Evening star., 1932-07-20
guests. Your conduct constitutes as

sault.'
Come Clara" Adam Leonard
strangely gray and old, had taken the
womans arm, urged her toward the
door She snatched it away, shrieking
her fury in high-pitched hysteria;
Come, Clara! So it's Clara now, is
it? After them hussies, I'll Clara you!
I'll show you how Clara pays off your
Ha. ha-dances-ha. ha. ha-"
The taxi door had slammed against
the Shrill siren. Donald Kemp hurried
Tony and Lee away from the hateful
scene into a cab. They were. being
driven toward Mrs. Higgins drab house.
He could have told me he had a
wife" Lee said. The words sounded
brittle. AS if there was no substance
in them AS though they didn't much
matter.
On. he should have" Tony's resent
ment fared. How could he let 1t be
possible for such a thing to happen? He
must have known it might. 1t was self
ish of him. cruel"
Donald Kemp was silent for so long
that Tony thought he must be offended.
She persisted
Mr.. Leonard should have told her
to decide whether or not she wanted
to go about with him. Shouldn't he,
Mr.. Kemp"
Kemp started. called back from an
absorbing dream. But he had heard.
I'm the wrong judge" he said curtly.
& know Adams story. It's pretty hard
to see life pass you by, love and laugh
ter. good companionship, respect OF
friends, the rapture the right kind of
woman brings to a man. the haven of
home, even the clash Of decent hate. l
can't blame Adam for daring to strike
out and try to stop the passerby-Life-
for a stolen interval"
AT the sacrifice of friendship, of de-
cency?" Tony demanded.
AT the sacrifice Of anything" Don
aid Kemp's teeth glistened where his
lips were drawn from them. He could
snarl. He could De ruthless. Tony shiv-
cred. Better close the cab window.
The cold wind cut through coats.
Donald Kemp was talking in A con-
else, legal strain:
IF there are repercussions, if Clara
Leonard attempts TO annoy you in any
way, you are to notify me al once. Ill
leave you my address Wire. or get me by
phone. Reverse the charge. l reach
my Office at 10 in the morning. That IS
the best hour to get me. l don't think
you'll be troubled further. She didn't
know your names. either of them, or
she would have broadcast them Shes
done the damage she set out to do.
Poor old Adam!"
Tony thought: Donald Kemp can be
tender as well as ruthless.
The taxi drew up to the curb. 1t was
typical of Kemp that he did not so
much as glance at the drab habitat
before which they had stopped. De-
tails, backgrounds, environment did not
exist for him. Only Tony He handed
her out Of the cab with lust the hint
of gallantry that might have been
native and might have peen ironic.
I'm sorry" he said. pressing her
hand ever SO lightly. For the ending.
not the evening. 1 shall see you again"
He was gone before she could mur-
mur her thanks and punctuate them
with polite but definite dismissal. she
wasn't going to see Donald Kemp again.
Not with the shame Of that scene in
the night club between them.
'Rummy old bird I'd call her. what?
I mean Clara" Lee was mounting the
steps. Her attempt at facet!ouSneSS was
rather plucky, Tony thought. ToneleSs,
but determined Lee was half way up
the stoop. Suddenly she stopped, cup
ped her hand to her car. A whistle,
three noteS-medi dium, high, low, came
from up the street. She Whistled an
answer, medium, low, high. The first
one was repeated. closer.
Its Tom" Lee started back down
the stoop. dragging Tony in her wake.
Lee, are you sure? 1t must be 2
O'Clock. There's no one in the street.
Some loiterer might be trying to get our
attention Lee-wait-pleaSe-
It's Tom. Didn't you hear him?
That's our own private signal I'd
know it anywhere. He must have waited
for me" Lee WhiStled again Back
came the answer. And now figure, tall
and lean hurried, materialized out of
the haze of quiescent dawn.
Tom, you darling!" Lee dropped
Tonys arm, stretching forth welcoming
hands, raising her face for Tom Stew
arts kiss. Tony closed her eyes. Her
senses rocked. Her body swayed. May
he she was going to faint. Too much
that terrible woman in the night club