Nogales international., 1935-03-30

driver was not FcEry I4S ASOl a9ih>H
open. Anne stood there.
Jim" she said hreathlessly. w hat
are you doing here"
Thanks for the enthusiastic well
come. I'll come in, ii you doa't mind. "
His grin was mocking. but he gave her
4 sharp glance as he sauntered past her.
whats the matter: Sick"
NO, I'm all right. Why have you
corne here:"
Just dropped in to make call"
He was looking deliberately around
him.
NO sign OF the naughty husband.
Are domestic relations still strained. or
are you just hiding out until company
goes hone??" 81
I've left. It's over, everything is
over, and you should be the last to ask
why" -
Kennedy made a brief sound ike a
muted whistle,
~Took it hard, didn't he?" He
frowned and moved his shoulders If.
ritably. Keep your chin up, and he'll
come back"
Anne shook her head 1t was not a
subject she could discuss with Jim.
How did you know was here!"
Kennedy dropped into chair and
settled himself comfortably
"IIow did know? Ask me hard
one, Nancy. | knew where you'd
started for, and that you had a little
ranch somewhere near here. and who
was visiting up at the big place. 1t was
easy. I've nice little handmade map
of the roads here" he added calmly.
She rose. ''I'll get you something to
eat" she said quietly, and went into
the kitchen.
He followed her to the kitchen. She
knew why Jim had come all the way
from Granleigh to Marston. How
could she keep him from doing what
he was bent on doing?
Kennedy swallowed the last Of his
coffee. Thanks, Nancy. Pretty decent
Of you, all things considered. No. I
can't stop for more. I'm calling on
some friends of mine at place called
Eagle Lake, and I'm behind the sched-
ule now"
He pushed back his chair and found
his hat.
"She'd never do it for you, Nancy" /"
he said suddenly.
Were different" said Anne duly.
She felt so awfully tired. Were just
made differently. Jim. please don't gs
What's the sense of all this hating!
How dare. you-Oh, Jim. don't gop'
Sorry not to oblige. but I'm afraid
[ shall have to-" His face had flushed
slightly; he was hard again. =
The car Jared and ratified into ac-
ton. Dusk had closed in.
Anne stood in the doorway and
watched it. Her head hurt, but her
mind was frantically busy. jim was
taking the longer way, out through the
desert. He didn't know the rough
short cut. And it was dark--he might
lose his way again.
She slipped into a coat, slammed the
door and ran out to the corral.
+. Paula Gage was alone and time
dragged heavily. John and Barry
Duane had left early. Late in the after
noon Cleo had invited herself to ac-
company Petry on hurried run into
Marston.
Paula could spare Cleo, but she
hated this place where she had 70
look all day at water, hiding rocks
and Shiny things beneath its surface
calm She hated water. She - saw
things in it.
Restlessly she went outside. Down
through the trees the lake glimmered
darkly. Where the trees came close il
was dark. She hated it, but it dragged
at her.
Hallway down the slope size
stopped.
Something was moving down there,
hurrying toward her. 1t became .lg-
ure, wayering strangely, all light aad
pale except for wide dark eyes and: a
little turnbled mop of dark curls frana-
ing a pallid face
Paula Paula! T. 1t was muted and
faint, the whispering echo OF voice
that had died Paula shrank back.
shuddering
Don't! Oh, do"t!"
Paula Please! It's Nancy :.
Paula" Again that low cry came, the
ghost Of voice. calling to her. Pale
hands beckoned. reaching out to drag
her unwilling body down there. 10
black. shining water, greedy and cod.
For another moment OF gasping terror
she endured it. and then her frantic
slrieks came.
"Oh, no, no! I can't come, Nancy. I
can't! I'll tell! I'll make it right for
YOU. didn't mean i'll didn't"
On the upper road walking horses
thudded into run. Some distance hack
along the road to Marston, Petry
Strengthened up irom his inspection OF
the ditched wreckage OF all old black
car; listened once more for that chin
sound OF terror and jumped ior his
wheel Nearer to the house J;r2
Kennedy, FIVE minutes too late. d d3dged
back among the trees and cursed under
his breath.