Evening star., 1934-08-25

"But DR.. Gillespie did not tell me
your name"
"Oh, that's too bad! And you've
been in the dark all this tfrne?"
well, since your mention of Dug
gan I have seen light" murmured
Mazda.
She found Gerald Pryde delight
full ompanion-their tastes in food
and jokes coincided, and she had
never had dance partner who suited
her better.
What is your first name?" he asked
rs he guided her among the fantastic
dancers. "I can't 60 on calling you
Columbine, and since we are going to
be old friends as rapidly as can
bring it about, I think such old friends
should know each others first name.
Mine is Gerald, by the way. Awful,
7 know, but not my own choosing"
Il think 1t suits you very well, said
Mazda. After all, you are the ro-
mantle type"
"You mean sentimental? Decidedly
not"
IT mean-you like strange places
and strange people. know that from
what you have told me of your life.
And think, once you get an idea in
your head or a feeling in your heart,
you would 60 through hell and high
water because of it"
"You interest me strangely. Tell
me more" he responded mockingly.
Mazda wrinkled up her nose at him.
"I feel crushed" she mourned. II
think I will sit here and recover my
equanimity while you get me some
punch"
Mazda sat down on a wicker chair
behind group of palms and watched
him as long as she could distinguish
his costume in the kaleidoscope
throng. He was nice and it was fun
to get away from hospital duties and
home worries and have a carefree
good time. She smoothed her black
skirt lovingly.
"Columbine, you have brought me
luck" she said half aloud Just then
she looked out through her leafy
screen and saw another Columbine
walking quickly toward her. It was
like seeing herself in mirror-the
girl was very much her size and fig-
ure, and the costumes were identical,
even to the red wigs. Columbine No.
beckoned imperatively to some one
Mazda could not see and stood tap
ping her foot until he came to her
1t was DR.. Gillespie.
"He will think it is me-" thought
Mazda ungrammatically.
We'll, you see I got here" said
Columbine No. 2 unpleasantly.
II don't know what you are driving
at. Do you mean your partner has
left you? Would you like to go back
to the table?"
Don't try to play the innocent.
told you I wouldn't stand for your
neglect and won't. Where's that fat
slob you brought tonight? I'd just as
soon tell her.
DR.. Gillespie changed suddenly
from the polite and prim little man
Mazda knew to one Of cold brutality
"It's you, is 1t? I've told you !
would have no nonsense. You've been
drinking"
Mazda was horribly uncomfortable
but having made no move to declare
herself at first, she could hardly do so
now. To add to her CONSERVATION,
Gerald Pryde came up behind DR..
Gillespie with the glass of punch for
her and stood there uncertainty, for
the tension of the scene was apparent.
What If I have?" said Columbine
No. 2 shrilly "It's enough to make
any one drink. I'm good enough for
you, while you played up to the
women whom you thought would help
you with your career. Now it's this
squatty Altenhof girl. But I'm on to
you at last. You want to marry her
I'll see about that. You have a few
things to square with me, and don't
you forget it."
Gerald Pryde, looking disguised
and naughty, turned on his heel and
walked away. Mazda wished fer
vently that she could do likewise. DR..
Gillespie approached the frantic
woman and said in a voice like the
lash Of a whip, BE quiet! I'll see
you tomorrow about this. If you
know what is good for you you will
not make spectacle of yourself"
At the touch of his hand she shiv-
cred, took a deep breath and said
hufhbly, Anything, darling. Don't
hate me. You don't know what I
suffer"
1t was perplexing scene. Perhaps
the pirate garb was not so inappro-
pirate to DR.. Gillespie after all. When
at last Gerald Pryde came for her
she felt reluctant to mention the
scene they had both witnessed. She
could have joked about a casual en-
counter with her double, but what
they had witnessed tonight ap-
preached too near nasty situation to
be treated lightly. Pryde's face was
grimly set and his words were few.
The delightful intimacy which had
been in the making all evening seemed
shattered. She wondered how good a
friend Of his DR.. Gillespie was that
this should cut so deeply.
I'm sorry to remind you," said
Mazda soberly. II suppose you were
told that have to be in by 12:30?"
She could not be her natural self
when she said goodnight to DR.. Gil
lespie and Miss Altenhof, and she felt
Pryde's eyes upon her gravely.
He treated her with icy courtesy, in
marked contrast to his manner earlier
in the evening. Could she have Of
Tended him, or was he merely bored?
(To Be Continued)
Wheels Sewers WOman's Leg.