Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1933-12-01
CHAPTER Iv-continued

She took up his picture and studied
1t. Rocky was even handsomer than
his picture His looks were not at
fault. It was the everlasting mockery
In his eyes that she could not bear.
She paced up and down now. beat
ing her fist into the palm Of her hand.
"But can blame him?" she muttered
Look what he must think am"
Someone knocked on the door. Doris
sat down on the edge Of her chair.
"Come I'M
Mrs. Du Val entered and raised her
pudgy hands in protest.
"What. You are not in bed? All
Doris. Doris. I came to say good
night"
II was just getting ready for bed"
She dived into the bathroom. Mrs.
Du Val would not be satisfied until she
was under the covers. Well, she could
get undressed and get in bed, and
when the fussy little woman was gone
she could get up and put on her clothes
again.
She came out and began taking off
her clothes as quickly as possible. In
few minutes she was In bed. Mrs.
Du Val was kissing her goodnight.
Il leave one little light for Rocky"
she said tenderly. She, closed the
door.
Doris; bounced out of bed
She switched on several lights, fever
ishly put on her stockings. She con-
sidered the room wildly. 1t looked too
intimate. She began to make up the
bed, tucling the covers In neatly at
the sides.
She gave long sigh, Strengthened.
She would put on little cotton sport
dress, low heeled shoes. At least
Rocky would see she wasn't trying to
look seductive. She crossed to the
closet to get them, and heard Rocky at
the door.
She stepped into the closet.
He came in quietly. She listened.
Her heart was once more playing it's
familiar rat-tat-tat. At last he spoke.
"Aren't you being the least bit old.
fashioned?"
She made no answer.
"For Gods sake come out of that
closet. won't bite you. You seem to
have caught your clothes in the door,"
She was struggling to put on long
lacy negligee. but 1t resisted her. That
was 1t, then. 1t was caught in the
door.
She opened 1t cautiously. The lace
gave small protesting murmur.
'You've ripped it, Baby"
She came out, trying to look digni-
fed. "Please don't call me Baby"
"What shall call you, then?"
The fact that she couldn't answer
his question irritated her. To have no
name had been tragedy. Now it was
merely an annoyance Being a false
wife was so much worse.
She fixed her eyes on him gravely.
She was surprised to see slow flush
come into his tanned cheeks. He
dropped his eyes. In spite Of herself
Doris was Modified She smiled n
little
THAT'S a nasty little SMILE" said
Rocky. "Have you been practicing it?"
All her fury came back.
you're awful"
"D-n it ALL Do you have to be the
prima donna every minute?'
II? /? A prima donna ~
II don't know what else you call 1t
to keep up this part of injured inno-
cence. You'd think from your attitude
that was trying 20 palm myself off as
your husband to your family
Doris sat herself down violently.
"You-you You twist everything
Didn't say was willing to tell your
parents? Weren't you the one who
wanted to keep this up? Another
thing. l won't have you in my ROOM
If you don't get out Immediately I'll
open the door and scream"
She watched him light cigarette.
"Will you have one?'
mo"
"'No, thanks is the conventional
term, believe"
"Thfs situation isn't entirely conven-
tional. If you think you're going to
SPEND the night here, you're mistaken
"Oh ye-asr
II meant it when l said I'd scream"
"you haven't screamed yet, Honey
And don't call me-"