Evening star., 1934-10-29
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE RETURN.

n r ARIAN continued her laugh
n ing. But Silver is so accus-
N toned to having every man
l / who sees her fall in love with
her that she thought you
were no exception"
What kid," Lon murmured
How old do you think she is?"
About your age, I guess-well, q
little younger; she went to school with
you, but If she was married when she
was Is"
She wasn't" Marian reassured
him. "and just to relieve your fear of
having given child the wrong i'm
preston. she's six years older than ]
am. which makes her So
Thirty i. . listen, Ian. do you have
to go off on some fool yarn?"
Il do, but she's the fool yarn ]
have to meet her and go to the hos
pital with her and you have to &c
along with us. No, we can't break
the news of our engagement until
she's through with her interview with
Hondon. Your presence will keep her
straight. If nothing else will" she con-
cluded enigmatically. Come on"
But wait, Ian, look" he drew q
small box from his pocket, that
woman has caused me more trouble
I'd planned on waiting for the moon
and everything. and but here it
is. I bought it after we got in and
couldn't sleep for wanting to put it
on your finger so the whole world
would know you were spoken for"
He slipped a ring with a single
blazing stone on her finger, then, with
Anne merrily singing in the dressing
room to prove she wasn't listening,
tried to make up for the lack of the
moon.
He succeeded so we'll that Marian
didn't think of Silver. nor of the letter
she had placed on the dressing table,
intending to slip it into her pocket,
until they were near the airport.
They had talked Of many things.
principally of their honeymoon.
II hope we'll be able to make that
without little Cheerio popping up some
place. Honeymoons, you know, are
supposed to be spent all alone"
with Hero"
You mean you want the pup, too?"
he asked in delighted surprise
Il do. You know, saw him before
I saw you. He was sitting in your car
outside the Emergency Hospital.
had the queerest feeling about him,
as if, somehow, he should belong to
me-"
BY the time they reached the air
terminal the ship had landed and
Silver was busily engaged in posing
for news photographers. Seeing Lon.
however, she flew to him, smiled at
Marian. then linked her arm in Lon's S
and said, Can we hurry on now?"
I'VE can said Lon, and with Marian
on his other arm ushered them to the
car
But I'm afraid I'll take cold" OBJ
jected Silver as he helped Marian in
first.
Don't insult my car" countered
Lon, adjusting the glass slides so no
vagrant wind would blight her delicacy
AS they drove along Silver leaned
forward and talked to Lon, ignoring
Marian completely. Lon answered
lightly, good naturedly. He said he
was sorry he hadn't been able to wait
for her in Reno, regretted she hadn't
left her address so he might have ad-
vised her he was leaving, was sure
her nerves were shattered by the air
trip. And then they reached the hos
pital.
Not until they were ascending the
steps of the big gray building where
q hushed silence hovered like pail
did Silver's animation leave her.
Marian saw her look down the long,
dimly lighted corridors, where nurses
slipped along on rubber -soled shoes
like wraiths from another world. She
heard her catch her breath in a quick
gasp, then saw the narrowing of the
dark eyes.
Marian and Silver were left alone
together as Lon stopped at the super
intendent's Office for the written per-
mission to visit Clifford Hondon.
Listen, Ian" began Silver. you
got me into this, now it's up to you to
stand by and see me through"
Marian nodded assent, afraid to
speak for fear the relief she felt would
tinge her voice. She was not only to
accompany Silver to his bedside, but
was to be able to prompt Silver.
And Mr.. Casad," Silver again linked
her arm in his as he returned, you
will stay with me, won't you? It isn't
as If everything were not over between
Mr.. Hondon and me, but I can't let
him know that at a time like this,
can II"
1T wouldn't be sporting" Lon
agreed.
Il just wanted to be sure you under
Stood" murmured Silver then became
silent. They had reached the door