Evening star., 1932-09-06
INSTALLMENT XIII.

u ARTIN was at the bureau tn
Nh following morning when JeaI
V arrived, and came into he
4 Y i office at once.
1T is good to see you bacl
again and looking so WELL" he said
standing In the doorway and surveying
the orderly Office with the yellow rose
on her desk, which had been DR.. Junet'
gift of yesterday to welcome her home
II am delighted to be back, she said
"It was mighty nice OF you to let mi
CO."
1T was the thing, I can see that
How is Miss Eagan?"
"Fine-browner that I. She is goinl
I'D to see her mother this afternoon
she will be gone two weeks, so I'll have
to get along alone. She thinks I'll not
know how to manage but as a matter
of fact l shan't mind trying-maybe
can think things out better when I'm
by myself
Have you things to think cut?"
Haven't we alp"
Lets think together tonight, shall
we? Will you have dinner with me?
I'D like to-" she said, frankly. There
was not much dissimulation about Jean
She loved Martin and did not bother
to conceal the fact.
4ICN NCIib W lllC CIs INSslo iiut
lovely time. Jean adored Vincent
Lopez's music and with Martin for a
partner, nothing could have been more
divine, as she mentally phrased it.
Then Martin said, abruptly, Come
want to take you home"
Driving uptown, he was silent. almost
moody. He parked the car in front
of jeans building and went upstairs
with her. She unlocked the door and
he came in with her, as if she under
stood that was what he had intended
to do when they had left the St. Regis.
Once inside, the peace of the big
quiet room worked its magic. They were
alone. the world shut out. Now the
emotions with which they had both
struggled so long found expression.
Jean, darling :"
His arms were around her and his
lips sought hers in kiss.
Jean was shaking when he released
her.
She went into the kitchenette without
comment. She found some whisky and
white rock, and was about to mix a
drink when she remembered there
was some champagne in the refrigera-
tor that friend of Marcia's had sent.
Marcia told her to use 1t. She carried
the glasses and bottle into the living
room
win you open this. please?" she
asked.
Martin poured the champagne and
Sat down beside her on the couch.
Here's happiness" he said.
'Is there such thing as happiness?"
Jean asked presently
1T is relative term. Happiness to
me means the woman love :. know
ing that she belongs to me that
no other man has a right to take her
out to dinner. -
Jeans face must have gone a little
white underneath her coat of tan, for
Martin put down his glass at once.
fWhy do you look like that? Don't you
know love you, Jean?"
She laughed a little. II thought it
was Lillian"
He took her glass from her hand and
put it on the table beside them. Then
he reached out his arms to her and, like
q tired child, she crept into them.
Martin wes thinking +. wondering
how he could say to Jean what he had
decided to say, what he must say before
he left her tonight. Now, he put her
away from him and, as an excuse, re-
filled their glasses.
Jean brushed back her dark curls,
and taking the glass, looked at him
with radiant, starry eyes. He thought
he had never before seen any one so
beautiful. no woman so desirable He
was willing to pay a terrific price to
have her for his own.
Martin drained his glass and then got
up and walked about the room few
times, stopping to look down on the
winding drive, the gray ribbon of river
beyond. Finally, coming back to Jean,
who was reclining on the big studio
couch, he sat down beside her Taking
her hands in his he held them tight,
while he proceeded with the most diff
cult speech he had ever made in his
life.
Jean, you know that I love you
words are not necessary to tell you that.
And you do love me, don't you?"
She murmured, More than anything
In the world"
Listen. dear" he said at last. "There