Evening star., 1934-04-29
INSTALLMENT III,

F." HE rlQe TO canoe Cove was as
Sandra hoped it would be
swift, dangerous enough to
Il keep her mind on the road, to
crowd out disquieting thoughts.
Gilbert Akin stopped where the road
widened toward a bridge spanning an
inlet. From a pocket at the side of
the car he drew his inevitable flask
quart size.
"Nip?" extending the flask to Sandy
mo, thanks"
Gil leaned back in amazement
"Whats the idea? Why the change
in pace?" -
mo idea-no change in pace. 1t
tastes like medicine the morning
after" She turned away with grim
ace. What you need Is a keeper"
Exactly" Gil returned the flask to
its pocket. His arm slid around her
shoulders Would you volunteer for
the job?"
Sandra thought: Gil is not being
facetious-he's asking me, seriously
She pressed her foot against the
starter of the car.
A grinding roar. The car shot for
ward. Gilbert graSped the wheel.
"Hey. have heart!" he shouted. "She
was in gear"
my foot slipped-sorry!" Sandra
shouted back. mo damage, what?"
MOT yet, but there might have been.
Suppose I had been under the car
playing with the carburetor or some
thing"
But you weren't under the car,
playing with the carburetor-or some
thing. You were sitting beside me-
here. proposing-or something" She
observed him out Of the corner OF her
eye.
They were catapulting through
space. The car made a sharp turn
Sandra swayed against Gilbert. He
bent down. She felt his lips in the
tangle of her hair. She liked 1t. She
laughed. her head against his shoulder.
His arm was around her. Mrs. Gil
bert Akin! Why not? An end 10
haggling over money-over where 10
exist between flights to this and that
place. End of makeshift and num-
merry.
The car swung up shell road ana
under a portecocnere. Gilbert nfted
her bodily from the seat, held her
close for a moment before depositlng
her on the ground.
Sandra was ripple Of Joy. your
coat, Sir Walter!" she cried. i see
a puddle" He lifted her in his arms
again and carried her to paved walk
THANK a thoughtful providence Tor
small puddles," he said.
A few minutes later they were en-
loving the succulent steamed clans
for which Canoe Cove was famous.
IF being steamed up would make
YOU 90 for me like you do those
CLANS" Gilbert said, I'D hurl myself
into the nearest steam room."
Sandra regarded him mischievous-
". Anything on your mind besides
clans, Clip"
IF I could be sure you are inter-
ested, not just curious" He
leaned forward, sought her avading
eyes.
But I am interested. Careful,
thought might step on the gas
again.
"Sandra." His voice was husky.
Gil almost never called her Sandra.
"Will you do a fellow who's complete
Iy bowled over, a favor?"
Depends on the fellow and the
favor" Something, not the clam she
had gulped, caught in her throat.
'Will you let me take you to the
clambake at the club-it's the last big
brawl of the season, you know-all by
ourselves without two or three blither-
ing idiots mooching along and cut
ting IMP"
She smiled, not knowing whether
she was relieved or piqued by the
triviality of the question. She had
thought Gil was going to ask her to
be his wife. "Idiots?" she said. DO
YOU infer my escorts are balmy just
because they follow me?"
They'd be balmy if they didn't fol-
low YOU. But you haven't answered
my question Am to be the favorite
for a night?" His eyes were on her
lips, seeking.
"The favorite of favorites," she
promised. Lightness had gone out OF
her voice, tempered by the passion in
his. THAT is, you will be, for the
clambake," she added, recovering her
self.
He caught her hand across the table
1.-THE clambake ends the season.
want to make it the end of the old
me and the beginning of new me
with your help"
The ride back to Sandharbor was
leisurely. Sandra thought: Gil plans
to propose to me at the clambake-
sort of wind things up in a blaze Of
glory. I shall probably accept him
I'm not in love with him. I do like
him, though, when he's regular, the
way he Is today. He has his faults,
lots of them-gets soggy and goes on
lurid parties. Most of the time he's
pretty decent. His looks are above
average-not bad nose. I prefer tall
men, thin and blondish, with merry
blue eyes. That newspaper chap on
the beach might have been built to
my order I would think of him now
when I ought to be concentrating on
the dark man beside me.
There! For no reason at all my
heart is racing. Maybe I'm going
sentimental. fine time I picked to
do it. I'll get my mind back on the
game. On Gill One thing about Gil
he belongs to the Atkins of Virginia,
F. F. v. Mother would capitalize
that! And he has money, no end
Money, money, money. Bills, bills
bills.
Sandra leaned closer to Gilbert,
raising her voice above the purr OF
the car and the whip Of the wind.
THE clambake-three weeks from
today, isn't it?"
fright" He pulled her hand under
his own on the wheel. Friday, the
18th. My lucky day."
Sandra laughed and snuggled closer
Would Friday the 18th be her lucky
day? She doubted that it would
be Gil's, unless she refused him.
The car slowed Gilbert brushed
Sandra's cheek with his lips. "Cute
little red-head," he said. Cant think
OF better reason for settling down.
As they turned in the shell drive
way to the cottage, Valerie appeared
from the garden. Her arms were filled