Evening star., 1932-11-06
.tp Coaiias,Iy
CHAPTER IA.
SANTA BARES HER HEART.

~ NEED some one I can trust"
- Santa declared. She pulled her
self together with an effort. I'm
i here to learn what are the
grounds for a divorce"
You're thinking Of divorcing Dicky?"
She hadn't shocked him. His express
sion was unperturbed as If she'd in
quired how much his wife paid for
butter
Can -"
Before can give an opinion must
hear the provocation."
Her sense of the indecency Of expos
ing her tragedy faded. Garstead's atti-
tude was as matter of fact as that OF
doctor examining patient. She for
got that they both were young and were
discussing her dead passion. In an
aloof way, initiating him. she viewed
herself as a case. Her burden grew
lighter. With a question here and an
astute suggestion there, he coaxed from
her her story.
This Give" he pinned her, "your cid
suitor, couldn't he be made the excuse
for counter-charge by your husband?"
How could he? I've not written him
a line He's been out of the country
since / married. 1t was only by pure
iiiSs AiAiAi
at nv parents"
I'VE lawyers are compelled to be in
trusive"
Dusk was gathering Windows in the
rampartS opposite were beginning to
shine. He switched en- the lights.
"As l see things, Santa, you've got
your husband cold Habitual drunken
ness. Non-support If they don't con-
stitute cruelty / don't know what does. "
She began pulling on her gloves.
If l decide to proceed against him,
what should be my first step?'
You must leave him and establish
separate domici.e."
Thanks tremendously" She rose
almost gayiy. Il felt l ought to know
to be on the safe side
AS he accompanied her to the eleva
tor he chaffed her.
You'll have only one difficulty: To
persuade any judge that a man who
had been so fortunate as to marry you
could be unfaithful"
"Dicky didn't have to struggle" she
glanced up side e-long.
II he could only see you as other
men see you
Men who aren't married to me-" she
retorted
1t was her parting shot. She sliding
door of the elevator flew open. With
smile. unconsciously sirenish, she van
ishcd
Not till the chill air CT the street had
restored her did she realize that her
afternoon hcd been enjoyable. 1t had
Pat her in a good humor. Paul Gar
stead had proved to be a thoroughly
nice person. She wondered vaguely
whether he often heid such intimate
conversations She ran over snatches
Of what they'd said. They sounded
desperately Ike the prelude to filtration
Shed heard that divorce lawyers often
married their clients. What more
natural? They had to fiatter woman
by pretending 10 belieIe she was always
in the right A husband who believed
his wife always in the right was the
kind for whom every woman was
Scandalized. she discovered that she
was light hearted She probed for the
reason. Merely because a man had i'm
plied-not a syllable more-that she
was desirable
Dent be a debutante," she upbraided
herself
Her lapse into frivolity inclined her
to be charitable. There was the bare
chance that shed jumped to mistaken
conc,usiCne To invite Dicky to an ex-
plantation was the only fair course. The
prospect OF having to provoke another
scene sobered her.
Beyond the door as she approached
she could hear the phone ringing. Some
seconds we're lost in finding her key.
The apartment was in darkre5s. Again
she wasted time in cropping for the
switches. The phone continued TO in
sist and command.
'Hello!" she exclaimed fretfully.
L should hope SC" Dickys voice.
"Eeen trying to reach you for the past
two hours. Don't wait dinner. Got
business conference.
1t won't Go. Dicky.' She spoke firm
II. This is ny first n.glt back"
"Tco bad, darling The conference is
about those mines And it's too worse.
too: l have to sleep on train, for I'm
due in S.. Paul tomorrow
For another conference?'
You're becoming quite a cute little
guesser'
Il don't believe word of it. Dicky.
For some reason you're afraid OF me-
Fer heavens sake!' He yaWned so
that she heard him. This is your
chance as much as mine. If the deal
goes through we'll be in clover
''Ti,en / wish you luck, if don't see
you agcin'
But you will" His tone became
anxious. Il have to fetch my suitcase.
If you're a kind little wife you'll have
it packed"
She made her toilet with special care,
choosing the high-waisted Venetian
gown with the billowy skirt. which hed
loved when he was courting. Between
tears snd temper she flung his travelling
kit into his suitcase. Dinnerless and
wounded. she sat down to wait for him.
Hours slipped by. Seven. Eight. Nine.
There would be no time to deliver her
ultimatum To start discussion with
a husband in hurry would be useless.
Her reading CT his character became
clear and yet more clear. From that
third night of the honeymoon. when ne
called her Lou-Lou, she'd been con-
tinually stumbling on discoveries. Most
of them she'd refused to admit till now.
They had come to her in fragments. She
pieced them together like Chinese
puzzle. At last she had no doubt that
she knew all about him.
His key in the latch. She snatched
a book He entered briskly, hummlng.
From the hall he called to her, Got
my suitcase ready?"
In the bed room"
She heard him go in search of it
then his footsteps returning.
We'll I'm of, darling
That's good
mot huffy, hope"
You're an cptimist."
BLESS my soul. I hadn't noticed.
You're all dolled up. Why the magnifl-
cence?"
"Oh, trot along"
She turned page. He approached
and stood over her.
Expecting some one?"