Evening star., 1933-11-08
rNsTALLMENT XXI.

- UE. sitting well back in her chai,
in downtown Office. Com
posure. She must be perfectly
~ calm. perfectly collected. Alert
and vet not SO alert that she
would appear to be on the defensive
There must be no hint at those emo
tions. laundering within her. threaten
ing to burst through the dam of her
will
She hoped Mr.. clifford would not
keep her waiting too long. Inactton
was the most severe punishment that
could be meted out to her at present
Anything was better, scenes, storms,
violence, She would welcome a force,
tangible force, at which she could
fight back.
Already she had been through one
scene this morning. Pretty brutal 1t
was, but she had come out of it with
out retreat. 1t was after Sue had been
summoned to his Office by Mr.. Clifford
that Beatrice Randall appeared at the
door of the suite In the Randall house,
virtually demanding entrance.
ST should like to know what we're
to do" Beatrice came in with a rush,
gazed about her with the air of one
expecting contamination.
do about what?' Sue asked pleas
antly enough.
ABOUT what" Beatrice fell back
before such effrontery "Oh, nothing
much Nothing except the prize scan-
dal of the season. Nothing except what
every ones rolling under the tongue
this morning-Jeffrey Randall's wife
sued by woman, some common crea-
ture no one ever heard of. sued for
stealing the creatures husband. What
shall we do? What can We do?"
I'VE will do nothing" Sue stepping
up the pronoun This is entirely my
affair. I know nothing about it ex-
cept what's appeared in scandal
sheet. I intend to learn all about it
today If there's anything you should
know, III see you're informed"
Indeed you will" Beatrice Ran
enveloping her. "I'll make it my busi-
ness to be informed. Randalls do not
permit their name to be a target for
public shame, without finding means
to extricate it. You hear n1e-to ex-
tricate it,"
I'm sure they do" Sue adjusted her
hat You see. I'm Randall myself,
So know precisely how you feel"
You a Randall?" Beatrice's scorn
tore through high laughter TOO bad
jeffrey was in such haste about Uncle
Grizzlys money, wasn't it? Too bad
Jeffrey didn't know about this Mr..
Henry Hume You've taken jeff in
heaven knows how-blt you're not TAX
ing in the rest of us. I demand to see
Jeffrey. I've tried to reach him for
two days. If he has any decency left,
he'll see me, and he'll see Cyril"
That's a matter for Mr.. Randall to
decide" Mathilda said, handing Sue
her bag. I'm afraid you'll have to
excuse us. We were just going out"
Il wonder If you have the nerve to
face people," Beatrice ragged I'm sure
haven't. after that scurrilous story
In the paper"
"You shouldn't be so sensitive. Miss
Randall" Mathilda advised. She was
a fairly good actress herself She sound
ed real motherly Mrs Hume is not
accusing you of stealing her husband"
Just who are you2" Beatrice turned
on Mathilda with suddenly unveiled
suspicion. Why are you here? What
are you protecting this-this woman
Jeffrey's brought into the house-what
are you protecting her from?"
Mathilda smiled. As blandly as
though her fingers were not tingling to
leave their imprint across a white, dis
torted face.
From anything that might bob up"
she said, stopping in the doorway
through which she had herded Sue.
Prom marble busts that come to life
and leap out of walls. from disgruntled
ladies. from conniving relatives-just
anything that bobs.'
Then you are spy!e Beatrice fol-
lowed to the door. Here to make
trouble for us. You admit it. And you
can tell Jeffrey Randall the whole
matter Of his marriage. including the
past of this woman, is going to be
sifted. Cyril and intend to get the
truth and to expose 1t"