Evening star., 1932-05-07

and Ill be able 10 leave you tne money
unen I'm gone-leave it to you tied up
SO high and dry Cora wouldn't stand
look in"
"Why why II don't know
what to saw =" gasped the girl.
Then listen a bit W lie I talk"
snapped the man. You want to travel.
So do l. I'm going to see this world
while I live 1t may be week-a year
maybe longer. It's Gods will alone.
But my will is to see Gods world while
I'm here. And I'm going to get some
good out of my money while l can and
when I'm gone 1 want some one to have
il besides Cora Cameron and her daugh-
ter. They're comfortably fixed now
they don't need my money"
In times Of emotion Joyce always
grew pale. She was colorless now. Her
eyes seemed almost black in her chalky
face. The old man looked at her
shrewdly.
Taken you off your feet, haven't I?
Well, I suppose it is a bit staggering
But couldn't lead up to it easier.
You see, I've got to act fast. Cora's
started" tapping the cablegram
which lay on the bed beneath his with
cred hand. Shes determined woman
Every mans got some weak point
don't care how big he is in the business
world. Coras mine. I suppose
formed the habit Of being afraid Of her
and it's an inhibition that's grown with
the years I was never a man for
women. Once there was girl" He
moved restlessly oh, well, no need
TO go into that. Cora broke 1t up any
way. The point is"-his eyes mar
rcwed in a way many business COM
petitor knew to his sorrow-'the point
is. I'm going to beat Cora this time.
I'm giving you the chance to get some
thing of what you want out of life"
A moment when the girl did not
move. A moment while the old man
continued to regard her with level eyes.
Il might add" he went on, and there
was a softening of his voice, that 1
ike you. 1 like your spirit. l was
something like you when 1 was young.
Maybe you don't entirely dislike me?"
Il like you" Joyce said softly, and
for a second she fought back the tears
in her eyes. Il like you better than
l ever liked any one in my life except
Kitty. I don't like many people"
Who's Kitty?"
joyce told him. Told him fully and
simply about her friendship with Kitty.
Told him of Nadine and of that strange
half-world life that she had grazed.
The old man listened. motionless ex-
cept for his bright, devouring eyes.
When she had finished he spoke.
Il was going to tell you that would
take a nurse along. Well travel-that
is, If you accept this proposition. May
be this Kitty would go along. Shed
be a companion to you then as well.
Well go neutrality-suspicious.
the world, no matter what 1t costs.
@f 6nf hn-
fore. oh, well. You'd really
be a daughter to me. I'd leave it that
way. but it wouldn't do. The world
would never believe-the worlds like
that, Joyce"
Her name sounded so odd on Roger
Camerons lips that Joyce jumped
gently. Well, this has been surprise
to you. You aren't used to making
business decisions quickly. Think it
ever. Tell me tonight what you decide.
But remember-itn have to be fast!
Cora's on her way here"
Roger closed his eyes as a sign that
the interview was ended.
Joyce went quietly from the room.
She found that she was trembling as
she walked down the corridor and she
went about her other duties in daZe
which won her sour look from the
superintendent of nurses.
1t was twilight when Joyce went back
into her own room, which she shared
with Kitty. The small, bare space was
thick with shadows and she could hear
the cold drip of rain in the court out
side the window.
Joyce flung herself on her narrow
bed and buried her face in the pillows.
ha hod N nd RI fhiY7R this aStnnlSh-
ing proposition over calmly-very judi
ciously. Instead, she found her mind
a maze of drifting pictures.
Old Rogers keen. ugly face and his
crisp voice. Something pathetlc
about him. Cheated of life-he was
turning to her like a small boy asking
her to show him how to play.
For a moment the difference in their
ages was forgotten. Joyce felt far older
and wiser than he. E. His wife.
Well. other women had married for
money and few so honestly, so cleanly.
What a strange thing E. what
tremendous thing to happen to her!
Marriage when she had
thought of it, had meant Norman. Had
meant a rush of sweet passion through
her blood. That was over-over and
leaving not even pain in its wake. Just
joyce was still lying face downward,
tense and thinking, when Kitty came
in, slamming the door.
No doubt Kitty was in rage! Her
face was red and angry. Her blue eyes
we're swapping. She had run her fingers
through her gray-Streaked hair until 1t
stood out wildly.
THAT Morrow woman is a fiend in
carnatei" Kitty was viciously shaking
a cigarette from a package as she de-
livered herself of this. Forgot to
change the diet on pol and puts the
blame on me. Joyce. I'm going to clear
out Of here. I can't stand 1t! per-
son has some pride. I'm going to get
out"
Joyce had swung to a sitting position
and through the thick light she looked
over at Kitty's dark figure and blazing
cigarette.
The moment was forever stamped on
her memory. The rainy twilight filling
the room with shadows. The cleaning,
cold high lights on the bare white
dresser. The drip of the rain in the
court-unbearably depressing . un-
bearable.
Joyce heard herself speaking in
high voice which she did not recog-
nize.
Want to go away with me- Kitty?
Away to the end of the world? Shanghai
-Borneo-Italy-? All those places
that have always been nothing but
names to us? To have lovely things to
wear-and travel? Want to,
Kitty?"
She could sea the red fash of Kitty's