Nogales international., 1935-03-02

enough that it could be said At all.
He did not answer Immediately.
Il suppose it is impossible to
escape the malice of other Women's
tongues"
at is useless to argue with you.
But l know what / have heard and
what l have seen tonight. Once
more, Barry, will you come aud see
for yourself.
81 will not"
Mrs. Duane went stiffly back to
the door.
"You are your own master, and l
am only your mother, pushed aside
for a woman you scarcely know.
But the time will come when your
eyes will be opened. And you will
regret this night as long as you
live"
For several minutes after his
mother left him Barry paced
gloomily up and down the library.
The whole thing was sicken!ng, and
that his mother should have been
the one to bring this precious story
to him had left him worried and
depressed Why were women SO
hard on each other? Even his
mother.
The trouble probably was that
rancorous gossip. He flushed darkly
at the recollection. So Nancy's name
was being banded about like that?
A whispering devil of suspicion
slyly logged his elbow and was
thrust out of the way.
He could easily settle this. All he
needed to do was to go upstairs
and look in at Nancy. He smiled TO
himself and swung quickly toward
the stairs.
Barry let himself in quietly. Anne
was not there.
He switched the lights on. There
was no sign of her.
He stood looking from small fa-
niliar objects to the empty bed.
He turned toward the door. blindiy.
There was the slight sound OF it's
opening. Anne stood there, staring
at him.
"Oh-Barry!" She said it breath
lessly. "You startled me"
His eyes swept over her swiftly,
suspiciously, and dropped to the
slim perfection of her slippers. On
the side of one of them, marring its
delicate sheen, was a long earth
stain.
The blood sang in his ears again,
so that he scarcely heard his own
voice. "Anne, where have you
been?"
Before that hard note she stop
ped short.
"Why, Barry, what is the mat
teri"
"Where have you been at this
hour of the night?"
"At this hour: Why. it isn't late"
Her eyes followed his deliberate
glance down to the satin slipper
with its betraying stain.
1--WE been in the garden, Barry,
what is the matter?"
within the past half hour l
have had to listen to a sickening
story that you were meeting some
body's chauffeur out in the garden"
She felt suddenly sick and tired.
Barry's mother must have seen her
and carried the story to him in Bit
ter triumph. Who else hated her
enough to do that? She wanted to
tell him the whole hateful story,
but she must not.
Somebody must have been will
ing to carry tales about ME to have
hurried the news 10 you as quickly
as that" She saw him flush. but
she went on bitterly. "And whether
| was there or not, won't talk
about It'll I won't! I'll say things
that we'll both be sorry for" Her
hands went up to her throbbing
temples. They really did throb now.
Ring for Bertha, please. And stay
until she comes"
He looked at her uneasiiy. He
rang hastily and came back to her
"I'm sorry if you're not WELL" he
said jerkily. Perhaps I'd better send
for DR.. Carmichael.
mo, please. It's only my head"
They waited for Bertha in un-
comfortable silence. There was a
tap on the door, but it was E!len's
broad face which appeared.
Il rang for Bertha. Isn't she
here?"
Ellen was new maid. She grin
ned companionably. =
"Yes'm, in a way, but It's her
night out. She's been to a party,
Ma'am, lookin' as pretty as a pitcher
in the grand dress ye give her, and
this good half hour she's been
standin' at the end of the drive
sayin' goodnight to the young felly
from Quinn's Garage. Is there amy
think / can do, Ma'am?"
Bring me some ice cubes, Ellen.
I've headache"
The door closed on Ellen. Anne
scarcely breathed.
Nancy, forgive me! I've been q
brute and ought to be kicked for
it."
He drew her around with coax