The Washington times., 1934-09-29
CHAPTER XIV

bursting with confidence and ex~
altation. Marian was gong to be
crazy about these beads. Ever
since their marriage, her attitude
toward him had been critical OF
actually gneering.
He waited until dinner was over
to enact his little presentation
ceremony.
1--WE might call UP the Hob
brooks and see II they want to
come over and play some con-
tract" Marian suggested, des-
perately seeking to escape the
boredom Of Homeg'S unrelieved
| company.
They're so hard up these
days, I'd hate to take theH
money" said Homer.
They're much more likely to
take ours. I may be better than
Dolly, but Jack Is miles ahead Of
you!" said Marian.
"Yeah, he's better than me In
o lot of ways, isn't he? He may
be sold up any day-lose the
house and have to scratch for Q
Nving!"
Anyway, when Jack has
money, he treats Dolly right
He got her the car, and he's
given her lots Of jewelry, those
emeralds, and the diamond ear
rings she wears"
He handed her the small Oh.
long package and stood beaming
while Marian, taken aback in
the midst Of her grumbling, ur-
wrapped the box and opened 1t.
"They aren't real, are they?
They can't be real!"
They're as real as they
comet" Homer boosted. Those
babies set me back q cool five
thousands dollars, and they're
worth more!"
Here was irony which even
she felt. This tributeSccS pearls,
which she had tried so long to
secure, was laid before her by her
husband at the instant she was
planning to desert him. She
crushed that thought out Of her
mind. The pearls were hers at
last, o dream come true, and the
MarQuesa d'AlhueS had more need
Of them than Homer Alspaugh
had, or ever would have.
Half Of Marian'S present rap
ture came from the thought that
they would please and reflect
credit on her lover.
Seems to me ought to be get
ting some Of those kisses,' Homer
said at that.
you're just the hestest nus
band q woman ever had!" she
told him and kissed him exactly
as Homer wanted to be kissed.
IT adore them. Thank you @
thousand times. + never really
expected you to give me o string
of pearls. Where in the world did
you get the money? I believe it's
true, as I always said that you
make lots Of money you don't tell
me about"
"Never did before. but I ceE-
tainly put it over this time. Just
had o bunch and made o killing"
he said airly. quite q lot, too,
but it all went into your necklace.
so you needn't think we can
splurge and throw money
around"
But darling, couldn't you do 10
again?"
She was thinking, eternally
practical even in a mment Of
ecstasy, that If by speculation he
could increase his income, her ali.
mony should be correspondingly
larger.
She was before the mirror. turn
ing her head and shoulders from
side to side, gazing fascinated.
The necklace, making her skin
look finer and fairer, enhanced
her beauty exactly as she had
confidently predicted. The mo.
ment Of illuminated self-approval
turned black as she saw, behind
her own pleasing reflection.
Homer's sharp greyish face, with
an expression on it that she knew
well-and now hated. He pressed
his chin against her shoulder and
on the back Of her neck she felt
his lips.
Marian was determined now to
forestan any further amorous adr
vances on his part.
"Homer!" she cried, q note OF
longing and regret in her Q.
II think you're wonderful tt = j!
I'm so grateful I'd do anything in
the world I could for you! But
don't you understand the effect
that awful accident had on me?
MY nerves are frightful. Already
I've had far too much excite
ment."
In appalled, stupefaction and
mounting anger, the McCarthys
received Cathleen's telegram.
There's only one thing to
think" Patrick Mccarthy Saids
gloomily, packing tobacco into his
pipe as he stared at the telegram
spread on the table before him.
1.-THE boys car was smashed on
them and they're too hurt to
travel. She doesn't make a1er'
ton, though, of an accident"
THAT could be because she
wouldn't want to frighten u.s."
said Mrs. Mccarthy. But she'd
know her spending the s,ight out
was the worst Of ALT tx make