The Washington times., 1932-01-02
CHAPTER IL


about Roger-raised herself on
one elbow from her rug and
Quizzed her friend about the
handsome stranger who last
night had come to her rescue.
Fall for him? How much
does that include?"
"oh no! You get me per-
fectly"
mo, do not. Unload what's
on your mind! Come right out
in meeting, Imogen!"
From the undergrowth a
bright-eyed little rabbit peeped
out at them.
well, on your own confes-
sion, weren't you alone with
your brand-new Adonis till
o'clock this morning? l wasn't
born yesterday, and I can't be-
heve the whole thing was con-
fined to-er-juSt talking"
He bandaged my head after
dabbing the cut with cold
water"
That all?" Imogen had the
grace to look momentarily con-
fused since she herself-and
her jealousy-had been respon-
sible for this need of medical
attention on the part of her
friend.
j We'll, he jabbed iodine on
the spot since you're so darn
curious. -"
"And you were incoming with
him for ages-in a roadhouse?"
mo - not moonin g-I
wouldn't call it that" said
Laurel thoughtfully, "d'you
know, I'm, he was terribly-at-
tractive!"
"well, honeymaking, then?
Out with it,"
What on earth d'you mean?"
THAT he's a handsome he
male. and you're of the op-
posite sex."
Goodness, I'm! You talk so
sort Of queerly-"
''Well, what were you doing
all that time, boxed up in that
place?"
What do you think was hap
pening?"
''No one can tell me-but
him-or yourself"
Ill At Ease
Laurel felt oddly shaken by
this conversation. She felt a
kind of resentful anger against
1mogen, too. and yet she
wanted Imogen to go on. .
wanted to gauge what was
really in Imogen's mind. =. it
was as though two different en-
titles were struggling within
her own being.
To grab everything. expert
ence everything .Imogen and
that other lesser self of Laurel's
were egging her on to that. .
like the fabulous monkey, she
felt it would be wonderful to
squeeze every drop of pleasure
from the fruit-even the for
hidden fruit-of life.
A heat raced along her
nerves. She was nervously con-
Scious that she was flushing.
She wished that Imogen
wouldn't stare so, with that
semi-amuSed, Semi-sarcastic smile
of hers.
Don't forget curiosity killed
the cat, old dear" she contrived
to fling out, with a brave at
tempt at nonchalance.
Don't stall. Laurel, you're
pretty, God forbid. Just now,
all warm and confused like this,
darned if you aren't a rarin'
HIN. You'll be telling me
next that I'm opening up like a
morning glory!"
"And why wouldn't you?
What's to hinder you? Haven't
we all got beyond the old, stale,
Puritancal conventonS?"
''Hark at the grill"
Don't bluff. If you haven't
had a real fling yet, you're dying
to. I'm wise to you, Laurel!"
well, we all seem to be hit.
ting the broad highroad. Why
pick on me?"
Because wouldn't be sur
prised in spite of the way
things look, if you're still cling
ing to the fetish OF the straight
and narrow :"
"How smart she is! Why
don't you write play? Or do
some cute dialogue for the
talkies?"
A Pagan Goddess
But Laurel, disliking Imogen
at this moment, still wanted her
to go on wanted her to
continue this heady, exciting
conversation.
Imogen turned round on her
rug and faced the sun. It shone
beneficently on her beautiful,
almost naked body.
She stretched her arms above
her head with theatrical ges-
ture. I'm my last incarnation
must have been a Pagan
a SunworShipper just as in
this cycle I adore freedom and
self-expreSSion," she announced
with a deep breath.
Freedom for what?"
"F'or whatever looks good to
me. I take what I want. I'm
a match for the men of today,
Laurel"
"You mean-?"
~ mean that I give the merry
ha-ha to striped outworn con-
yentions."
NGn"