The Washington times., 1935-12-14

that l drove you out INTO Lne
we're two hours out of New York
Harbor and you can't possibly
leave the boat?"
Francine moved her eyes from
his face to the tip of her cigar
cite, blew on it gently until it
glowed redly. II haven't the
slightest desire to leave the boat,
my sweet. That is, not until we
reach Southampton, anyway"
Kipp crossed to the bed and sat
down on it. His fingers reached
out and gripped one Of her slim
wrists. His voice was hard, &C.
cusing. "See here. do you mean
you arranged deliberately to sail
on this boat?"
Francine released his fingers
gently from her wrist. Slid her
cool ones lightly over them. II
did," she admitted, grinning at
him lazily, deliberately, and
with malice aforethought.''
"Why?" demanded Kipp. His
eyes were grimly unsmiling.
She shrugged bare shoulders.
"It's fairly obvious, isn't it? I
haven't seen you for days .
alone. I thought it might be
fun crossing on the same
boat with you. I thought you
might think it would be :"
Her eyes continued to laugh at
him, lazily, a little derisively.
Then she said: Don't look so
compromised, darling, so COM
pletely the utterly married young
man. After all, there's no rea-
son in the world why I shouldn't
sail on this boat, is there? Or
on any boat I happen to take a
notion to? If you're thinking
Of Ann :"
Kipp laughed shortly. you're
right I was thinking of Ann.
But there's no reason why I
should. Ann doesn't give a
damn what you do, Francine
or what do. Ann and l."
he finished evenly, Gin case
you're interested, are all washed
up."
do you mean." asked Tran.
cine coolly, not unduly inter
ested, that you two have quar-
relied? What about, for Heavens
sake?"
Kipp told her. He told her
walking up and down the cabin,
pausing now and then to kick
something out of his way or to
emphasize a point by standing
perfectly still for an ominous
moment or two.
"And the thing that burns me
up more than anything else," he
finished, sitting down abruptly
on the bed, leaning his head
against his clenched fists, "is
that she would go off like that
where I couldn't get in
touch with her. She must have
known that I wouldn't sail with
out trying to see her that
wouldn't go off and leave things
all snarled up like this"
Francine said softly, her eyes
on the toes of her silver san
dals: why didn't you tell her
the truth about the check in
the first placer"
II tell you I tried to but
she wouldn't listen. You've no
idea," he said slowly, bewildered.
ly, "how mad she was. I've
never seen her so mad L
didn't know she could get so
mad :"
Women" said Francine con-
Solingly, ARE funny that way.
You should have told her the
truth"
"And if had would she
have believed me? You know
very well she wouldn't have"
Kipp lighted a cigarette with
unsteady fingers, inhaled quick
ly, exhaled the smoke through
his nose. Suddenly he was find.
ing it an unexpected and enor.
nous relief to talk to some one
for hours now he had been
going over and over this thing
that had happened to them; now
he was deriving a sort Of painful
pleasure from actually talking
about it putting it all into
words and sentences.
He said now, jumping up, be-
ginning to pace again: why, she
didn't even know I had those first
editions. Can't you hear me ex-
planning it to her? You see, Ann,
I needed some money in a hurry
and Francine happened to know
a guy who was collecting H. G.
Wells firStS' E.
Copyright. 1884, by AIlene Corliss Dis
tributed by King Features Syndicate, ,Inc.)
tie Be COntinued)