The Washington times., 1935-03-09

LL1S morning. 61hS LLl0 ucW
car been sent over from the
agency yet?"
eyes, sir. The new chauf.
feur is outside with 1t now.
He came in hoping to get you
to 60 out and see it"
"Give me that address. III
be back as soon as possible"
He was gone in a rush, with
the implacable air Of a man
who will brook no opposition to
his wishes.
And it was in such a mood
that he faced Sharlene across
Stuart Pennington's threshold.
She backed away from the
door silently as Kent strode
into the studio.
Pennington here?" he asked
after a swift glance around.
mo"
what are you doing here,
Sharlene, in his house?"
What right have you to
ask?" Her voice was very loW'
very controlled.
II believe I'm still your hus'
band"
She shook her head. "You
ceased to be that-one rainy
night last November. We can
attend to the legal separation
now that you're back in this
country"
He laid his hat down on the ia
BILE carefully, and when he turnee
his manner had changed from III
first belligerency to one almost o.
apology.
Look here, Sharlene. Of course
I didn't know your mother wa
dead that night. wrote you al
about that" ,
She was silent, remaining stand
ing, so that he could neither 81
down nor feel at ease. He had u
founder on presently.
"Of course, that made me seem
a. brute. Naturally, if I'd known
about your mother I wouldn't have
acted-just as I did"
Her death had nothing to de
with It'll" Sharlene said, quietly
She was watching him intently
never taking her eyes from him
It had been that way since he had
first confronted her at Stuart's
front door 1t embarrassed him.
but the embarrassment was ap
parently all on his side. She
seemed in some still, deep way to
be watching herself, too. Yet he
could ienSe no rancor nor hatred
in her ton, when she spoke. She
was an enigma. He moved rest
leSsly.
Look, Sharlene, he began again
unwillingly. This Julie thing was
only an infatuation. knew at
the time wouldn't last"
Bitter Medicine
eyes, I know" she said. gravely.
"Infatuations don't las - do
they?"
mo. That's why I said what ]
did. Couldn't you be big enough
to-forgive?"
His voice broke on that word.
It was hard for Kent to be hum
BILE; harder still to lose control
this way. He took q turn or two
up and dow. the room. Then he
rushed over to her and put his
hands on her shoulders.
"You love me, Sharlene! You
know you do! More than any
thing in Vhe world! I could al
ways count on that. Forget what
I said. was a fool didn't
mean it!"
She was looking deeply into his
eyes. He could not read her look
but, since she did not resist him
he drew her into his arms and
kissed her again and again.
AS Stuart drove his car into the
garage, he noticed a handsome
limousine standing at the gate. He
took his many heavy packages
from the back of the car and
started up the steps. Then he re-
turned and spoke to the chauf'
meur.
Whose car is this?"
"Mr. Kent Damerell's, sir"
Stuart had been sure Of it all
along. AS he assembled the steps
slowly he told himself he was sure
Of something else: This was the
end of everything.
AS he approached his front
door, he glanced down at the
bulging packages and decided he'd
be hanged If he'd appear thus
awkwardly laden before Kent
Damerell. So he veered abruptly
and went around the path to the
rear.
Sharlene had pulled herself
away from Kent, but his eager
arms enclosed her again.
"Sharlene!" he said triumph
antly. IT knew I'd win you back.
Kiss mel"
"Oh, don't!" she cried.
But" Again he drew her
closer.
"It was only a test" She
pushed him violently away from
her so that he backed into the
delicate carved doors Of the
shrine, in front Of which they had
been standing. There was the
sound of splintering wood.
"Oh, see what you've done!"
she walled. THAT lovely carv.
ing"
He paid no attention. Nov look
here, Sharlene-"
Stuart came into the back