The Washington times., 1935-01-12

in the moonlight was part of the
strange unreality that life had
suddenly assumed for Stuart. Fly
ing straight at the big orange
moon, suspended between heaven
and earth, he seemed to have left
the past blind and to be rush
ing toward some nebulous, be-
wildering future. He felt detached,
impersonal, one with the whirling
spheres.
He reused himself when he
found that Sharlene was no longer
sitting in the chair ahead. She
was up in the front compartment
of the tri-motored cabin plane
with the pilot. Stuart saw her
take the twin control after q while,
and the pilot stepped down to
have a smoke. Stuart relaxed
he was glad that she could have
some mechanical, engrossing thing
to do. 1t anaesthetized the pain
that he knew was lurking to clutch
at her any moment. He did not
blind himself to the real situation.
He thought a lot about Kent
and the woman who was supposed
to die and didn't. After all, she
might be dead this minute and
Damerell a free man. In that
case, might it not be better for
Sharlene to wait-to listen to
Damerell's explanations?
CHAPTER XIII
The Colorado River was in sight
when Sharlene came back to Stu
art: We're almost there"
He drew her head down SO that
she could hear above the noise of
the propellers. "Sharlene-you
don't have to go through with
this, you know"
She looked at him, startled.
Getting cold feet ?"
mo. just want you to be
sure-You haven't really given
Damerell a chance"
"Chance-for what? The wo-
man to die? No, no, hate him!
Are you afraid?"
He shook his head and laid his
finger on her lips. The plane
was spiralling down toward the
lights of the airport below. Shar-
lene went to wake her mother
and Lucien Morrow.
The huStling young garage own
er, whom Lucien knew from many
location trips, was waiting when
the plane landed.
Good evening, Mr.. Morrow.
I've got everything ready. I've got
the clerk waiting at his office to
make out the license, and I got
a justice of the peace"
rs that all right with you,
Sharlene?" Lucien asked. "Or
would you rather have a
preacher?"
oh, no. It's just a legal con-
tract, anyway"
So the cold contract was made
in a hot, stuffy little office smell
ing of stale tobacco. The big,
shambling, untidy judge stood
them up before him and cleared
his throat Importantly.
"Of course, you both realize this
Is a solemn business-enterin on
the holy estate o. matrimony?"
They both nodded, family
amused.
Got a ring?"
The Ceremony
Join handA1do you-ah-Stu-
art Pennington-take this here
wife to be your lawful welded
woman? I mean, t'other way
about?"
Sharlene began to shake with
laughter-or nerves. Stuart
couldn't be sure which, but he
gripped her hand, winked largely
at her and answered the justice of
the peace with mock soleminity:
Il do"
The judge glared ferociously at
the convulsed bride. And do you
-ah-ah- Sharlene Standish -
ring. I mean, take him. this here
man, to be your lawfully welded
man."
Il certainly do," Sharlene re-
covered enough to say. Hes my
mani" She twinkled at Stuart.
Now" ordered the judge, you
put this ring on her finger and
say: With this ring I thee we'd /"
Stuart did 50.
a.. and with all my worldly
goods I thee endow," prompted
the Judge.
The bridegroom hooked qutszt.