The Washington times., 1933-07-07
CHAPTER SIXTEEN

And truly I was thinking OF
you when I introduced you as
Patricia Haverholt. AS you've
probably heard. my own private
reputation is none too spotless.
I was trying to protect you for
the future, really was"
Whatever you were trying to
do" said Patricia, "I think it's
best that we see each other no
more until I can pay you the
money I owe you. I'll get it
some other way. I can't work
for you. And it's impossible for
me to live here in this house" :"
She moved away from him.
Suddenly he stepped in front of
her, in front of the door, and
spread his arms.
"You can't leave like this,
Patricia" he said, II won't let
you"
Get out of my way" Patricia
said. I'm going home"
mo" Haverholt said stub
bornly resisting her attempts to
pass him. II know that you
plan to go home and cry all
night and there's no sense in it.
I won't have it. We're going
to dine first"
I'm not hungry, tell you.
Get out of my way. I want to
60 home"
"Of course you do" he
agreed. "You want to creep
into your wretched little room,
fling yourself across your lumpy,
uncomfortable bed and sob and
sob. You're all set for an orgy
of self pity. I see all the signs
of it. It won't go down,
youngster, not with me-" He
ended firmly, whether you like
1t or not, you're going to eat be-
fore you leave this house even
if I have to resort to forcible
feeding"
You don't know anything
about how feel" protested the
girl, half angry, half fearful.
IF you did, you'd know that
I simply couldn't swallow a
mouthful. It'd choke"
II know all about it," he de-
clared in his own high-handed
fashion. you car eat. And,
If you still feel wretched after
roast beef and baked potatoes
I'll be surprised. Food is a
marvellous anodyne for grief
and worry and regret and all
the sorrows that man is heir
to. If every prospective suicide
were compelled to eat one ham
sandwich there would be-"
Patricia Smiles
"Stop it," demanded Patricia.
Despite herself she had smiled.
She said resentfully, "Oh, all
right, since I must, I'll dine
with you"
Her capitulation was dis
tinctly ungracious. Haverholt
grinned triumphantly, seized
her gloves and pocketbook lest
she change her mind. took her
hat. Beaming, he led her back
into the living room, ensconced
her in a comfortable chair, said:
II can have dinner sent in by
the caterer around the corner.
Or would you prefer hotel?"
"This is all right" said Pa
tricia coldly from her position
on the outermost edge Of the
chair. Haverholt continued mer-
rily:
"The caterer it is then! Let's
see now," he murmured. chow
about squab and new potatoes
and green peas and. -"
"I'd rather have asparagus
with hollandaise," the girl in
terposed absently.
Haverholt caught her eye. Pa
tricia was a picture of con-
fusion and guilt. Suddenly they
both burst out laughing.
"And what do you say to
strawberry mousse!" asked the
man.
"I say grand" she assented
meekly.
Haverholt m a d e his phone
call. Thereafter, things moved
with a swiftness bewildering to
Patricia, who had never
dreamed of an existence so un-
complicated, so easy, so lux
urious. Haverholt desired to
dine at home. His cook was
away. He didn't run to the
corner grocery for a can Of
beans or to the delicatessen for