The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-05

I across the lawn, the graceful figure of the guest from Belgium.
 
 Chance had selected DeVos for her next victim, but Linda could have wished for 8 more tranquil frame of mind in which to meet the opportunity. It would have to be a smooth and subtle Delilah to pierce the guard of this mans self possession.
 He was good-looking. he was charming. ... and he had a way with him. Flirtatious? Not ex- actly. Hypnotic? That was silly word and a silly idea. Compelling :? Yes, perhaps, but that implied stagey "he-man stuff" Fascinat- ing? Yes-in the sense that some thing smooth, fluent, perfect is fas- cinating.
 For some moments there was no design to their conversation and as DeVos lounged there on a low, chintz-covered chair, Linda felt that it would be hard, in spite of his apparent deference to her wish- ] es, to guide this mans mind into | any channel which he did not wish to explore.
 Suddenly he sat up with an ex- clamation of keen pleasure and she {! turned toward the water to see what had attracted his attention. Running close inshore, past their l tiny dock, whizZed long, racing speedboat, beautiful in its clean lines and flashing speed, cutting a | flare of white water on each side | oa s,ly A,1er Etxyf- dently there was purpose in this sudden, dramatic dash into their immediate waters, for as it passed white arm semaphored violently l toward the lawn and both Linda and DeVos waved in answering greeting.
 "That's the Comet - the Stoner boat" Linda vouchsafed as the ap- I partition quickly dwindled. "That was Fleur, of course-born Florrie but she changed it to he the same as Galsworthys heroine. She does her best to live up to the model in l 6ther ways, too," she added. CT felt horribly catty." she admitted to Tom afterwards, but I meant to be I provocative-and was.'O For a moment, however, there was no reply to what she had said. Her ears told hef she had spoken in I just the right offhand way, letting ] the words carry their own malice. Then, a cigaret lighter having been deftly manipulated, DeVos spoke | with an air of deliberate specula- ton.
 Miss Stoner is the daughter. l | understand, of one of your great capitalists?"l
 Eff you call him that< He's made millions in patent medicines" "Ah! It is not usual to inquire too closely into the source of a for tune after half dozen zeros have been added-to the leading figure"
 Though she was sufficiently sensi- tive to catch the rather insolent | evaluation in the mans tone. Lin- da could not help her quick laugh ter.
 T have just passed very pleas ant hour driving with Miss Fleur in her most" he gestured expres- sively-"s shall we say, astonishing carr"
 Again Linda could not help smil- ing. Fleur's perfectly outrageous imported sport car was known through the island both for its startling appearance and for its owners equally bizarre fashion of driving. Fleur, delighted at the chance to show it off to any such unusual visitor, would have been quite confident of his unqualified admiration on both counts.
 Unfortunately" the Belgian went on refiectively. "Mademoiselle Ehad a date-I believe that is the proper term flor this speedboa, trial with local expert and we re- turned without exploring your love- ly island further"
 "So being dismissed by the lady fair, you came back to me-"
 Quite affably, he agreed. It cer. tainly was difficult to pique thif suave foreigner however. easy ht might be to insult. Linda consid- cred this as though her mind pass led picture of that terrible scene on the Country Club potch-Cou. sin Amos blandly innocent fact and the grssy, tense fury of the man now stretched indolently on tho lawn.
 q should have liked an hour ol so on the water" he went on, un'
 conscious of her thought, "bu
 there was not room for--super.
 cargo, think Miss Stoner called
 1t. Or rather the speed test made
 it necessary to have no extra
 weight in the boat. I believe there are to be races"
 Next weekend" said Linda
 "They were postponed from thii
 because the commander of th' yacht fleet is away"
 You have a capable looking lit lt tie boat there" He nodded toward lthe trim cabin cruiser. dancing de corously at her mooring beyond the downward dip of the terrace