Evening star., 1934-06-26

uDeTaUely mOcklnR-Lnl
i i voice of Austin Deerini
spoke the words. As, ad
vancing slowly down the center aisl,
of the dim little store, he faced tn,
girl standing rigid In the doorway o.
the room at the rear.
How do you do?" The voice o
Rose Therrold, struggling thickly from
the wise which seemed closing abou
her heart. Some one. she noted with
q wild sense Of relief, was comini
into the front part Of the store
Some one only customer :. but
it would give her a much-needee
respite.
Her senses. swinging back from thi
shock Of this unexpected encounter
rallied with difficulty to the task O
administering to the customers wants
Merely q swarthy miu-worker, de-
manding a sweater; but to Rose HI
looked veritable god. Panic, beating
IN sick waves against her conscious
ness, seemed to engulf her anew. i
had happened-this dreaded meetin,
with this man. He was here, waiting
" ANA "oAShAS w SoAA w AAei
again.
II only Larry would drop in-but
Larry was out Of town again. Non.
sense, thought the girl, with q wrench.
ing effort at control what die
1t matter-what could Austin Deerinl
say to her that would matter any
more? 1t was the memories, that wa,
all-those Sickeningly frightening
memories Of the days when he hac
had the power to disturb her peace
of mind.
Waiting, while the mill worker com.
pared, appraised and selected hi
sweater. Rose Lit the hanging oil lamI
in the center of the room. Lit it de-
liberately. with fingers that shook
and a grateful sense of deliverance a.
the rosy glow cast its cheerful shadow!
on the familiar counters and mer.
chandise Of the store. This was more
like it. She handed the silent
customer his change.
Austin Deering, leaning carelessly
against a rack OF coats, surveyed hel
with a faint amusement and scorn or
his pale. hard, handsome face. Hel
heart throbbing sickeningly, sh,
raised cool gray eyes to his, even man
aging by an effort faint, aloof smile
Waiting for him to speak, she had tn,
stifiing sensation OF walls CLOSING
about her The very air seemec
charged with some throbbing emotion
-antagonism, anger, fear
And how" said that silken. inso'
lently familiar voice, is our Shangha
Rose these days?"
What is 1t you want?-Tm sorry
but I've q good deal to do tonight
Is there something you PARTICULAR,
wished to say?"
What was it made her heart fiuttel
in this odd, sickening wsy-she, 81
long accustomed to the hostile audi.
ences of the tank towns, to the taunt.
Of Billy Scalminini's cabaret
mot so fast. my Rose. Aren't yol
going to ask me to sit down? Thankl
Ill sit here. You and 1 have ont
or two things to talk over"
Now. look here-if you've com,
here to bother me, Capt. Deering-'
Rose began stormily.
The man raised an arresting hand
without warning gripping her wris
tightly to her side; his cold eyes Dor
ing relentlessly into the depths Of hel
own.
"Once you were q wise little girl,
he said softly, a dangerous tranquility
in his tone. "A wise little girl, IL
spangles and q curl minding he
own business, paying as she went
keeping her pretty nose out Of thing
that were none of her affairs! You'v.
changed, my Rose" Firmly he
turned her to face the light. "Change<
in more ways than the spangles anc
the curl Smart little busines.
communicating all she Knows"
With q panic stricken wrench thu
girl flung herself free; anger and q
wholesome disgust for this man wipini
out the sick terror Of the momen
before.
I've done nothing Of the sortl" sh,
whipped back at him in q striden
whisper. 1T is my business-wha
you're doing here! l paid you enough
Austin Deering I owned
to keep the name of the Therrolds fire.,
from mud! When I cashed that checl
Of Harvey's I left myself without {
cent. was afraid of you then
Well, I'm not afraid Of you now
II you're fooling Harvey's sister, yol
can count on me to interfere-evel
If it means telling all know!"
"All you know" Horrible. sh
thought, that sliding. insinuatinI
voice. ). ct take it by that you meal
you've continued to protect the nam
Of your dear husband from his family
Why, my dear-do you imagine tn
Therrolds would believe Harvey forget
that check? You, as his wife, reall,
forged it, my dear or at least tina
is what I've given them to understand
Forged your husbands unsullied nam
and then used his brothers none.
to buy your way out Of the mess"
you" Stunned horror froze hel
tongue, a creeping chill rising abou
her heart. "You mean to tell me tina
the Therrolds believe that of me? Yol
told them such q monstrous lie-yol
despicable, outrageous cheat!" Ros'
painted, gray eyes burning almost blacl
in her white face. Stammering in hel
rage, finding herself by the yer!
earnestneSs OF her desire to express
her scorn and contempt for this maj
becoming incoherent and withou
words.
Jeffrey Therrold, believing she had
used his money to save her own Skin
no wonder he acted the way HI
did no wonder that Barbara anc
the rest Of them held her in contempt
All the misery and resentful fury o.
the long Summer months rushed ovel
Rose Therrold in q wave. Steadyint
herself against the counter at hel
back, she faced Austin Deering with
hot eyes and soaring voice.
I'm going up there tonight, do vol
understand" she said slowly, weigh
ing each word against painting. pain.
full breath. up to the Therrolo
house-whether they put me out ol
not! I'll tell them what you are
Austin Deering! I've tried to give
you warning; kept my hands off
hoping you'd leave here, hoping you'c
let me alone. But now I mean tt
Sc, it through-do you understand
through. Whether the Therrolds be-
lieve your lie about that check or not
I'm going to tell them the whole story
about Harvey. Why should I protect