Evening star., 1932-07-22

ment with elevator and doorman-
there, it's all spent"
you've forgotten Tom Stewart
How are you going to account to him
for this sudden fortune?"
Lee tossed her head. why should
I account to Tom? It's none of hi
business. Did he-ask you things?'
suspiciously.
mo. OF course not. But he will ask
| you-if there's an understanding be-
tween you" Why had she added that
If? Because she wanted to know. She
must know if there was definite
promise between Lee and Tom
Not that it mattered, ever could
matter again. Toms eyes would never
carry the tocsin torch, the age-old sig
nal fire of mate to mate, for her. Last
night. when she went with him to sup
per, she had extinglished any remotest
hope that such a light might be kim
died. She had been frivilous. She
had been disgustingly light minded
and dishonest. She had prattled Of
parties" of "speakies, of my heavy
suitor from the West" That meant
Donald Kemp. Donald Kemp was not
her suitor. He was scarcely an ac-
quaintance.
loved the pain that had come into Tom
Stewards eyes with her revelations Of
self that was as foreign to her as
plumes are to Plymouth Rock hens?
Maybe she wasn't Plymouth Rock hen
-exactly-but neither was she a pea
cock nor a bird of paradise as she had
vaunted.
Oh, well. the song was ended. And
II the melody fingered on it would die
out, as the light had died the torch
had f1ickered to swimming darkness in
Tom Stewards eyes. One didn't go on
suffering indefinitely Pain is its an
tidote. 1t kills itself with its own
poignancy.
Tony remembered that Lee had not
risen to the bait of that ''if." Lee had
not said whether or not there was an
understanding between her and Tom
Heart be still. Stop leaping. Lee SIM
ply does not think the implied ques
ton worth answering. She takes it
for granted you know she is promised
to Tom.
Listen to this, angel" Lee rolled
her hair and pinned it in "squews" as
a precaution against the morrow when
she would release ash-blonde curls to
an admiring world. I'm taking up
correspondence. I'm going to be the
correspondent in Uncle Lennys di-
vorce"
Tony dropped the plate she was
carrying to the washery behind the
screen
''YOu-you mean-yOu-"
Exactly Pull yourself together, my
dear. 1t isn't anything like it sounds
Just nice undercover stuff and swell
pay for doing nothing except be my
! self I'm not Lee Moran at all" Lee
burlesqued her idea of a court scene
"'You have me wrong. Judge I'm
Miss X, the unknown quantity. In
| the hussy who was found with that
| sterling citizen and patron Of the arts
Mr.. Adam Leonard. You don't tel!
! me Miss X?' Well, Mr. Leonard wha,
have YOU to say about this? Nothing
| your honor. I admit all Very well
sir, l shall award your noble wife
Clara, a divorce, a lump sum and s(
many hundred dollars a week while
| you both shall live. Next victim
But you're not guilty of anything,
Tony protested. Il shouldn't thint
Mr.. Leonard would ask a girl to place
such a stigma on herself"
He didn't I asked myself. In fact
1 insisted. There had to be some one
so why not me? Uncle Lenny buckec
| like mule. l gave him to understand
| I cared too much for him to have any
| other woman messed up in his life
| After that he weakened He'll give me
anything I think Is right for helping
TO see him through. I'm shooting fol
| $4,000"
"Oh, Lee" reproachfully "You
! would sell your right to look the whole
world in the face for s50o0?"
| The world isn't going to know. Yol
! seem to forget I'm Miss X, the lady Of
, mystery"
Yes, but if something should happen
! you'd either have to be a perjurer OF
be branded one"
! IN take the chance" defantly, 10,
/ $1,000"
Tony thought: Now I must play
my trump card. Now she will realize
| how impossible it is to go on. What
! about Tom? Do you think it fair te
| turn over to him woman who has
I been branded in the divorce courts?"
| Lee sat for while, hands tightly
| clasped over knees, eyes staring into
space. Her defiance was giving way tc
, something furtive, sinister. Tony helC
/ her breath for Lees answer.
(To be continued)