Evening star., 1932-04-30

Joyce She felt slightly impatient al
herself. Oh, this was absurd She was
letting her nerves steal away her COM
mon sense. Just because she was tired
and depressed she was imagining some
thing sinister in something merely pic
turesque.
Joyce took jeff Therruld's hand ano
stepped from the car.
IT'S just a small Italian country
place" the man explained in a low
voice as he helped her up the steps
but they pull an awfully good din
ner"
Where are the others? don't see
Lens car"
Therruld put the question to the
woman, who broke into a torrent OF
broken English.
The other gentleman had phoned
Something had happened to his
car. . They we're waiting in a ga
rage to have it fixed. The others were
not to wait for them, but we're to have
dinner. . They would drive down
and join them as soon as the car was
fixed. go.
Something parrotlike about the rapid
ity with which she ratified it of.
I'm not surprised. Lens car has
been acting up" Therruld said. We'll
nothing to do but wait for them here "
Joyce hesitated in the doorway and
her face was white and troubled in the
slanting light.
DO you think We should wait here?
-. Somehow feel that this place is
queer. ="
Therruld shrugged his big shoulders
Nothing queer about it. Just a coun-
try cottage. Landini and his wife used
to run restaurant in the city. I knew
them then. Since they've retired and
moved up here they cook dinners now
and then by appointment for a few Of
their old patrons"
1t was very logical. 1nsulting-to
doubt him, to hesitate about going
in. =. Joyce fought down the odd re-
luctance and entered.
The woman led her down a long,
narrow hall papered in a hideous pat
tern to a small bed room at the end.
The place was furnished with ugly
comfort. A large wooden bed with an
immaculate spread. Clean crocheted
doilies were pinned to each chair back
the big carpet-seated rocker Sported
one on each arm as well.
Joyce dropped her cape on the bed
and nervously powdered her face before
incongruous satin figure . lovely
alien to these commonplace surround
ings. She was pale. She touched the
rouge puff to her cheeks and followed
the waiting woman down the hall
She found Therruld in a small din
irg room with a table set for two. He
was talking to dark giant of man
evidently the Woman's husband.
At this something of Joyce's uneasi-
ness melted. Therruld's story was evi-
IDENTIFY true. The presence of the Ital-
ian couple reassured her. She forced
herself into light-hearted conversation
as they started dinner.
The woman served-Landini was evi-
IDENTIFY the chef. Joyce praised the
dinner. She pretended to taste the
sauterne which sparkled in the glass
before her. Her ears were strained to
the sound of any car which would tell
Of the arrival Of the others, but the
silence was thick outside the house
And all the time Joyce was aware Of
jeff Therruld watching her across the
table, something hot and brooding be-
hind his black eyes.
Oh, it had been a mistake a
mistake . to come here alone with
him!
He reminded her of a sleepy lion
waiting to pounce as he watched her
with half-shut eyes. He ate little be-
side his salad, but he frequently re-
filled his glass from the bottles the
woman brought.
Joyce drew a breath of relief when
the coffee appeared, accompanied by a
tiny glass of golden cordial, which the
man drained with one gulp. He was a
man who would take life in great gulpS,
thought the girl nervously watching
him
After she had served the cordial the
woman left the room. The girl failed
to see her half-smile as she melted out
the door or the little nod which she
gave the man.
We've finished dinner-there's no
use waiting for Nadine and Len now"
Joyce could hear the relief in her own
voice as she pushed her cup aside.
Let's go back to town and-and
dance"
Have you enjoyed it, Joyce, being
herewith me?" Therrulds eyes were
rowing over her face-over her bare
shoulders in a sort of furtive caress.
To Joyce's excited fancy it seemed that
they were two black beetles crawling
loathsomely upon her.
'Why-of course" Her laugh was
little gasp. But it's so late-you
know Ii have to get up early tomor-
row. I must find work"
Therruld had risen. He was coming
around the table. Joyce started TO her
feet, but he clutched her by her upper
arms and his thick fingers sank into
her soft flesh.
Isn't it time we quit acting and
talked plain, you and -"
Acting? .. Why. . why. .. .
don't know what you mean?"
oh, yes, you dol" Therruld pulled
Joyce up into his arms. His lips
crushed down on her own, filling her
with panic.
Let me gol All, . let me go!"