerbee lacked the sooth-
ing sirup Of social flattery. Beside the
more unctuous manners of feminine
Lockwood, her manners seemed almost
brusque, but Judy had always discerned
her sincerity.
On this rainy afternoon, seated on
either side of the CRATE fireplace in
qualities about Mary. A love and
knowledge of books which Judy herself
possessed. Not the current, wise
cracking book which happened to be
the vogue of the moment around the
bridge tables and country club veranda,
but mellow, questionable books one
did not talk about-the letters of
Charles Lamb-Dicken's novels-Keat's
poems-Kipling's Plain Tales"-Gib-
bons' Rise and Fall"
Judy's throat forgot to hurt. She
forgot the lonely chill in her heart.
A quiet afternoon, cozy with the fire
within and the rain without-an after
noon magic with quiet friendship and
the enchantment of books.
Judy had known Mary Lockerbee
beforehand reached certain casual
friendship at teas or bridge luncheons,
but it was not like this-eagerly inter-
rupting each other with: "Oh, do you
remember-?" Or Have you ever
read-?"
1t was almost dinner time when
Mary rose to 60 with evident reluctance.
"Ill have to thank Nick and tell him
I've had the most pleasant afternoon
in years" she said as she reached
for her hat.