Evening star., 1934-10-19


other man will be fooled then dis
illusioned by watching your pale
curls against that russet back
ground. You slipped up in your
choice Of a favorite chair, Silver.
1t gave you away.
1t showed you up for what you
are a white flame, promise without
fulfllment, beauty without warmth
sounds maudlin must be
Spring that acacia tree oue-
side the window here in full bloom
your cue to laugh Silver.
sent the things you bought to
Fells Storage. Your attorney will
explain why I asked you to buy
them from me
The queerest thing" Silver said
in explanation, he made me buy. pay
actual cash for my very own house,
hold things"
Marian sat up. alert. Now she was
beginning to understand but you
didn't pay full value" she stated.
NO" agreed Silver. Il didn't pay
much of anything"
Wait" Marian was reading swiftly
now. Behind the scrawling letters lay
the story of an impulsive. quixotic,
sacrifice.
He'll explain a lot of things but ,
you won't understand you're
short of understanding not
expecting 1t but oh wish TO
.. oh what's the use
Some fool poet said love was
blind. 'Tisn't. Just cock-eyed. -
You love a person. You know every
fault but you figure their virtues
outweigh their faults. That's
laugh
If loved you enough I'd stick; ,
around and teach you a lesson
stead of going away but then
some other fool blinded by your
beauty would save you suppose.
If this life is preparatory school
to discipline the soul, there's only
one hope for you . =. that some
day you'll fall in love with some
one who doesn't love you and
after you're old and have lost your
beauty providing you could
lose that or love any one other than
Silver
Marian tossed the letter aside as
| she arose and began pacing the floor
Silver. what kind of a settlement did
Cliff make on you?"
The stingiest you ever heard Of.
Just house on the San Ramon River,
and a few, silly little bungalows in
Alameda that won't pay enough to
keep me in stockings"
The old Hondon homestead was In
/ TOy1fro HNxfo Cn,ioty ert Ard
this is part Of that. this house,"
Yes. His mother left him the bum
galows, so he's not out anything"
Silver. listen. See if you can't
understand what he has done for you.
| You know the community property
laws of your State, don't you? oh.
my dear, how can you be so blind.
Cliff was facing bankruptcy He knew
| lis creditors could demand the liquida-
tion of all your community property to
meet his debts. He held them off
until you won your decree. then like
the gentleman he tried to be, he went
about putting himself out of the way
so the State could not assume the in
herited property by proving collusion.
Don't you understand, Silver?"
You bet I do" she retorted with
narrowed eyes, ''he told the truth in
| that letter when he said he would
teach me a lesson. He's only trying
to shame me. I doubt if he's even ia
tally Wounded
Marian didn't answer, she stood
! staring blindly before her. seeing the
cubicle-llke rooms of the Emergency
Hospital. the white iron cot, the low
shaded lights, the nurse bending low
over PROSTATE form, listening to
| breathing that ebbed as the dangerous
hours of the night moved on.
| Silver" Marian stood before her
pleadingly. won't you forget yourself,
Just once? Telephone the hospital.
Send Cliff word you're flying down to
be with him. Have the attendant tell
him you understand and appreciate
what he has done. I know II he thinks
you're coming he'll fight to live until
you reach there"
Don't be a fool" cried Silver. I'm
not milksop like yourself. Do you
think I m going down there and make
a spectacle of myself for your news
paper readers to gloat over? Well I'm
not. don't care whether he lives or
dies. I'm through l tell you. through.
I've had all of his jealousy and penny
plnching 1 intend to have I wouldn't
lift finger to save him"
All right" Marians blue eyes we're
black with anger, IF you won't, I will.
Get out of my way"
With swift determined steps she
crossed the room to the telephone
Oakland. Calf, Lakeside 1900" she
said. then looked up.
Silver Hondon was crossing the
room with a catlike tread, arms
stretched toward the instrument Mar
ian held. But swifter than Silver.
came Max.
The call went through instantly.
Bowen's brisk voice ansWered-Marian
took a deep breath.
Marian Gordon, Mr.. Bowen. In 4
pickle"
SOS Hondon. Just heard from the
hospital that he has a chance for life,
out he won't take it. Nothing to fight
for, guess" =
"Oh-would it help If he Thoughts
! Silver were reconciled again?"
Il don't know, but I should think
So"
"All right" said Marian, taking
another deep breath Fact is, Mr..
Bowen, she's not. She thinks Cliff
did it to spite her, or something like
that"
The hell you say"
"Yes-but can We say that? II will
make Silver all kinds of fool MAR
ian watched Silver struggle in Ham,
Inns arms and when she comes out
Of her excitement won't she turn on
us?"
Very likely. There's more back
Of this than shows"
We'll, can't you send word TO Cliff
That Silver does understand. and wants
him to fight? That might help him.
And then can't we give just the bare
facts in the paper? We can say Sill
ver'S going TO Oakland right away,
and I'll see she does"
Bowen thought half second. "Yes.
Ill send word to the hospital and you
can give your story to rewrite man"