Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-05-13

Woulu Dc PleaSeQ 10 arrange TO call OF
for you to go to his consulting room
in London" The Creature was knit
ting SO rapidly now that the needles
flashed dazzlingly in the afternoon
sunlight.
Diana closed her eyes.
THANK you. That will do nicely"
she said, uncertainty.
When, a little later, Miss Startling
had gone for her usual constitution
al, Diana sent a telegram.
1t was addressed to Dennis Water
man at some West End Club, and
consisted of only two words:
"Yes, Diana"
Diana left the cottage very quietly
IN the Friday afternoon. She told the
Creature she was going to dinner and
a theatre with Dennis Waterman and
would no be home until late.
Diana drove straight to Mrs. Glad
wyn's house when she got to London.
She was not expected, and the maids
seemed rather clustered by her sud-
den arrival.
She intended to pack a small suit
case for which Dennis would present.
ly send his chauffeur, and after that
well, after hat her mind was a
blank-after that nothing would mat
ter very much. Nothing mattered
very much now, if it came to that.
Diana was amazed because she felt so
cold and u~nconcerned.
Even the thought of Rathbone
hardly distressed her. That episode,
precious as it had been, was definitely
ended.
She did not know what plans Den
mis- had made, and she hardly cared.
Since the afternoon she sent that wire
she had often wondered why she had
done it. 1t was not because she want-
ed to go with Dennis except that deep
down in her heart was a foolish, few
erish hope hat perhaps he could help
her to forget-could drug her senses
and take away the endless pain of
loneliness and longing.
Dennis was the one creature in the
world of whose love she was conf
dent, and so she had turned to him as
a half-frozen outcast would turn to
the first fire that CLEANS through the
night.
She had no regrets-nothing mat
tered.
At seven o'clock she sent the maid
for a taxi and put on her cloak. She
would be a little early for Dennis,
perhaps, but the silence and memories
of this room worried her-it would
be better to get out and mingle with
the noise and hustle again.
She went down to the waiting taxi,
leaving orders about the suitcase. She
did not care if her aunt's maids sus-
pected anything; she knew it would
not be the first time she had set them
all talking. 1t was only really gen
uine people like Miss Startling and
Jonas who made one feel ashamed.
The cab stopped, and a commits
s%ionaire hurried to open the door. Den
mis- had chosen to meet her at this
small, rather unpretentious restau-
rant, because he said they would be
unlikely to meet anyone they knew,
and it was Diana herself who had
suggested the theatre. cts 50 long
since l saw a play" was the excuse
she made, but that was not the real
reason. 1t was because she felt the des-
perate need of excitement to help her
of stimulant to give her courage;
if Dennis Offered her champagne to-
night she would certainly not refuse.
She walked into the little lounge and
sat down by the fire. 1t was very
quiet-just the kind Of place runaway
people would choose, Diana thought
cynically.
The swing door moved noiselessly,
and Diana turned. If it was Dennis
Diana stared blankly for a momen
at the woman who came in-stared,
and thought herself mad or dreaming
for the woman was Linda Waterman.
She was alone, and their recogni-
ton was mutual before Linda came
across the lounge with easy confidence,
beautifully gowned and looking young
and untroubled.
"How strange-that you should be
here" she said. dennis tells me O
have been very i'll. I hope you are
better"
"Yes-yes, thank you"
Linda held her hands to the warmth.
There was a large diamond one one
finger that caught the Light and
sparkled into cold white flashes of
fire.
Diana was very pale, and the vivid