Evening star., 1933-01-03
INSTALLMENT XIII.

Its going to be a bad night fol
- driving" Alacia said. Really
| 4 Mother, why don't you make
them wait until tomorrow Sup
| pose they have an accident. The roads
are covered with oil and I turned 9
complete skid coming home tonight
| Do make them waltz Santini, draw
ing on his gloves, bow,d to her with
mock courtesy.
You are aVfully solicitous for my
welfare all of a sudden!" he grinned
Very sweet of you, my dear made
moiselle but think we will start fol
Monte Carlo just the same"
"Oh, Alfredo, do be CAREFUL" Mrs
Sayers cried distressediy. "As Alacia
says, 1t is awful slippery and If any
thing should happen I'd never forgive
myself for sending you off"
mo more dangerous than staying In
Paris, belle amie" Santini replied with
audacity.
"You never said truer word!" added
Alacia, grimly. But her voice was los'
in the roar of the engine. The me-
chanic sprang aboard and the car be-
gan to move. Suddenly Alacia gripped
her mother by the arm.
Don't let him go!" she said, en-
treatingly. II tell you he must not
go! 1 can't explain now, but you've
got to stop hin!" But Mrs. Sayers shook
the hand of impatiently, running few
steps after the car and waving her chill
fon handkerchief, smiling and blowing
kisses as the car slid out into the wet
sparkle of the rain-drenched city.
"Good-by, good luck!" Mrs. Sayers
called after them. Bring back the
cup, nowl Wire me, won't you? Be
sure, don't forget! Good-by. good-byi'
When the car had disappeared from
sight she turned back to the garage
shaking the raindrops from her cloak
and looking angrily at her daughter.
"I think you might have wished
them luck" she said disgustedly, "ever
IL you don't like him! You might
have been pleasant enough to say good
IT didn't think it worthwhile" re-
piled Alacia, buttoning her coat uI
under her chin, because I expect tt
see him again In very little while
and when do, I'll say plenty"
what do you mean?" her mother
demanded. why were you so anxious
for me to stop him, and where or
earth are you headed for now? You're
surely not going out again?"
| IT surely ami" replied Alacia. ''But
since you don't seem interested in try
ing to help, there is no earthly use ir
my telling you anything except thai
Santini is a crook, and I'm on my way
to prove iti''
| A group of servants had come out
to watch the departure of the famous
car and some Of them we're still stand
ing under the portico of the tradesmen'!
| vofV fhay1n CCOft fho IA
chanic.
Get the top up on my car" Alacia
orodered, briefly. Hurry, please, Tn
pressed for time Better run in the
house, mother!" she added. "And don't
wait up for me. I may be late and
don't feel like talking"
Il think" said her mother, "that
you are in beastly mood"
II am" the girl admitted In a Low
| tone. you've wrecked my act tonight
by siding with the wrong person, and
I'm too furious to be decent, but DOM
care to talk before the servants and
haven't time TO come indoors" Mrs
Sayers looked at her daughter as II she
thought the girl had suddenly become
demented, shrugged her shoulders, ane
finally disappeared into the house with
out another word Of protest. Alacis
gave 4IcL Jug uItO oCOLLS charge, dHC
| jumped into the drivers seat
"Shan't go with you, miss?" asked
| the little cockney. Hits an 'orriblt
bad night"
mo, thanksi" said Alacia, startinl
the engine. "I'll be all right" AND
in another moment she was out on the
wet gleam of the avenue, cautiously
feeling her way over the treacheroW
pavings. Paris, in the rain, offers the
most dangerous driving of any city ir
the world and tonight it seemed TX
Alacia as though she would never reach
| her destination without a crash The