The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-11-09
C1eas NEA SERVICE, INC III

her, dancing with her, swimming
with her. J
David Bannister had returned
to fremont. MIL.
wood and what was the good OF
it? Adele's smile, Adele's throaty
laugh, Adele's trim, flashing an
kles were as much in his thoughts
as they had ever been. He had
come home to rest, to definitely
erase from his mind the night
mare he had been living through.
But he had not succeeded.
Tonight he would write anoth-
er letter and then destroy 1t. he
could write down the sneering
Bitterness of his disillusionment.
He could write, too, that ne
loathed and despised Adele, but
he knew this was not true. he
knew that he loved her. Scorned
her, saw her for exactly what
she was-and yet loved her.
The taxicab swerved, rounding
a corner, and Bannister's preoc,,
cupation faded. He saw ahead
two bright lights and recognized
the entrance of the Shelby Arms,
the city's new and only apart
ment hotel. The Shelby Arms
had been pointed out to Bannister
half a dozen times by prideful
citizens. 1t was generally con-
sidered that the apartment hotel
appreciably increased the metro
pyital tone Of fremont.
Signal lights halted the taxi
cab directly in front of the build
ing and Bannister studied the
brightly lighted doorway. Sud
denly the door opened and a CIR!
appeared. She was dressed in
green and she halted, apparently
dismayed by the rain. Then,
head bent to shield her face, she
ran down the steps toward the
cab.
From his glassed-in section the
driver rumbled protests, but the
! girl did not appear to hear. She
came directly to the cab, pulled
back the door. 1t was then she
saw Bannister. She cried in 4
startled, muffled voice, "1-oh,
I'm sorry
"Not at all" Bannister put a
hand on the opposite door, open
ling it. "You wanted cab, didn't
you? I'll be glad to let you have
this one" He moved to step out
into the street. .-.
Listen, lady," the gruff voice
of the chauffeur objected, 81
gotta fare. See? This cabs oc-
cupied."
T The girl had drawn back. Ban
mister, too, stood in the street
now, the rain trickling down in
side his collar. "Get inside" he
said harshly. you're drenched
already"
Obediently she climbed into
the cab. But" she appealed, 81
can't let you do this! l can't
take your cab from your
She was a pretty girl. Very
pretty. In the dim light Ban
mister noted a pair of grave,
wide-set eyes and saw that her
hair was blond. He was aware,
too, that the constant trickling
of dampness inside his coat collar
was uncomfortable. Chivalrv be
hanged!
He said, cts a bad night and
we both seem to need shelter.
Since there's plenty of room for
two in this cab perhaps you'd be
willing. to let me ride with
you"
"Of course l will! It's your
cab really. If you'll let me go
as far as the Hotel fremont I'll
be ever so grateful! | wouldn't
think of taking your cab away
from you"
Bannister stepped back into the
cab, leaned forward and said to
the driver, "Hotel fremont. 1t
meant retracing the entire way
they had come but what of that?
He drew out handkerchief,
wiped away the rain drops from
his neck. "Rotten night" he
said easily.
"Yes-it is"
He turned toward the girl and
was surprised to see that she was
gazing directly ahead. AS though
she were starring at something
he could not see. He asked
quickly, as there anything
wrong? If you're i'll we can
find a doctor"
She turned then. ooh, no! Pm
perfectly all right"
But she wasn't; a fool could
see that. She was pale and the
wide-set eyes stood out in the