Evening star., 1934-05-04
RESTLESS NOMEN
By JANE DIXON

| the cool Sneet TO ease ner ClreQ llmDS.
Why hadn't the tall young stranger
| followed his impulse and asked her to
dance? Perhaps he feared he might
be asked to leave by some such snob
as Gil Akin. And that would prove
embarrassing for her. He had been
right of course, not to submit him.
self and her to what, with her temper,
might easily have been a scene. But
she had wanted that dance. Not hav-
ing it had spoiled her evening. Funny
how, even at long distance, she could
recapture the feel of his arms, the
breathlessness of the moment he held
her close. She was drifting off to
sleep.
Was she dreaming or had some one
come into the room? She sat up in
bed, trembling. Some one was in her
room-over by the door!
Quickly she switched on the light,
fearful of what she might see. Fac
ing her with dull, staring eyes, was
Valeriel
Something had happened! Was
that gray-faced bedraggled apparition
really Val?
Sandra leaped out of bed and laid
strong brown hands on the figure,
shaking it violently to make sure 1t
was flesh and blood The real Val.
Sandra laughed Historically, with
relief.
"S-s-sh!" Valerie put a cautious
finger to her lips. "Corinne."
Sandra looked at the clock. Seven.
Still dark? No, the blinds were drawn.
She went to the window and ran up
blind.
Val still stood at the door. trem-
bling. If Val would only speaker
novel Why was she here?
Better try the downy, darling" San
dra advised, trying not to notice Walls
olsheveled state. you look as If
you'd been hitting high when the
crash came"
Sandra walked toward her sister.
Don't touch mel" Valerie cringed
against the panels of the door. Leave
me alone. I'm a fool-a vile little
fool-and I've lost Gilbert Akin. I've
lost him. He'll laugh-he's that way.
Everybody will laugh-the whole rot
ten world"
Sandra placed her hand on Valerie's
shoulder, roughly. Better snap out
of it," she said crisply Gripping
won't do any good. Maybe you had
better let me in on what's happened"
Valerie wrenched herself from San
dra's hand, began tearing off the
misty white dress that had cost SO
much. 1t was a hopeless ruin
crumpled, limp, shapeless. Its wearer
seemed to take an unholy pleasure in
destroying it completely. The ripping
sensations released emotions frozen
within her. Her delicate face shone
ashen, her lifeless eyes were narrow
and sly.
I've been on the Akin yacht-with
Gil-alone," she said.
Sandra reached for a cigarette.
Surprising how steady her hand was.
ANY one know about it?" she said,
toying with a lighter.
Val shrugged her shoulders. "I
think not. The tender was at the
landing. He ran it out himself.
There must have been watch, but
the crew were asleep"
Then forget it. He wouldn't chat
ter. He's not as bad as that"
mo? Well, he will talk-he'n talk
to me. You don't understand. We
were alone. Gilbert was-he had too
much to drink"
You're engaged-you're going to
marry him. aren't you?" Sandra
pushed back her hair. Her hand was
wet where it touched her brow.
Il don't know" Valerie felt eyes
boring into her own-and shrank
from them. Don't stare at me So"
she whimpered. II love him-Id
marry him today, if he'd ask me-
Sandra'S knees wavered. Her heart
was in her throat, suffocating her.
"Ycu mean he hasn't-asked you?"
she gasped. You went on a yacht
alone, with. Gil, drunk
st WENT Valerie's face was gray
again. Il thought I could manage
him, force him to a--proposal."
you thought" Sandra crushed the
cigarette she was holding between her
fingers, clenched it there. You
didn't think. You're incapable of
thought. You haven't the brains of
a guinea pig. You told me Gil Akin
loved you"
Valerie's eyes were wide and wild,
her face distorted.
I'll kill myself" she screamed. 81
don't care-nothing matters
mo, don't think you will" Sandra
shrugged her shoulders. Melodrama.
At such a timel 1.-THE first act of
this play is over. We've got to write
the second act ourselves and we've got
to make it click"
IF Corinne hears"
"Corinne won't hear. Well see that
she doesn't. Get into bed, will you.
Val? We've got to keep our heads.
It's Mr.. Akins next move. There's
nothing to do but go on as If tonight
were bad dream-untn you find it
isn't"
Sandra pulled pajamas out Of a
drawer, helped Valerie slip into them,
drew the blind to shut out the mount
ing sun. For a long time she was
conscious of Walls feverish tossing. of
the dry sobs that shook her slender
body.