The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-10-06

| y
was the man l saw with Barbara
at the Book Shelf. l didn't tell
you because l hated to spoil the
dinner for you after you had
worked so hard. | hope you'll
drop him like a ton of bricks if
he's started tw0timing."
''Pm going up stairs" Joan said.
Don't worry, Pat. My hearts in
tactw
She wanted to be alone. Up
stairs in the hallway there was a
window. Joan paused there, star
| ing at the darkness outside. If
Bob had been casual or indiffer-
ent it wouldn't have occurred to
her to believe he was beginning to
care. But he hadn't been casual.
He had seemed eager to be with
her. He had been tender and pro-
tective-not possessive. The way
he looked at her, the way his deep
voice dwelt on her name. Well,
another girl was probably think
ing the same things and coming
to the same conclusion. Bob had
preferred to be with Barbara evil
IDENTIFY and had broken a date to
go there. The chief engineer!
II won't be like this" Joan de-
termined bravely. GIVE always
despised suspicious, catty people.
III just forget himn'
But there was no lifting of the
shadow in her eyes. She opened
the door to Benny's room. Ben
! my, you've hardly touched your
dinner" she exclaimed.
Didn't have much appetite to-
night"
Joan stood looking down at him.
Her heart ached. How thin he
was, and yet how dear and uncom-
planning! /
"Joan. that Mr.. Weston who was
here last night is a regular fellow,
isn't he? liked HIM"
Eyes" She stopped and patted
the thin hand. Tomorrow you're
going to the clinic again and be
thumped and pummeled." She
lifted a pillow and shook it before
slipping it under her brothers
head.
Joan, Mr.. Weston likes you a
lot. doesn't he?"
Benny" Joan broke in breath
,lesSly. "You romancer! I barely
know him.
She sat down beside the bed
and began reading. The book re-
lated the adventures of Richard, a
modern lion-heart, whose deeds
furnished a thrilling saga.
Once when dangers were pilling
up for the valiant Richard she
stumbled over the words.
why JOAN Benny exclaimed.
you're crying. Richard won't
die. You don't think they would
drop a hero right in the beginning,
do you?"
Yes, you would drop a hero right
in the beginning unless you want
ed to suffer terribly.
"You look tired" Benny said
There are black smudges under
your eyes"
Il. The black smudges were still
there in the morning. But they
were not there an hour after
breakfast. 1t is wonderful what
magic there can be in a telephone
call.
"I'm afraid I called you too
early" Bob's deep voice came over
, the wire. but l couldn't wait"
He couldn't wait. Happiness
came flooding back.
81 was wondering if you could
not arrange to have lunch with me
today. And. Joan. want to ex-
plain about last night"
at doesn't, matter"
"All right, go on being a soft
boiled eggw came Pats vehement
whisper.
at was a party a girl l know
had planned. She had been trying
to get me all day and counted me
in anyway. 1t would have upset
things if | had dropped out at that
hour. l was sure you would I'M
derstand."
He knew she would understand!
She had been silly.
"About lunch?"
you're absolutely a sap if you
don't show some spirit" from Pat.
"I'm terribly sorry, Bob, but
I'll be teaching until noon and I'll
be busy this afternoon, too"
"Well. all right. It's going to
be a long day for me. But l guess
IPll find plenty to do at the plant"
His voice sounded cheerful. He
had no idea that he was being
punished, Joan decided.
"Shall drop around about
seven?"
"Fine," said Joan.
Pat stood in the doorway, her
coat and hat on. "You're letting
him come tonight" she asked
scornfully.
"Yes," said Joan radiantly, 81
am"
"You don't know the first thing
about handling men," Pat said.
"Not the first thing! Imagine let
ting him off as easily as that"
"I'm never going to be so silly
again." said Joan. "You had me
imagining all sorts of things. And
there was no reason for it."
She might have felt less light