Evening star., 1932-12-15

And it's private matter" she added
looking hard in Santini't direction.
Then I suppose it must be done!"
said the older woman reluctantly.
Am ! in the way?" Santini asked
lazily "Or am I family enough to
GSten?"
You are in the way!" replied Alacia
quickly before her mother could re-
spond Would you mind? There art
cigarettes in the library" The boy got
to his feet. Unquestionably he was an
attractive figure In his too-well-cut
gray lounge suit. and Alacia made 8
mental note of the watch on his wrist
It had not been there yesterday. On
the table lay an empty jewelers. box
and the sight did not add to the sweet
ness Of Alacia's mood. As soon as the
door had shut behind the languid fig
ure, she turned abruptly to her par
ent.
Look here, mother" she said sharp
ly. Why did you engage Santini to
drive the Europa for us in the big
race?"
why are you always SO mean to
him?" countered her mother. I'm
sure he's as nice as can be, and yet
you talk to him as if he was servant
-llO, WUlSC Iildu tidl. I1dSl AS
always acted a perfect gentleman tc
you?"
Never mind his social qualifications
Just now, mother" said Alacia: Why
did you ask him to drive? Why die
you have the racing car turned over
TO him?"
Because he's q well-known driver
and a particular friend of ours!' her
mother retorted why shouldn't he
drive? What have you got against hi!
doing it?"
1-well nothing really" Aacia ad
mitted, except that the Grand PriS
Is too important to take any chances
about. It's the only big European race
we have never won, and am deter
mined to have that cup in our collec-
ton"
Isn't it far better then, to have
some one who's not only good drivel
but a friend?" Mrs. Sayers demanded
Indignantly.
TITS curious I never heard until to-
day that Santini is a pro-" said he
daughter slowly. And somehow don't
like that fact
.'Nonsense!" snapped Mrs. Sayers
lighting q cigarette with nervous fin.
gers. you are prejudiced against him
for other reasons"
"All right then, l ami" Alacia grant
ed the point. Il don't like him, moth
er, because I think he puts you in ar
undignified position. He's a nobody
he's 20 years younger and he's a pro.
fessional dancer-between races, any.
how! I don't like the way he acts with
you and don't think you ought to al
low it. And now you give him this
job. which will plant you both right In
the limelight. Don't you realize that
he'll play it up to the limit? He's
well, fond of him, but it's true ane
you ought to realize that before it's toe
late"
TOO late cried Mrs Sayers. what
do you mean by too late? Before it's
too late for me to get a little happiness
out Of life, suppose, after all the years
I've worked like dog! And now that
I've learned how to live, how to dress
how to act, and got beau. you start
talking about too late! Let me tell you
Alacia Sayers, Alfredo is crazy abou
me and enjoy it. don't intend hav-
ing it interferred with
"Mother Please!" said Alacia dis.
tressed. Please don't think I dont
want you to be happy! II you fell ir
love with some one decent and straigh
and your own kind, I'd be the last one
in the world to object, even if he didn'
have q cent to his name. Why, ever
dear old Dad wouldn't grudge you hap
piness If he could know. But this boy
Mother If you weren't absolutely blint
you could see what he's doingi"
"Alacia, be quiet!" Mrs. Sayer,
stormed, "Santini is not like that,
know him better than any one. Unles
you have some definite charge to makt
against him. you will please say moth
ing more. Now, have you?"
NO." said Alacia miserably, "but Tv'
seen 50 many like him, Just know
that's all! I think it's disgrace Il
have him officially representing us in {
big racing event, and I wish to Heaver
you'd call him off. AS to your persona
relations, well, I've warned you. CAM
do more. I only hope you don't con.
slider marrying him?"
Considering Is as far as I've got,
aid her mother In low tone Run.
ming around . little with q boy u on