Nogales international., 1933-07-01

tar IN the hits Joyce had found
little group OF pines OIL the edge of a
towering redwood grove. When she
lay down on her back in the warm sun
shine ard looked UP through the pines
at the blue sky, she felt as if she were
floating in space.
She lay thinking of Neil, and with a
little thrill Of satisfaction she decided
that he showed no evidence OF missing
the old Friils.
She lad now met practically every
zanita and had found out enough Of
their history and circumstances SO that
she could get by safely in most cases.
The month was not YET lip but Joyce,
surlmarizing her impressions and the
knowledge she had gathered. felt that
size had given her environment a fair
study and was entitled 10 draw her
conclusions and plan her future course
without further research. -.
First, as to Neil. She had made a
number Of enlightening and cheering
discoveries concerning him. He was
devoted to golf but did not care for
dancing; he liked liquor h,1t never
drank to excess. ard he disliked risque
stories more than most Of his acqua!nt-
ances guessed. He believed in taking
ones part in tllcNlifc OF the community
bur he would have been happy to stay at
home four evenings cut Of week to
crjoy the quiet pleasures of private life.
On her return fyom San Francisco
she had once more been forced to face
the problem of her relations with Matt
land. He had telepiloned and called
several times the first day while she
was out, and on the second morning,
just as she was ready for ride on
Rosita, he had appeared and caught her
:. Joyce let her thoughts dwell dream
iiy for moment on Maitland and in
stinctively she found herself compar ng
him with scorn to two men-Robert
Aiusworth and Neil Packard. Measured
by Ainsworth's standards. Malta nd
had no chance at alb : Jas aim st
unfair. even to compare them.
Maitland had once or twice attempt
ed to reopen the subject of their love,
but Joyce had continued to treat him
with such unmistakable GOODNESS that
he was baffled and finally let her alone.
In her thoughts she now came back,
with quickening Of her pulses, to the
problem of her relations with Neil.
They had gone out together the evening
before and cooked camp supper high
up on hillside overlooking the valley.
They fingered until it was dark, watch
ing the stars creep out into their places.
Joyce, hugging her knees, sat and
breathed in the peace and quiet, while
Neil stretched OFT close to her, smok-
irg a pipe and playing gently with
Diclzic'S ears.
Suddenly Neil had rolled over to-
ward Joyce, and, putting hrs arms
around her waist, laid his head Oil her
lao. Joyce leaned back resting her
weight on her hands behind her and
did not touch him. She had lately
avoided every slightest demonstration
Of affection toward him, for she had
come to the disconcerting conclusion
rnore than once that Neil was finding it
harder and harder to keep his feelings
in check :.
She could not help. realizing that it
was botl, unwise and makind for her
to slip her hand in his. to smooth back
his hair, to lean against him when they
SAT together, to do any one Of the doz-
ems OF little ca-essing things which she
found herself, in her liking and pity
for him, involuntarily and quite inno-
Gently inclined to do.
The slightest motion of this sort sent
q fame of hope leaping into Neirs eyes
How long could this go on Il was
becoming more ard more difficult for
then, both. Joyce trenbled little tc
recall the terseness with which Neil
had haaily released his hold on her the
previous evening
Joyce had been curious to see joyce
Abbott, the one woman Neil seemed t.
like, and the meeting with her hat
cor.ie two days after her conversation
with Ethel about the dinner for Rhod'
Maitland. Il was nearly i've o'clock ant
Togce, dressed in riding clothes. wa
waiting for Neil 70 come home ak
take a ride with her before dinner.
She had just left the mirror in tn
l;ving-room wf!en she heard a moto
and looking out saw 4 small, shin
black roadster drive I'D to tire door.
The girl who got cut was dressed
white linen with white felt sport ia
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