The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-04
CHAPTER XLYu

Ons night Harrow had driven to
the nearby village, Pete had gone
to bed, Boris was n town and Spike
and Ida seemed nowhere about,
when. - she sat reading over the
newly revised second act Of their
play, she was interrupted by . se1v.
ant Who announced - lady 70 -
you, Miss Owen"
Kay said, shave her come n
here" and gave her hair q quick
touch, wondering who would be COM
ing at such IN hour. It was nearly
eleven.
There were soft, quick footsteps
outside the study and a strikingly
beautiful woman appeared in the
doorway. She was tall, dark, with
luminous big eyes and poise and
carriage that was what one might
expect of the nobility.
"Miss Owen?" she asked pleas
antly. Her voice was deep, vibrant,
cultivated, the most beautiful fem
mime speaking voice Kay ever had
heard.
And then, before her visitor an
nounced the fact, Kay realized her
identity. Here, in this doorway,
was standing Earl Harrow's lost
love, Carlotta Vestra, back from the
Riviera.
"May I talk with you q few min
utes-alone?" the woman asked,
stepping in and closing the door be-
hind her.
There was q little pause as Car
lotta studied Kay. an unnerving,
painful pause.
II am Carlotta vestra," the IA
nous actress said.
Kay nodded.
II know"
A quick fire came into the older
woman's eyes; her nostrils seemed
to flare and CULVER.
@Ah-you do"
It was only then that Kay real
lied Carlotta Vestra was angry,
was inwardly trembling and seeth-
Ing for all her poise; and that she
was unsteady on her feet, Just q
trife, but unsteady nevertheless /;
and that there was q distinct odor
Of alcohol in the room.
Eleven o'clock. In the city, night
lite was just getting . good start.
White lights Of signs flooded the
theatrical district with . strange,
unearthly illumination; doormen
were busy Ut their posts, ushering
people In, ushering them out; taxi
starters footed and shrilled their
various whistles; cab drivers rushed
along with fashionably dressed pas
Sengers, cruised about with alert
eyes or jockeyed their way up to
crowded curbs: theaters, concert
halls began to disgorge chatting,
laughing crowds who for q short
space Of time had been living in
other worlds; at q dock q great liner,
bound for France, was Just casting
Oh and the stay-behinds were wav-
Ing, whistling and calling goodbyes
to the departing travellers; in dis
creetly-fronted, exquisitely appoint
ed gambling places dice were click
ing and roulette wheels whirred %
anxious eyes watched for the turn
Of luck; throughout the city, in taxi
dance places, in beer taverns, cafes,
night clubs, hotels, roof gardens.
radio stations, dance orchestras
poured forth all varieties Of music
for all varieties Of people; crooners
leaned soulfully toward micro.
phones: and high above tho streets
in skyscrapers irregularly check.
cred with squares Of pale light
scrubwomen piled mop and soapy
rag in the deathly stiffness that had
closed in upon the Offices . few hours
before when the last typewriter had
clacked, the last telephone bell had
Yung, the last buzzer had sounded
Eleven o'clock in the city. . world
apart from quiet Long Island
where Kay Owen sat with the Vi.
brant, temperamental Carlotta Yes
Eleven o'clock BY the little plati.
mum watch on Ida Campbell's gold
en-brown wrist. Ida looked across
the shiny, black top Of the speakeas,
table 1t Spike Winch's battered
quizzical face. He was . likeabll
roughneck, this Spike Winch; ,
smart man: maybe not even as much
. roughneck % ho seemed. He VA
Of this world-the clubs, the speak
easies, the music, the parties, TIL
theater. He was the closest asso
eiate Of Earl Harrow who held y
much Of this worlds power.
ssYou know" Ida said slowly, he,
lons-lashed eyes half eloaed. = 1oRE!