Nogales international., 1933-06-24

It was evident that Neil was blow
ing off steam which had accumu-
Lated for some time, and secretly
Joyce's spirits rose little. She was
glad that he was asserting himself.
She had an odd little feelIng-odd
when you considered that ne was,
in terms Of actual experience, noth-
ing to her-of pride in his outburst.
Frills seemed to her more than ever
an alien, a separate individual, al
most like first wife. She was
moved by Packard's emotion and
filled with an overwhelming desire
to erase that hurt look from his face.
"I'm not trying to put anything
over on you. =. | don't blame
YOU for not believing me now, but
swear I'm telling the truth about
this. l know I've been pretty !.
rotten, but now . :" she paused.
It was so difficult to say what she
wanted to. A mixture of shynesS and
fear, and the unaccustomedness of
putting her feelings into words, held
her back for moment. But again
her desire to make Neil realize that
she wanted to be friends with him,
that in the future he would not have
to worry about her actions, drove
her on. "Well perhaps that blow
on the head knocked little :.
sense into me-"
On impulse alone Joyce suddenly
came close to him and smiled up
into his face, a little tremulously,
and said, please, let's start over
again and, after this. : well,
don't expect me to be any white
robed angel, but III try not to worry
you too much"
She was unable to say more, for
Packard abruptly drew her close to
him and kissed her again and again,
murmuring words of grateful sur
prise and happiness. Frills, darling
;. I love you SO, sweetheart You
you really mean it, dear? -. |
thought all my chances of happiness
were gone, but now =. Ill do every
thing | can to make it worth while
TO help you if you really mean it.
Joyce, submitting to his caresscs, re-
flected ruefully that she had never been
so much kissed in her life as she had
been since she woke up in Mrs. Neil
Packard's bed. Gently she tried to free
herself. Poor Neil He did find it hard
to believe that any such miracle as this
had happened. She smiled again, all her
JOY in the day restored, knowing that
he would go off to work filled with
hope for the future security of his
home and happiness.
''Of course, | mean it, But you
needn't take my word for it. Just give
it thirty days trial. Satisfaction guar
antced or your money refunded" she
replied lightly, slipping out of his arms,
<'hctter..run along to work now.or you
might lose your job. And don't forget
our date at five this afternoon.
"You bet l WON'T Gee, but +.
whoopee! l :. wish didn't have tc
go down to the office. | feel like cele-
brating-"
sYou go along~ exclaimed Joyce
alarmed at the threatened loss Of heI
day of freedom and feeling the need oi
a rest after the strain of this stormy
scene, 81 can't have you around all day
I'm going to be busy"
"All right And say, if anything doe:
come up you'd rather do this afternoon
its all right you know. We can go to
mothers some other time"
',fhe date is made If it's broken
it'll be your doing"
When she got out to the stable Joyce
found Sam about to mount the blacl
horse. "Oh, Sam, where arc you go
ing ?"
FWhy, Mr.. Packard asked me tc
take some papers to Jake Anson. It's III
beyond Elk Flat in the hills, goo'
long way from the road, so he told m
I'd better ride Barney" explained Sam
"Well, couldn't I go with you" 7" de
nanded Joyce. She was still l1ttl
nervous about going out alone, whe
all the trails were so unfamiliar to hel
"Why, sure! I'll saddle Rosita."
When Joyce got back at noon after
two-hour ride, during which she learne
mitch about the country and its poss
bilities for horseback riding, she wa
informed by Roxie that she had mlsse
two sets of callers.
Joyce played with Dicleie in the ga.l
den for half an hour after lunch ST
retired to her room to rest and rea
until time for Neil's return. I'm out
every one. Roxie," she gave definite II