Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-05-26

heard him say again, Goodbye.
Be happy" And then he was gone.
CHAPTER XIII
During the next week quite lot
happened
In the first place Dianas car ar
rived, and there was the renewed ex-
element Of driving 1t once more; driv-
ing it at terrific speed with the Crea-
ture silent and terrified beside her.
You'll break yuor neck" she gasped
once, and Diana laughed recklessly.
THAT would save lot of trouble,
she said flippantly. d.
Then second cable came from Dennis
Waterman to say that his departure
! from America had been unavoidably
postponed for another fortnight
Linda, Of course" Diana told her
self, but she did not care much; moth
ing seemed of great moment just then.
Miss Startling was going up to Lon
don that evening to lecture on some
thing or other. She had told Diana all
about it, but the girl had only listened
half-heartedly wondering why people
| should trouble to waste railway fare
on anything so dull.
She had offered to drive the Crea-
| t,.rSa Y,r IN fc.r,v, =, xho cor h.,4 Lar
refusal had been quick and decided
mo thank you; besides, shall have
to come back by train"
So it meant an evening alone
Diana leaned on the gate and de-
cided that after all she hated the coun-
try| 1t would be fun to get into an
evening frock once more and dance at
| the Savoy or Ciro's; fun to drive home
in the early hours Of the morning
through brilliantly lit and almost de-
serted streets: London was wonder
city at night.
Did Rathbone ever take Resale
Something -or-other to London? Or
was it his idea of happiness always to
keep her down in the country and walk
hand in hand with her through lanes
and woods
Diana had not seen either of them
! for more than week, and she sus-
pected that they were deliberately
keeping to the other side OF the vii
lage
She sighed and made little grim
ace.
Well, let them ]. Rathbone must
be missing her just little, seeing that
she missed him SO terribly.
BE happy That was the last thing
he had said to her. and since then she
had been more miserable than ever
in her life before.
The Creature came out of the house
I'll drive you to the station" Diana
said quickly. 1t would be something to
do-something to help pass the time.
Don't drive too quickly, them" Miss
Startling said nervously.
She sat with one hand tightly hold
ing the door handle during the short
drive, and Diana was highly amused.
Diana stood on the little country
platform till the train went putting
slowly Londonwards, then she turned
dispiritedly away.
The evening lay before her, long and
lonely.
And the thought came to her;
IF Donald were only here"
Funny she should think Of Rathbone
by his Christian name. she could not
remember that she had ever done SO
before Well he had more than once
called her Diana.
IF Donald were here !"
Why not? 4. She felt her pulses.
jerking with strange excitement. Why
not drive over and see him?
Diana caught up a wooden jersey
from the coat rack and slipped it over
her silk frock before she stole softly
out and through the garden.
The big gates of Rathbone's grounds
were shut and she had to stop and get
out in order to open one of them
Diana went up to the big front door.
1t was open, and beyond she caught
an attractive glimpse Of a wide hall and
some bits of old furniture and shining
brass.
So this was where Rathbone lived.
Diana stepped onto the inside mat
and knocked with her knuckles on the
door panel.
Was everybody dead or asleep
She knocked again and was con-
scious of light movement in the dimly
Lit hall
Somebody at last She took another
step forward ready to speak, and at
/ the same moment Nero, the big Asa
tian, came running down the stairs,
and then, after the barest hesitation he
moved slowly towards her. walking on
tiptoe.