The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-03-15
By EVELYN NJ. DAVIS
C. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
WNU Service.

hanging up the receiver.
She thought swiftly. a thousand pos
sibilIties tearing at her brain like fren-
zied fingers. She had mixed those two
letters this morning. In her hurry to
post them: one to Beatrice, accepting
her dinner invitation for Saturday, and
the other to Donald Morris, dismissing
him forever from her life. Oh. what
laundering fool she wasl
sOh. God. help me this once she
prayed.
She picked up the telephone and
called Bea's house. There was
chance that she would be out, and
Doris might be able to bribe the maid
out OF the letter. Her heart was beat
Ing like q trip hammer as she waited.
but no one answered That was
strange. But-yes-this was Thurs
day, the maids afternoon outl She
slammed the receiver on Its hook, ran
out of the house and down the white, |
dusty road, In breathless haste.
But as she rounded curve, and
came In sight OF Bea's bungalow her
last hope took flight, for there, parked
In front OF the gate, was Bea's long.
swanky car.
But, no she would not give upl She
had to have that letter. Perhaps Bea
hadn't yet read 1t, and, she. Doris,
could get 1t away from her on some
pretext. She ran to the gate, and was
about to open 1t when the sound OF
mingled voices floated out through the
open window. Bea was entertaining
guests.
TOO late--t0o late" her thoughts
hammered, keeping time with her foot
| steps. Bea's friends would all know
| before night, that she, Doris Cough
lin. had contemplated running away
| with her husbands best friend. II
wouldn't matter to them that she had
written In the letter, her belated real
ization OF her love for Kenneth, her
/ husband: Ind seen In time, the ghast-
ly mistake that would have wrecked
all three lives
She had married Kenneth, and come
here to this outlying district OF Brit
ish Honduras, almost year ago. Ev-
erything had seemed 80 strange, and
she had felt, at times, terribly alone
and outside 1t all. Then kenneths
friend, Donald Morris, had been sent
down by his company, to prospect for
oil
There had been strange attraction
between them from the first, which
they had both fought against Then.
suddenly, Donald had made up his
mind to 90 back to the states-and
after a bitter struggle with his con-
science had flung honor and loyalty
To the winds, and asked her to go With
him. He was having his plane CON
dltioned. and would be ready to take
Off tonight
Doris had been In turmoil OF indie
clsian--a slender reed, sWaying De
tween two winds.
She had tossed all night, her brar
q battle-ground OF conflicting desires
1t was In the chill, gray hours OF thu
: morning. when she turned on the light
= and saw Kenneth lying there with on
arm thrown across his head, In att
y tude OF boyish abandonment, that sh
:. realized, with sudden rush OF tender
,il ness that she loved him-inescapaDly
= She had Struggled close In his arm
: humble and full of remorse. She kneN
a. then that Donald was only a will
y dream, TINT would leave her presently
: Had she learned then, too late, wha
: Kenneth really meant to herl Sh
= !. had a fieetlng vision OF his face, whit
= and stricken. when he would hay
learned of the duplicity--and she pr
: her hand across her eyes, as thong
- to shut out the image.
= When she reached home, she foun
- Kenneth and Donald In the kitche
:. mixing hlgh-balls.
: "A ine hostess, you are" Kennel
said, catching her around the walls
- and swinging her or the floor. WI
90 don't you stay home and greet yo'
= guests?'
ar "Oh. just thought I'd take walk
ay she looked mlserably at Donald, tryir
gu hard to keep her head above the slo
AZ tide of defeat that was engulfng ne
iot .Don got telegram, and has
tn leave tonight. so we thought we'd ha
40 little celebration" Kenneth sai
as handing her high-ball. Just mi
Eat ute, and I'll chip some more Ice"
all went out onto the back porch, WI
1h' tllng.
Ing Donald, studlously avoiding her ey
took something from his pocket, a
ind walking over to the stove, struck
eat match to 1t, turning 1t In his hand
viii the flames leapt mp She watch
ent him with mute incredulity. When
the last flame had died over little mou
pen OF gray ashes. he turned to her q
in smoke softly: "You should have kno
he'd I would get that letter. found 1t
cry. her mail box about three minutes {
uld er | talked to you"
ave He raised his glass to hers, and $
'uld with a cynical smile, as Kenneth
tered. Here's happy dnysV