The Washington times., 1935-10-15


"NOW what's the matter?"
Margot demanded with real
evaporation when she came in
at 3 o'clock, found the reading
lamp still on, and Mary hud-
died in the armchair near the
open window.
"Oh, nothing. Just something
I ate, I suppose"
She certainly wasn't going to
tell Margot that she'd just made
herself sick worrying. Margot
would think she was crazy. and
she must be. So she got into
bed and closed her eyes.
Here she was, jumping from
the frying pan into the fire.
Practically engaged to a man
who gave her the cold chills
when he put an arm around
her, and made her sick to her
stomach when he kissed her.
That is, he'd probably con-
slider himself engaged. When,
on the way home he said, II
think you do love me, Mary"
she couldn't very well say, mo,
I don't" And then he'd talked
some more, and she hadn't told
him to keep quiet. And that
kiss in the dim hall before they
parted for the night he
wouldn't have done that if he
hadn't thought she'd practically
agreed.
Ugh, she could feel his soft
lips, his thick, hard body against
hers yet. How do girls marry
men they don't love. How do
they STAND it?
"I wish you'd settle down and
stop squeaking those bed
springs" Margot said. Good
heavens, it's almo time to get
up. Let's have SOME sleep!"
Tears stung Mary's eyelids,
her nose smarted. But she
wouldn't cry. She forced her
self to lie perfectly still until
she knew by Margot's deep, reg
ular breathing that she was
sound asleep at last.
After all, she could see him
tomorrow night, make it clear
automatically of course-that
she hadn't meant what he
thought she meant at all.
She hated the office now. Its
emptiness. It's forbidding pile
of mail that she dared not
touch. She was afraid to tele-
phone Lalla, afraid not to tele-
phone her.
There was the usual delay in
getting her.
How is Mr.. Samson?" she
asked politely first.
"Just the same. I don't know.
I told you I don't like it. They
won't tell me anything here. I
can't stand much more of it.
I'm going to start screaming
pretty soon, and when I start
I won't be able to stop. I'm will
ing to stick as long as he wants
me, and I can do anything, but,
I tell you, it's getting me down.
I'm SCARED! Wait a minute.
They're calling NELL call you
back later!"
She sat by the telephone,
waiting to hear from Lalla
again, but though everyone else
in the world kept her busy
answering, there was no word
from Trinity Hospital.
And then Bennett walked in.
Hello! I've surprised you!
Oh, it's really me, in person
not my ghost!"
But I thought you were in
SEATTLE"
IT was. Flew down."
He didn't seem angry with
her. He didn't seem overjoyed
to see her, either. He went right
in to the inner office, and be-
gan opening the mail.
Well. it was something to
have him back. Someone who
knew the score. He'd get things
Strengthened out again. They'd
get out of the hole, and business
would come back, everything
would be all right.
"Oh, Miss Shannon, bring
your book, please"
She got the book, sat down
opposite him, while he glanced
through the letters he had
opened.
She'd forgotten how good
looking he was. That broad
forehead, with the dark brows,
and the good, clear cut features,
and ruddy skin -. quite hand
some areally! But Of course any
regular man would look pretty