Evening star., 1935-06-09

tleman downstairs to see you" The
butler stood in the doorway.
Did he give you his card?" asked
Daphne.
mo, madam. He didn't give any
name"
I'll 60 down and see" Alison was
against hope. If only she could get
downstairs alone, see him for mo-
ment. explain!
But Daphne had already flung down
her armful Of stuffs; she had her
handbag open and was adding fresh
layer of vivid scarlet to her morning
mouth.
For a moment the girl hovered
hesitating.
"D'you mind if go down."
Daphne. between open lips. an
swered, mo, run on. Ill be down in
a minute"
Thank Heaven! Alison could have
laughed aloud in sheer relief. She
darted down .he stairs into the draw
ing room.
Guy was there, waiting for her The
moment that ,he looked at him all her
doubts dissolved. He'd understand!
Have you got your car outsider"
She spoke low and hurriedly.
Yes. What's up?"
"Iql tell you when we get outside"
He followed her obediently out;
halfway down the front stairs asked,
Il say, don't you want a hat?"
Il daren't 20 up!" Alison confessed.
III stop and buy one"
They stole like two school children
playing truant through the hall. Guy
was laughing silently. Alison met his
eye and had to put her own hand
against her mouth to stop herself from
laughing aloud. She felt idioticany
lighthearted, absurdly happy and eX-
cited-a mad solution, but the only
possible one!
And he played up so wonderfully.
matching her mood. asking no more
questions until they we're in the car
and safely off.
Whats the game?"
I'll tell you. but stop first at the
corner. There's hat shop there!'
The hat shop produced beret Of
llOJ lOO vi d DluE W mr.
sons coat and skirt and, since she was
known to them. put it down. From
the shop she telephoned to Porter
always discreet and left a message for
her father to say that she had forgot
ten, she must lunch out. she would be
hack in time to go out with Daphne
at 2:30.
Conscience assuaged, she ran back
to the car
Il say. that hats a WOW! I didn't
know that girl could buy hat in
less than 10 minutes Do tell me,
though-what's happened? Nothing
wrong is there" he asked.
Not much! Nothing except I've
shocked my Step-mother to glory and
she thinks you must be the deepest
kind of crook
She thinks I'm a crook? Good
Lord, what've I done?" To her sur
prise he sounded less amused than
anxious.
She thinks you ought to have
slept in the road in the rain!"
He laughed. the joyous laugh that
pleased her so we'll.
Sorry! l never thought of it or
I'd have swum to Warley!"
And left little Herbert to do any
ba -snatching he fancied.' added
Alison gayly. Well, I'm glad you
didn't anyway. I'd have been scared
to death. But If you meet her, go
gently with her, please
I'll be gentle as lamb" he PROM
sistible impulse to pinch the silver or
90 spot of forgery. I'll hold it sternly
in check. I want to meet her. Is she
one of those dear woollv old ladies who
filled up with ideas in 1914 and haven't
had the oil tank emptied since?"
Good Lord, no." The idea tickled
Alison. Just the opposite. Hard as
nails"
"Oh. that type" He sounded as
If he knew it well and liked 1t very
little.
Alison ended breathlessly. well.
anyway. I haven't dared TO tell her
that I'd asked you 10 lunch. so won-
dered if you'd mind having lunch with
just me?"
I'd love it,"
Good"
Where shall we go' The same
place."
Yes. I'd love to. But you must
lunch with me this time" she insisted.
Sorry"
You must!"
He ran the car alongside the pave
ment and stopped.
Whats the matter?' she asked,
surprised.
I'm going to drop you here and go
home and sulk unless you lunch with
met"
He looked so absurd as he said it
that she had to laugh and give way.
And then you call me young!" she
accused.
They laughed and for a moment he
was occupied, turning out of Consti-
tuition Hill into the main stream Of
traffic along Piccadilly. When he
spoke again it was in different tone.
you've met your step-mother, then.
How do you like her?"
"Oh, all right" Alison replied care
fully
1EdG > ROOu. 1Ou were IdILltI
dreading the meeting, weren't you?"
How did you guess?"
Il don't know. You gave me that
impression
TT was true" She admitted 1t in
a low voice.
But now you've seen her, it's all
right?" The traffic had stopped for
moment; he had leisure to look
around. Alison did not answer and
he read her silence correctly.
Il see. Rotten luck for you!"
Il expect I'll get used to it." she
said quickly. It's only that it's funny
at first-I mean. having third per-
son there and the house being hers
and not mine and so on"
You think it'll come OFF,"
MY fathers marriage?"
He nodded.
I'm sure it will He's awfully fond
of her" It was difficult to keep that
noncommittal
He said quietly, "a pity, if she's not