Evening star., 1934-11-15
CHAPTER XXXV.
Ions RETURN.

Y ZERO whined uneasily, sensing
the storm. He chased wisp
of paper and rushed back to
i i her with his trophy. then
walked sedately as she re-
turned to the house.
The house was Immediately clean,
but Marian went over it thoroughly.
The storm broke as she worked and
she paused to listen to the music OF
wind and rain. She had sketchy
lunch; Lon had said they would drive
out for dinner on the morrow SO there
was no shopping to do. Then, with
book, she sought to pass the time.
Slowly the hours passed. When the
tick-tock of the mantel clock became
unbearable she went into the bed
room and tried to sleep, dozed fitfully
and awakened to find scant hour
had passed.
Il won't depend on Lon for my
happiness" she insisted as she arose,
Its foolish. I'll go into town, visit
Anne, 60 to a theater, visit the Office
and gossip. anything but this. this
terrible waiting for something to hap
pen"
Hero listened, head to one side. He
had understood the word go, now he
went to the closet where his leash was
kept and returned with it dangling
from his mouth.
II can't leave you alone, old fellow"
she confessed, land l dread leaving
the house for fear Lon might need me.
Well compromise, we'll go for walk. "
They went into the storm, braced
against the wind and the rain, ran
downhill, painted uphill, returned at
twilight breathleSS and hungry.
Marian built a fire on the hearth,
made toast and tea and wheeled it
in on the tea wagon. Then, Hero
beside her, browsing in the warmth
she nibbled and slipped and read, but
really listened and waited for the
sound of a motor.
Eight o'clock, 9 O'Clock, 10 o'clock. {.
what if Lon had cashed his check and
some one, knowing he was to be paid,
had jumped his car in the tunnel
and oh, she was foolish, but sup
posing on these wet pavements the
car had skidded. There were so many
dark canyons and with little traffic
on a stormy night she wouldn't know
until next morning. Maybe at that
very moment he was lying under his
car. she arose, paced restlessly
around the room.
II have to do something" she said
aloud. Shed telephone telephone
E. whom could she telephone? Murphy
at the gas station, maybe he had an
extra car. She would drive into the
city and if she met Lon along the
road she would pretend she hadn't
seen him and let him wait for her as
she had waited for him. and as she
drove. slowly. she would look for
skid marks on the pavement and into
the canyons.
She called the Walnut Greek ex-
! change and asked for Murphy's Serv-
ice Station.
Mr.. Murphy" she began, "this is
Mrs. Casad, l.
i expect you're worried, aren't you, "
he exclaimed solicitously. Il meant
to call you, but I've been busy as the
deuce. I'll bring Mr.. Casad home as
soon as I close shop"
Bring him home" cried Marian
''Is he hurt?"
mo, no, Mrs. Casad, he's just a.. ..
well, you know how it is, he's been
out with the boys and he's bit under
the weather. I'm closing in half an
hour. I'll lock your car up in the
garage here and bring him along ir
mine"
Marian turned back to the room
too bewildered to think coherently
Lon was under the weather" He
had been "out with the boys" But
that wasn't like Lon. He might be
sullen and willing to misunderstood
her, prejudiced by McSwain, but he
didn't drink to excess, ever.
OF course, there was that night HI
had come from McSwain's barbecue
but he had refused to touch any
thing since. He'd said, eff I can't
take it I won't touch it."
The telephone rang again. Marian
fastened to answer. Mrs. Casad,
came Murphy's voice, 'Ive just been
in to see your husband, he's in q
pretty bad condition. I'd advise you
to call doctor"
Marian scarcely waited for Murphy
to hang up before she was calling the
Steeles. Thank goodness. she thought,