Evening star., 1934-08-26
II Star Magazine
Fwyt-Run Story


wide awake Lee argued to herself:
Nobody is going to plan to kidnap me at
sunrise. haven't been out of bed before break
fast in years. I'm going to get outside, under
that blue sky, by the water. I know he loves
me. What made him act like that?"
Zigzag wooden steps led from cliff to beach
in front of the inn. Over the calm Atlantic,
mpossibly blue, and the streaming white beach
rose the sky.
Lee knew what had called her from bed.
In that morning loveliness one human. A
seated man. arms around knees, head dropped,
statue of detection.
Farrell heard her a few feet away. When
he raised his head. his eyes failed to light.
Good morning" he said, without express
sion.
I'm sorry you're angry with me-" Lee be-
gan. 1T want to explain
I'm not angry" he denied, tonelessly.
Chilled by his listless manner, but deter
mined, she plunged ahead
"Since I graduated from finishing school
and made my debut in January, life has just
been parties and proposals. I grew mighty
tired, Farrell, of seeing greed for Papa's money
in the eyes of eligible young men-and their
mothers"
Then Papa came home with hdnap
threat. Just laid 1t to some crank but 1t gave
me an idea.
"I made up my mind, suddenly, to come
away and Spen0 TWO weeks among people WhO
would not know who I was-people who were
just plain folks who if they liked me, would
do so sincerely, without the thought of gaining
something"
She put hand on his arm. The guard
Papa hired for me so funny and grim
lost him without half trying Foolish maybe.
but it wasn't very terrible, was it? At least"
she bridled under his lack of responsiveness,
you won't have to check up on me nov, will
you?"
That's q queer thing to say" he reproached
gloomily.
She had seated herself on the sand at his
SIDE Now she rose. tears in her eyes.
"You needn't swearI" she reproved "I was
only trying to"
1T hasn't been you that's been holding me
back Lee" he reused himself. Its been my
own situation. I don't belong at the Palace
The meaning of what he said filtered through
her mind.
Her eyes grew cool. "I don't think like
masqueraders" she began; then, as she saw
him vince, she stopped and waited.
-Four years ago." he explained, two boys
and I, who thought the depression would be
brief started an advertising agency. Dick had
the money-or his father did. Martin and
thought we had the brains. The most I've ever
been able to draw from the frm"-he looked
shame-faced-"has been $40 week. and, lately.
little or nothing.
end, we landed an account-one of the most
exclusive and highest-priced toilet preparations.
We decided that before writing the copy, which
would be my job, ought to learn how
wealthy people were living now, what they were
thinking how they were talking
"Dick borrowed his fathers old car from
storage Martin-the~ one I call Clarence
acted as chauffeur. The firm staked me to two
weeks at Maunloq"
His distress increased. I'm afraid I've lost
out with my partners, too. I've been more
interested in-the Inn than in the Palace"
She was laughing. The sky and sea seemed
cleaner, brighter.
Don't you think I'm high-class peope?"
she chided Farrell, you're such a goose!'
"You know what I mean," he said.
Listen" she argued. Papa can"
"That's just it." he broke in. I'm not one
who wants your fathers money-or his help.
I want to what bring to the woman I
love. Lee. can't marry you now 1t was
bad enough when you were a salesgirl whom
I had made think I was rich. Now it's i'm
possible.
Lee took both his hands
Farrell" she threatened, "do you want me
to beat you? Listen! Way back in the bank
holiday Papa pledged all his personal assets so
his banks could reopen and no depositors lose.
The original assets of those banks may prove
good-maybe not
Papa has told nobody. I've let my simp
beaus keep on being greedy. There's an even
chance you may be marrying a penniless girl
Farrell, get sensible. Do you love me?"
Up the beach trudged two dowagers. Their
doctors made them do it every morning, before
breakfast
They saw that blissful, world-forgetting en-
brace.
Just look!" one of them shrilled. II always
knew that young fellow with the foreign car
q was no agood.1J Isn't that shameless? Right
out on the beach,"