Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
Three O'clock
Wednesday
By PAUL M. VEST
Q. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.
0VX/HAT time Is it, Sally?"
" "Ten minutes to three, Miss

"Very well, you may go now, but be
back promptly at five. Dinner will be
at seven tonight"
Eyes, Miss Helen"
The outer door Of the apartment
closed with q soft thud.
The fragile and palpably lovely dg-
ure before the Louis Quinze dressing
table sat chin cupped in one slender
hand as she looked into the crystal
depths of the mirror.
Yet she seemed scarcely to be aware
of the pink and golden loneliness re-
fected there.
About her was an air of tense eX-
pectancy. Unseeingly she glanced down
ut the toe Of one small satin mule peep
ing out from the trailing green folds
Of her negligee.
A little frOwn puckered her forehead.
She looked nervously about the ex-
pensively simple bedroom.
The frown deepened.
She got up and adjusted the white
Venetian blinds to soften the light fl
tering through.
For half q moment she peeped be-
tween two Of the little white Stats to
catch a fieeting glimpse Of Central
park many dizzy doors below.
She walked a few steps back into
the room and stood still; she seemed
to be listening intently.
There was no sound In the apart
ment.
She picked up a sparkling crystal
Of perfume from the dressing table,
and delicately applied little glass rod
to her hair, the lobe Of each ear.
Fretfully she glanced at the red mo-
rocco leather clock on the writing desk.
Out In the apartment a doorknob
clicked.
The figure in green chiffon started
slightly.
Hurriedly she picked up chiffon
handkerchief from the dressing table.
She walked few steps toward the
door, paused and came back to the
dressing table where she sat down.
In the softly shaded mirror she saw
the tall figure Of man appear in the
bedroom behind her.
Her face in the glass blanched a
trifle-that was all.
"Why, dearest!" she exclaimed
there was nervous catch in her voice
What on earth are you doing home at
this time in the afternoon" She
seemed to be very busy with her cos
meticS.
"It's birmingham" the man in the
doorway said. ''he refused to follow out
my plan. Won't cooperate. We had
q directors meeting this afternoon.
blew up and walked out"
"Oh, darling. I'm so sorry" She
picked up a comb, but her hand trem-
bled so violently that she had to put
1t back. Her body was tense, CULVER
ing. With wide, staring eyes, she
glanced desperately at the clock. The
man in the doorway looked at the time
piece also.
"Three O'clock" he said. Was there
or did she imagine It?
"Where is Sally?" he asked.
II let her have few hours CT. You
know we are having dinner at seven
tonight. She wanted to see her broth
er or something"
"Oh." He selected cigarette from
the rich brown leather box on the writ
ing desk, and lighted it with the lighter
she had given him for Christmas.
She got up The room seemed very
unsteady. She swayed slightly. The
man in the doorway didn't notice-or
did he? She crossed to the writing
table. The little red morocco leather
clock licked with vengeance-five
minutes past three. She wanted to
scream.
Guess I'll take shower" the man
said. lawfully warm for this time Of
year."
"Why don't you, dear? 1t will rest
your nerves. I'll lay out your things
for you" Her voice trembled. She
leaned against the table to steady her
self.
Suddenly the telephone Jingled loud
IL. She jumped and muffled a cry in
her handkerchief. "I'I get it, dear"
sue uldudSeu " say. vi, ucuo, MA
RE, darling. Yes, of course,
I've been expecting you. Sure
ly. Surely, ! understand, Bill
Just came In from the Office.
Trouble of some sort. Of course, We'll
make 1t another afternoon :"
A great wave of relief swept over
her, leaving her unbelievably weak.
Somehow she got the receiver back on
its hook ut was Marie Jaynes, dear, "
she explained to the broad back turned
toward her. "She was going to drop
by but couldn't make It."
"Umm-m," he mumbled. Help me
get this dang tie off, will you?"
Water was splashing merrily in the
bathroom. Weakly she commenced to
pick up his clothes from where he had
flung them on a chair. A single sheet
of note paper dropped from his coat
pocket. 1t read:
'Would it interest you to know that
your wife is having an affair with one
Of the boys about town? Drop in at
your apartment three o'clock Wednes-
day afternoon.
"A Sympathetic Friend"
With trembling fingers she replaced
tie note The blood had drained from
her face. She looked fondly at the
diamond hracalatS IN hor clopdo,