Evening star., 1933-02-11

wv afternoon OF carly Janu-
ary. Shes gore" "I'll
never face that" said
Michael.
well. II you feel that way" said
Malcolm.
II do happen to feel that way" said
Michael, but he began to think that he
could find q little rest with the knowl-
edge that she was dead; the things he
imagined as happening to her, and that
he could not help but imagine, were
making of his life q more active hell
than any mortal should bear.
Sometimes Michael grew afraid that
he would end up In Bellevue or some
spot OF the sort, manned by strong at
tendants, kept from 1eaping by barred
windows. But he thought this not very
often. For the most part his entire
thought was given to Carroll.
II want to offer a reward, now
Malcolm" said Michael.
They don't think it's wise or safe. "
Malcolm answered. frowning. He didn't
know what was wise to do and it was
all so disturbing, distressing. unsettling
He hadn't even appetite at night any
more and Malcolm had always enjoyed
dining.
what are they doing2" Michael
asked frantically. Nothing! Well
keep it down to five thousand; that
isn't large enough to make any undue
excitement. You see 1t offered often,
and, Malcolm-I've got to do some
thing"
When the offer Of the reward was
made public Arch set to some hard
thinking. 1t was possible that he could
tip old Wister of and get the reward
without anyone's ever knowing. OBJ
viously, his mother must never know.
Lord, wouldn't she raise he'll If she ever
knew? But flve thousand was five
thousand, and she kept him down to a
miserable allowance thinking his salary
his salary" with sneer-should
suffice.
The five thousand, paltry sum though
It was, would help lot. He vented te
turn in his car and get a new one; 9
thousand there. And he had to senc
Cordelia flowers regularly from the bes,
shop In town: the marriage to Cordelis
would be the marriage for him, he
knew. And what with other things he'd
spend 1t as soon as he had 1t, but even
though quickly spent 1t would smooth
the way for q little time.
1t was lateAJanuary when Arch de-
cided definitely that he would hunt ur
old Wister to learn whether he could
He felt he could. and that old Wister
being man Of the world, would quite
understand his point OF view and the
jam he was in.
So he set forth
And the same day that he set forth
that late January day. Miss Meens
house knew drama, full drama, with the
heroine turned out into the cold and
snow. and her boxes set out upon the
pavement where she. stood, dazed, in
credulous and terribly, terribly hurt
by the fact that any one could think
such evil of her as had been thought
Of her by them all
The morning had prefaced heavy
drama for Carroll, leading lady, and for
her audience, was another Saturday
and every Saturday meant furious
preparation for the coldly uncomfort-
able virtue Of Miss Mems Sundays
She labored, 1t seemed, under the i'm
preston that God was going to look
behind every. picture for dust, and Car
roll, although unsympathetic with this
idea, had to subscribe to getting ready
for the inspection.
However. the morning had been un-
usually amusing, and through it Car
roll had felt her first impulse to some
thing Of the old variety OF light-hearted
laughter. Miss Meens, who could hardly
be described as a lover of animals, had
taken the pepper box out front to
season the trees. And this done, Carroll
had helped to drag out the hose and to
hose of" the front of the house, the
day being mild enough to permit this
sport.
Then Miss Mems had got after the
pavement" land her manner Of speech
was apt) with a worn-down broom and
pals Of soapy water; and scrubbing, she