Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-08
CHAPTER XXXVI.


spoke, "You might have been
killed, Betsy. Thank God you
~ got off with just a few broken
ribs and bruises and being knocked
unconscious. I've been scared stift all
night"
After a long silence during which
Betsy strove for energy with which
to speak, she began slowly, labo-
riously, How did you know, John?
How did you know was hurt?"
His gray eyes frightened. Il saw
you in front OF my apartment. Jennie
and Terry were there with me. Jennie
had come to tell me everything that
you should have told me five months
ago, you scamp! She said that she
knew when she saw you dancing with
me last night that she would have to
break your confidence and tell me
before I went back to Boston. She
had Just finished explaining when I
heard that rafting little Ford on the
street, looked out Of the window and
saw you on the sidewalk. I kissed
Jennie for the peach that she is and
nearly wrung of Terry's hand. I was
that happy and grateful sort OF
of my nut! Then we ran down the
stairs to meet you. When we got to
the door we saw Libby with the pistol.
Then you drove off, We hurried into
Terry's car mine was in the ga
rage but we couldn't make much
speed in 1t. We almost lost you twice.
We got there q few minutes after the
accident
Betsy leaned up in bed now, a
pale little person almost lost IN the
big hospital gown. The room rocked,
her head seemed to fall queerly to one
side and faintness swept over her in
a hot, damp flush. But she didn't
care. Nothing mattered but that
John was sitting on the edge OF the
bed now. That he had reached out
end was drawing her to him and she
was sinking weakly against him.
You kissed Jennie :. Jennie?"
she asked. incredulously. Angelica
wasn't there?"
mo, dear, Angelica wasn't there.
Why?" - his defenseless humility
touched her.
II was coming to you, John. To tell
you everything that Jennie told you.
] saw you at the window. thought
.. it was Angelica you were kiss
ing that I had come too late. I
couldn't see very well. I was fright
ened and the light in your window
was so faint. Then I -. turned
away"
Tears slipped from beneath her
lashes as she lay inert in the hollow
of his arms and shoulders.
Don't talk, dear. You've had a
bad time of it. You need rest ana
quiet" He brushed her hair gently
from her temples and threaded his
long fingers through the golden curls
in tender paths.
For moment, they were silent.
Then Betsy asked, What about Libby?
Is is she all right?"
VERY muchly so. She's in the next
room with nothing worse than pru1se
or two. Marshalls with her. He
looks like he's been in a wreck him.
self. His face is badly scratched and
he has black eye"
"a black eye?" Betsy knew about
the scratches. But how did he get
the black eye. Did did Libby
give it to him. John?"
He laughed buoyantly. II guess
she did. If she didn't she should
have" he said evenly.
John didn't tell Betsy anything
about that encounter with Marshall
in the hospital corridor when Marshall
had come in answer to Libby's plea
that the doctors call him. How Mar
shall had stood there with that arro-
CANT, sure manner Of his, telling
things that he hoped would ALLEVIATE
John from Betsy. That Betsy had
been alone with Raoul at his pent
house the night he was murdered
Gas If John would ever forget that
night the night he really fell
in love with BetsyD, that she was
going to Reno With him tomorrow
and that they might get married. He
was cooking one dark brow IN sug-
gestive way when John struck MN
and knocked him sprawling to the
floor
Then Marshall isn't going to leave
Libby? He isn't going to Reno TO-
morrow"
mo, dear. He seems to have
changed his mind about that. They'll
probably stay married now and fight
their way through thousand mis-
cradle years. Separating. Making 1t
up. There will always be Libbys and
Marshalls cluttering up this world"
Betsy laughed softly. After mo-
ment she said wistfully, John, isn't
this a grand time of year to go to
Mount Saint Michel? I mean, I've
thought all Winter about those ONE
lets" She pressed close against the
delicious presence of him. thrilling