Evening star., 1934-11-12
CHAPTER XXXII.
LILITH AGAIN.

MI WIlel LOll SEOhCs W4tAA So1
IVY full hand she arranged the
4 i curled leaves of a lettuce
heart on the rim OF the dish,
placed wheels Of tomatoes in a circle.
centered them with the heart OF an
artichoke and topped it with an
chovies.
"McSwain?" she repeated. I'D
rather not go, Lon" she answered as
though it we're of no great concern.
"Dr. AL and Anne are coming out to
dinner you know"
That's right" he answered and
watched her ladle dressing over the
salad. "Al says he wants to buy a
place here as soon as I get started.
You'd like having Anne for neigh
Dor, wouldn't you?"
"A neighbour" she looked up. What
q blessing a neighbor like Anne would
be at a time like this: Yes, I'd love
to have Anne near, she's So. so
practical" she said.
practical women are nice, but I'd
rather have you for a Wife was
Ions astonishing answer, then, Ian"
he began in a troubled voice, would
you mind if I left you alone in the
morning and played round of golf?
Blaine, Wylie, McSwain and MYSELF"
"Of. of course not" she answered,
and hoped he hadn't noticed her hesi-
tation IT think it would be fine"
You're good sport. Ian" he COM
mented, relief in his voice.
so are you. Lon," she answered,
II appreciate your not insisting that
I 60"
During dinner they discussed the
prune crop and Lon agreed to let
Waki take charge and when they were
finished he spoke of the next day, Sat-
, urday. MY first pay check, Ian," he
said, "the first one ever received
from any one excepting Carrdoth. l
think we should celebrate. What
would you like to do?"
"a dinner and dance some place.
I know, the Alameda, it has a nice
cosmopolitan air; always a lot Of
foreign aviators around and a good
orchestra"
And you'll wear that gold dress?"
Yes, and have my hair done in the
afternoon and my nails and. -"
Il can cash my pay check with
Murphy at the gas station before we
leave; too bad this is Docs Saturday
night on duty or we'd call them to
join us. How about Jackson and his
grip"
Jackson and his girl were delighted.
and Marian, who had thought her
honeymoon was definitely over, found
Lon his old loving self as they dined
and danced the evening away.
1t was long after midnight when
they reached home and Marian slid
into bed, happy that it was Lon and
not herself facing golf date in the
morning. Several times when the sun
had found its way into the bed room
she felt she should awaken and hasten
him on his way, but she was too bliss
fully sleepy. And when she did
awaken she found he had gone.
At first she was alarmed, then
chanced to look at the clock on the
dresser 1t was 10 o'clock. The four
some was supposed to tee off at 10.
She counted the hours which lay
ahead; a crowded Sunday course
would mean that Lon couldn't reach
home before 2:30. The Steeles would
arrive for dinner at 3, giving Lon time
to shower and change.
In the afternoon Marian dressed,
went into the patio and curled up on
the swing seat, new novel in her
hand. She sat moment enjoying the
quiet. In the kitchen fricasseed
chickens were bubbling gently in a
Dutch oven, salad and dessert were IN
the refrigerator, vegetables, ready to
be cooked, reposed in cold water. In
one end of the studio room the table
was ready for guests.
She thumbed the pages idly, thought
of the piles of books she had read
prior to meeting Lon, she had scarcely
glanced at once since then. The clock
inside chimed !, 1890, 2, 2:30. She
came back with start to the world
about her. left the book on the seat
and hurried into the kitchen. Lon
should be coming; he had the key to
the store house on his key ring and
she wanted some pecans for the nut
bowls
There, the sound of a motor. She
looked at Hero. He was standing lis
tening, but with no sign of recognizing
the motor A moment later the
Steeles black coupe came into view
Where's the head of the house?"
inquired DR.. Albert, when the greet
tngs were over.
He played golf at Diablo this
morning. Should have been here by
2:30 at the latest" A tiny frown
creased Marian's forehead.
They waited a few moments and
then the doctor suggested he tele-
phone the club. Might have been late
getting off," he said, "and one thing
a man can't do is desert his four
some"
He called the club house and
learned the McSwain crowd had left
promptly at o'clock.
'McSwain," repeated Anne, isn't
that Silver Hondon's father"
Yes" answered Marian. She knew
Anne was giving her a searching look
and hastened to explain. Ions work.
ing for him." and at Steele's wonder
at Lon working for any one but him.
self, explained that Ions inheritance
had been held up and he had been
obliged to work somewhere.
Speaking of your good friends the
McSwainS and the Hondons" said
Anne with gentle sarcasm, II have
some news you might enjoy"