Evening star., 1932-12-03
CHAPTER Al.
DICKY BACK AGAIN.

| AA4NS "S6st ~A~AAJ fAo~NSey
misses you tremendously,
said Give to Santa. I'm
- not dog-in-the- -manger. II
he's on your conscience and
there's anything we can do Tor him, you
won't arouse my Jealousy. You're
through with him. In sense, you were
through with him before you started.
And then, he came to my help when he
himself was shipwrecked."
Whats your idea, Clive-that we
ought to get rid of him more gradu-
ally?"
So that was how 1t happened, when
Dicky called a few nights later. that he
was admitted. Give had brought home
work from the office-genuinely brought
/ home work this time.
| Following the precedent he had previ-
ously established, he withdrew to the
library. A wife had the privilege of
entertaining her friends, especially
when she contributed to the housekeep-
ing. He flattered himself that he was
handling the situation nnodernly.
Finding no obstacle placed in his
way, Dicky dropped in more and more
| frequently. He entered as II he were
bestowing favor and seated himself
| In the best chair, blond and immovable.
| To q humorist his vanity would have
been amusing. He glanced around at
familiar pictures on the walls and sur
veyed the furnishings with an air Of
possession. Then he waited with re-
strained tmpatience for Give to vanish,
as though he, and not Give, was master.
Give consoled himself by thinking,
"All have to do Is to kick him out"
| The moment he had left his wife
with her ex-husband, they would lapse
into French
such good practice" Santa explained
She kept no secrets. Was clear as
daylight. Gave Give synopsis in bed
Of what had occurred each evening.
"You don't need TO-" he advised her.
But 1t helps me to correct my i'm
pressions Dicky's SO glib-always was.
He'd swear he hadn't been near jam
when it was smeared all over his face. "
What does he lie about?"
"You and me. The noble influence
we are. How he's given up drink and
women TO be worthy Of U.s."
Hell drive me to drink. Good night,
old girl. have to be up in the morn
ing"
Often she talked Give to sleep.
Are you Hstening?"
Her slim arm protecting him, she
/ WOd1u 1kC aW1hCS P0AACA4AA6 AN" SoAAA
plicating 1t was to have been married
twice. What it amounted to was that
you were responsible for two husbands.
To have two husbands buzzing about
you was exciting. 1t kept you expectant
and emotional, the way you were as a
dapper. 1t made you feel that you were
still competed for. The danger was that
you might offend your present husband
In trying to save your former.
And Dicky required saving. Though
he sighed over his wasted years, she
was convinced that he still dabbled in
the muddy pool Of Broadway.
| Give, having flung wide the windows
Of his wife's repressions, wished he
hadn't. Dicky's lapses. reformations,
evasions, hogged two-thirds of their
love nest into rescue home. Why did
a woman, when she had divorced man,
feel impelled to become a mother to
him7
At the close of a sample day of rest,
during which Give had sought sanctu-
ary In his stuffy little library, he pro-
tested Having listened for the in
truders departure, he stepped into the
hall to confront his wife.
This Is becoming too much"
~ agree, darling" She raised hsr
face to be Kissed. We've bitten of
more than We can chew"
| More than can swallow"
She slipped her arm through his,
coaxingly
I'm all worn out. Lst's talk while
We undress."
"I1l turn out the lights first"
| When he rejoined her, she was
climbing into bed. To prove that she
wasn't the person with whom he was
angry, he arranged her pillows. Then
let fly.
He grows boresome-comes to see
you, not us. Struts Like rooster You
must have noticed how he expects me
to walk out when he arrives. I might
be the nfice how snnoninr IN q direc-