The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-06-25

ness with which Katharine's step
mother armed herself. us It busi-
nessYP
His voice was harsh with ten
sion and anxiety.
''Its personal"
"1'm afraid cannot give out ms
daughters address so casually"
Berthe told him. Before he real
ICED what was happening she had
hung up on him.
Well, Il was not to be wondered
at, he muttered to himself, curbing
his rae. Doubtless Berthe had
heard he was to be married to
Sally Moon tomorrow morning.
He went back to the Moons,
loathing his errand, but bound to
see the thing through. Sally's
father, a long black cigar clamped
between his teeth, glared at him.
well, well. young man. What's
up? The girls upstairs having
Mysteries. Thought you'd run out
on her. A fine way to behave"
fumed the older man.
TERRIBLY sorry, SIR" He plunged
into his story. Married weeks ago.
The day OF the accident. The
whole thing washed from his brain
by that blow on the head
"You mean to tell me--you mean
to stand there and tell me calm
ly---" ragged Mr.. Moon. His face was
scarlet. For n moment Michael
thought the man was going to have
stroke.
But you were engaged to my
daughter at the time. You GER
tainly we're"
II was" Michael told him wear
lily. II have no excuse. Only the
facts. was --- am In love with
Katharine. Sally and wei, II
was n mistake, sir. From the very
start"
Joseph Moon started. Sally had
involved him before this In
many situation. This, he told
himself, was positively the worst
yet. He CROPPED for a chair and
dropped into It heavily.
TITS an outrage" he. stormed.
Matter for the law - III have to
see my attorney"
Michael had to listen to O good
deal of this, and he did so, pa
tiently. He was sorry for the old
man. Il was all his own fault. He
felt q cad and n villain.
MAY see Sally, sir"
"See her? OF course you'll see
her! Wouldn't tell her myself for
a million dollars" Joseph Moon
rang u bell and told Frieda to ask
Miss Sally to come down to the llv-
ing room.
Annabel peeped through the
French doors and made q round
20" of her mouth at sight Of
Michael. He could hear Sally's
step on the stairs, her high heels
Gathering. She flung herself In the
room, rage stamping her features.
whats wrong with you? What
do you mean running.off like that?
Making me a laughing stock"
Michael took her hands. She
beat at him In her fury as though
she would hurt him grievously. It
was her pride that was hurt, not
her love, he reminded himself. He
must remember that.
Somehow he made her UNDER
stand. She screamed at him and
Annabel, tiptoeing in the hail,
flinched at some Of the words Sally
used. Michael grippod her wrists.
"Listen, I'm sorry. Sorry as I
can be. But It's too late now"
you fool, you fool!" ragged the
girl. "How dare you? I'll sue
you sue you both. I'll drag your
names through every court In the
land"
Michacl's knucklos whitened.
He could stand IT.. II wouldn't
matter to him. But Katharine
he couldn't let her do this 70
Katharine.
sally's Ashwife voice screamed
on,
You remember I told you from
tho start II was q mistake" MI
chaol said quietly.
That's right - that's right. Say
I proposed to you!" tho girl
tainted him.
He released her. struggling his
shoulders. His imperturbability
reused her TO q fresh torrent OF
abuse. Her father appeared In the,
doorway.
Listen, kiddy," he began pacin-
caily, you don't want them saying
In the town you were lifted. do
your"
LET them--if they dare!" Sally
cried. Her bosom hcaved. Her
dark hair was In fine disarray.
Her dark eyes flashed lightning.
But that's what they'll say II
you go after Michael" the old man
put IN shrewdly. Ho had been
thinking deeply as ho sat In his
study, within sound OF her vehe-'
mence. This --- this would never
do! His business, his reputation
In Innlcock would DO ruined II
Sally stormed through the courts
with her untamed ragged unleashed.
They'll say II anyway" the girl
flung ut him, not to be put Off so
easily.
mo. they won't the old man
told her. mo they won't. Wen
give It out that Michael had n re-
lapse. That no hadn't recovered
from the illness-that the marriage
Is indefinitely postponed. Then
you can 30 off to Paris; you've
been wanting to do that for a long
time. You know you have"
You mean that? You're not just
trying to calm me DOWN."
4 mean It. You can sail as soon
as you like. Stay all winter. Frocks
and hats galore"
Under her tempestuous airs Sally
shrewdly estimated the situation.
But she would not satisfy them.
I'll think about it." she said, re-
garding the two men between mar
rowed lids.
Someone's got to pay for this"
she told them. cts not going to
be little Sally"