The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-08-29

Helen begged. "Stay here. No
business is so important that it
must be carried on in a heat
like this"
But they would not be per-
suaded. Helen drove them to
the train. She watched them
board it amid a jostle Of COM
muters and she watched Dirk's
tall lean figure until he was
lost to view. She drove back to
the house and sat down list
lessly on the porch glider. A
curious uneasiness crept over
her. She felt old and weary.
Quite without knowing why she
leaned her head against the cool
iron bars of the swing and wept
softly. She didn't for the life OF
, her know why. She shook her
self as she got up to start her
. day but she could not throw off
o curious numbness that had
=, taken possession Of her.
When Dirk reached his office
he found there a message from
Irene that she was coming to
New York that day and would
. meet him at 8 o'clock that eve
ming in their apartment.
> "She mustn't come in today"
T he told his secretary. It's
: much too hot. Get my house.
please"
? But Irene had already left.
d. He called the apartment but
t there was no answer. There was
: nothing to do but obey her sum-
mons unless he could get in
touch with her during the day.
He tried to get Irene again be-
fore he ate a solitary dinner at
his deserted club. At 8 he took
a taxi to their apartment. The
heat hung in the air like pail.
It was a thick, moist heat that
seemed to choke one. Gasoline
fumes hung nauseatingly over
the road. Cars sped by hoping
in their speed to circulate air.
Dirk srawled on the grimy seat
l. of the open taxi. The leather
was still hot from the baking
sun. Dirk's thin linen suit
pasted itself to the sticky
leather seat.
He thought of the ocean at
Long Beach and he felt a furi-
GUS resentment at Irene for
summoning him here to meet
her tonight. Park Avenue was
deserted except for a few
stragglers leading dogs. Dirk
famed himself with his hat as
the elevator shot up to the four
teenth floor. He let himself in
with his latchkey. The apart
ment was cool but airless. The
smell of camphor hung in the
: air. The living room was dark
E. but as he reached for the light
: he saw Irene sitting in a linen
covered chair.
Hello, why are you sitting in
the dark?"
He switched on the light. He
had the impression that she
had been sitting there for a
long time. She wore a loose
silk negligee that she had evi.
IDENTIFY found in the apartment
but even this was too hot and
she had opened it and thrown it
back, displaying her superb fig
ure in a lace braSSiere and lace
corset.
He noticed then, when she did
not return his greeting, that she
was as CHASTITY white as the
linen slipcover against which
she leaned her head. Her face
was covered with fine sweat,
her eyes were closed. The thick
= fringe of her lashes threw a
deeper shadow against the hol.
lows Of her white cheeks.
Are you i'll, Irene?" He came
- toward her to feel her forehead.
Don't touch me-" she whis-
pered hoarsely.
What's the matter, Irene?"
IT know everything"
"You know everything? Every.
thing about what?"
Don't lie to me. At least be
good enough to tell me the
truth" she cried passionately.
II don't know what you're
talking about" He stood look
ing down at her.
She suddenly sprang to life.
"You don't! She ragged, her eyes
wide open now, her fists clenced.
Dirk was filled with a sudden
fury. He had a desire to dig
his nails into her white throat
and clenched his fists.
you must be out of your
mind" he said quietly.
= "Out of my mind, Ell? It's a
Ooondap TJ,1a MT ARaIyIa mn