Evening star., 1933-11-07
'BARcATl IN L0yEE&1 0lyEE&
BY JANE DIXON XStLfa

smile. A hand waved. He must have
turned the corner. Happiness.
What would await her, Sue Santry-
no Sue Randall - when the train
stopped? When she raced the long run
way into the great domed sieve OF
Grand Central through which the hopes
and fears, the joys and sorrows. the
intrigues and the plain open-faced plod-
ding Of everyday life sifted?
She had wired Mathilda to meet her
Had she rolled out of Grand Central
bound for the home Of her childhood
three days ago? Three weeks ago. three
months, three years. The home Of her
childhood. Strange now. As all places
were strange to her Of late.
Those three days had been kindly
Tommy was the light. How he had
grownl Straight sa a string. Straight
and clean. Strong, too. He would be
quarterback of his high school foot ball
team this year. He would have been.
Tommy was not going to be in high
school this year. He was going to a
school where he could live. Where he
could study and play. Where he
wouldn't have to do odd jobs between
times to earn his books, the clothes
he wore 'Rah, Tommyl
Her mother. Dear, futile mother But
unutterably precious. Mother was go
ing ON a trip. She was like a girl
about it, She had never been on a
trip, a real one. which took days to go,
days to come back The doctors had
advised long rest, change.
Herman was in a dither. He wore
the tall hat. going about telling the
neighbors how he had decided Ito close
the house and take the missus on trip
to Californy" His attitude toward Sue
was changed. The Prussian in him was
gone. He fawned Another power had
taker. hold: Money power. The gold
cigarette case with the gold coin in it
Sue had brought him for gift. She
could hear him clinking the coin in the
case Vanity. Cupidity.
A coat for her mother, black, with
silver fox. Silver fox for her mother.
No price she might pay could be too
high for that. Tommy's sweaters. Six
of them in q row-red. blue, white,
black, green, mottled-with socks to
match. And a wrist watch, self winding
Yes These were real. They were sub
stantial. Worth the price, no matter
what she paid.
The train slowed to a stop. Sue told
herself she must be orderly. Take her
place in the line. There was only Ma
thilda to meet-Mathilda and jeffrey?
She cut her way through the line
and raced along the runway. Through
the gates, the roped circle and inside
q middle rope-Mathilda!
You're aloneP" Sue asked, disengag-
ing herself from Mathilda's embrace.
who did you expect, the Sultan Of
Siam?" Mathilda waved away red-cap.
You're still wearing that rose dress.
1t looks pretty sad
"I know. It's grimy. haven't had
time to think about clothes. Where
do we go from here?"
I'VE go to the Randall town house.
Conner is outside. In other words, Mrs.
Randall. your chauffeur with car
awaits"
Sue. holding back.
"Matty, not there It's morgue. A
morgue- ue-unless-Matty, is JEFF there?"
jeffrey is on his way to Mexico.
But that has nothing to do with US.
We're in a deal Our part of the deal
calls for us to report In the Randall
house within half an hour after the
arrival OF your train. So let's find
Conner" Sue agonizing: Mexico! He'd
gonel Shed driven him out. Driven
JEFF out of his home, out Of her life.
Or had she? Mexico was in the bar
gain. jeffrey was keeping to the terms
Of the bargain. So, then, would she.
Sue, in a shell pink peignoir-by or
der of Mathilda-with lace cascading at
neck and elbows.
A knock ON the door of the suite.
Living room Mathilda answered.
Dinner is at 8, madame"
MRS. Randall is dining in her rooms.
Service for two, please" Mathilda
staggered the length of the room. She
brushed imaginary dust from her
sleeves. Am learning?" she asked,
fitting her head at Sue.
"If you weren't such an apt pupil,
I'd be sunk without warning" Sue so-
mitted. ''Mattyl" Sues two clenched
fists came down on her knees. You
he want me to do?"
Suppose we ring for tray Of cock
tails" Mathilda leafed a magazine. IT
never drink them, but as long as I'm
being educated, may as well run the
course" She rose and pressed the bell.
A maid answered.
cocktails. please" Mathilda ordered,
stepping behind the door so that the
maid would miss the grandiloquent
gesture that went with the order.
Par -ti-cu-lair?"
mo, just cocktails. Non poisonous,
with a kick in them"
Thank you, madame"
Mathilda closed the door. Don't
thank me yet" she muttered. wait
till you see how these cocktails act
on me-"
Sue, slipping from silver cup, long
stemmed, a chalice. Msthilda slipping
too.
Get set" Mathilda explored her
chalice for a cherry. I've news for
you, Susie. You're not going to like 1t,
but you've got to take it. Now make
yourself all comfy in the corner Of he
sofa And If you pull one Of those