Evening star., 1934-05-23
Restless Women
BY JANE DIXON

| beast, has been clinging to Bubbles
all evening"" Valerie fiared "I thought
he was jealous of Steve. He's bolting.
knew he was a slippery cad"
IF you knew 1t why did you play
about with him?"
valeries tight lips dropped at the
corners. He was convenient. I liked
HMM way. After all, one must
play"
''You had better turn him over to
Bubbles, for the time, at least. Did
you tell Rene anything about-you
and CLIP"
Valerie's slant eyes no longer were
languid. They were terrified.
"Why-no. That is, believe did
prattle a bit one night in AK when
I was tight. gave Rene to under
stand the elopement was all lark"
Il think he's passed your prattle
on to Bubbles. She means to dish
that. or something, If you don't let
60 of Rene"
What a nest of vipers," Valerie
said, and shuddered.
Eyes, aren't you'll" Sandra agreed.
Excluding yourself?"
Excluding myself. no longer be-
long. I've crawled out. You had bet
ter excuse yourself, Val, and slide
along to Corinne. I promised her I'd
send you at once"
"CoriAne can wait" Valerie tucked
pale gold ringlet behind an ear.
I've no intention of leaving. I'm
enjoying myself. I like this brawl,
and I'm rather keen about Steve. He
fascinates me-"
Sandra came closer to Valerie, fas-
tened her fingers around the perfect
arm. swung Valerie to face her.
Get this, Val. and get it straight"
she said, clipping her words. You're
to leave Steve alone"
"Dont-you're hurting me!' Vale
rie tried to drag her arm away from
Sandra. The tawny fingers bit into
her soft flesh. you're being the per-
feet fishwife. Does Steve belong to
you?"
"Steve belongs to himself" San
dra's fingers were wise on Valerie's
arm. She felt an unholy desire to
keep on squeezing until the bone
crumbled. Hes doing things. You're
not to stop him"
Steve can decide what I'm to do"
The fingers bit deeper. Valerie
WINGED. Anger and pain gave a SAL
low tinge to her pearly loveliness.
Already decided Sandra dropped
the arm. 1t showed crimson where
she had pressed it. "I'll protect Steve
at any cost to you. to Corinne. to
myself. That's final You've ruined
Gilbert Akin's life, you've ruined your
own life. Now you're out to ruin
Steve's and mine. New ruins, eh?"
"Yours-and Steve's. You've linked
them together conveniently. haven't
you? You're too ridiculous for words,
my dear Sandra.
Ridiculous? Funny as a 'front.'
page murder, with pictures"
Valerie remained through the eve
ming. A considerably subdued Vale
rie. The pale rose was even paler
than usual. adopting an air of pathos
vastly more becoming than her bold
pursuit had been. Sandra had asked
Sonny to take her home She would
have to be up and about in the morn
ing. clear-brained, if she was to help
the Queen fit into the part In the
skit
Walls plundering again." Sonny
remarked before bidding her good
night.
You mean-about Steve?"
THE same. She's q bold one"
Steve can follow through. After
all. grown man should be capable
of building his own protection"
'Steve's boy In experience, worldly
experience, and this mob Of ours is
beyond his depth"
Sandra laughed. TYou mean that
set that used to be mine"
Sonny ignored the implication.
"Steve's lived a normal life. simple,
even frugal at times. I understand.
He's like a man who has never taken
a drink. The first one makes him
want to fly kites. Good night, Sandy.
Castles in Spain to you. You've
earned them
Sandra tried to browse her way to
Sonny's castles in Spain Impossible
when ones brain and heart were
racing. What a night! How life
crowded inl
"I've got to cut out the old crowd
completely. refuse to go about with
them, even to see them," she told
herself. No. She could not. They
would not let go of Steve. They
would steal his time, sap his ambition,
distort his mind, stultify his moral
sense. And when he failed with his
writing, as he surely would. they'd toss
him aside like toy balloon that had
burst. She would have to go on, help
Steve to realize the crassness, the cru
city Of it all.
(To be continued)