The Washington times., 1935-03-09

cellent time to pay 1t back"
"Oh, dont!" she cried in 9
stifled voce. He was surprised at
the intensity of her recoil from
that painful subject. She got ur
from the table and went quickly
over to her bag for her handker
chief. When she came back she
stood beside his chair, pleading
like a little girl: please, Stuart
please let me come up here and
keep house, and model for you
I can save you money!"
Look, Sharlene, I'll move out
After all. this Is your house"
"It Is not!" she said Indignantly
"And I won't have you moving
That's ridiculous" She broke OIL
to go and look into the bedrooms
and came back with fresh enthu
siasm: why couldn't have the
second bedroom?" Then at the
look on his face she flushed anG
amended hastily: well, perhaps
it would be better for me to spend
the nights down at the apartment
house at the foot Of the hill. Gould
we afford that?"
"It'S like this: You were my best
friend-before the marriage
made such mess Of. And ever
now. II haven't anyone else in
the world I can appeal to as I car
to you. I need your sanity-youl
kindness. L don't feel such ar
utter migrate to ask you, because
know I can be of use to you, too
=. Couldn't we forget that dread
full year we had together-and q
back to the old friendship"
Her face quivered with sudden
tears, but she held herself sternlJ
in check. "All right, Stuart. IL
find some other way"
mo-" he decided suddenly
Come If you want to. But CAM
see you slaving in the kitchen
Well get servant"
Stuart At Work
Days of sorting over squalline
models to find one that would do
Days when lightning work was
packed into the scattered minutes
when the baby was amenable tc
posing. Exhausting contact with
the mother, eager to get the
money the baby earned, but com
planning about everything. Having
to heat milk and. 1t was appal
ling! Sharlene marveled al
Stuart's patience.
Stuart came out Of his abSorp
tion one day to notice a rabbit
like quivering of her nostrils, anc
an anxious look in her eyes.
What does that expression in
dicate?" he inquired.
She did not relax from her pose
as she said meekly: I'm afraic
the potroast is burning, sir"
Stuart laughed and threw dowr
his brushes. "All hands to thu
rescued"
They flew to the kitchen where
Sharlene snatched the pot off the
fire and peered anxiously into 1t
shifting. "Oh, I think it's only
browned!" she cried with relief
"And it's a darned good thing, too
because it's got to last the rest o.
the week for dinners till Fore
mans check comes in"
"Exchequer getting lowe" h
asked anxiously.
"No. Everything's paid, and
put the rest Of the money in YOU
savings account"
you're a marvel, Sharlene!'
he gave her the grateful praise
which crowned all her efforts.
CHAPTER XII
They were singularly lucky II
being undisturbed during tn
long, busy days, but, Of course. !
could not last. One evening
when they were sitting befor'
the fire, too lazily content ever
to talk, they heard the voices O.
people coming up the hill. Shar
lene flew to the kitchen just a
a knock sounded on the door.
It was a group Of Stuart
artist friends. AS soon as h
got them interested in the panel
he slipped out to the kitchen.
"I'N get rid Of them as sool
as can, Sharlene. Wait for me
I don't want you going down tn
hill alone. There've been to-
many holdups."
He mixed some drinks and sh
put glasses on the tray for him
"They won't stay long," he aS
sured her as he carried the ira,
toward the studio. :. But the,
did stay until after midnight
ignoring the lameness Of Stuart
cordiality. When he flnall,
closed the door on them he hui
ried to the kitchen, contrite
Sharlene had worked so hard al
day, she needed her rest. Their
was q noble cocoanut froste
cake on the kitchen table, bu
no Sharlene. The kitchen doc
was locked on the inside, so h
knew she had not gone home.
He found her sound asleep o.
the bed in the second bedroom
under the light which was sti
burning. She had been readin
and the book had fallen from he
tired hands. He removed 1t gentl