The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-03
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had looked q little pale from the accident. she had seemed radiantly happy. Something not connected with her illness was behind this- Valeria. Tony, or the Kendalls. Sarah decided to write to Ann's aunt in Greenfield, thinking grim ly, If there's been dirty work III get to the bottom of 1t if l can.' Mrs Kendall had called Valeria ns soon as she heard the news of Ann's flight. Gan you come over, dear? I've something exciting to tell you Something think yiu will l be glad to hear"
 Mrs Kendall wants me to come over," Valeria told her aunt.
 What in the world does she want?"
 "It's only q guess. But I think she's going to tell me Peter has broken with his wife. You were the one who was so sure had lost him forever, weren't you?" Mrs Wainwright studied her niece's face-insolent, not in the least beautiful now without clever makeup. Your work, suspect"
 "You didn't think would let her keep him?"
 How do you know he'll come back?"
 How do I know anything? How do I know that he will be terribly let down and sore and unhappy and humiliated? You don't doubt that I'll make the most of my op- portunity, do you?" "No. I'm sure you will" Mrs Wainwright was suddenly sorry for the girl who had been unable to match her niece's clever ness and interruptions methods. When she left the house Valeria was wearing a demure frock and hat with a half veil that shaded her eyes. Her face had been made up to q becoming pallor and her | lips were only light touched up.
 "Ill probably have lunch with Mrs Kendall" she said, "and then perhaps we'll drive by later this afternoon and pick up Peter for dinner. He will be feeling pretty badly"
 | Her aunt was moved to admira- ton of such ability. Valeria was q prefect actress. All traces of ugli- nes were gone. Her voice was low and sweet again. Her eyes miled wistfully.
 But the program did not work out as Valeria had planned. At Peters office they learned he had not been in all day.
 Peter was with Millicent. 'I may be wrong" she told him, but it wouldn't surprise me if Valeria had q hand in this"
 |. He shook his head. No, she was very friendly.
 He couldn't betray Ann, telling Millicent about Tony. And Milli- cent did not tell him about the friendlifess through which the Valerias of the world do their dead Hest work.
 Well. anyway, I suspect she's pretty will satisfied"
 Peter suspected Valeria would be pleased, too. He determined to keep out of her way. But in the day that passed there apparently was no way of managing 1t. Valeria was always appearing on his path. "Pm so glad l ran into you. I'm simply ravcnous for q bite and something cool to drink. Could you bphEc null uOuT If he said he was busy, it was You couldn't be that busy! Be- l sides you have to eat sometime" Or she would offer to drive him | wherever he was going I've nothing but time on my hands" she would say. That was all Peter had, too. Time for breeding and work. | | n,, ana nf fhaoa .n.nata-g o,,, |, saw the two having lunch to- gether. She could not see Peters strained and weary face, fo his back was toward her. She only saw Valeria's smiling eyes and guessed how triumphant she was feeling.
 Sarah's scorn of Peter was com pletc. It was outrageous for him to be having lunch with Valeria She couldn't have found q logical reason for her feelings. They were all mixed up. She was sure, some how, that Valeria had driven Ann away from Peter.
 Sarah passed the table, nodded briefly to Peter and ignored Vale ria.
 You're looking fearfully thin Peter" Valeria was saying. "Its really wrong to let yourself go like this, shutting yourself away from all your friends"
 Don't worry about me, Val. I'll be All right"
 | "I am worried. How could help 1t when l see--sec,' she hesitated and went on, Someone I care for suffering?"
 | Peter looked up at Valeria then. Her voice oundcd as though she were going to cry. There were tears in her eyes.
 He said uncomfortably, "It's foolish of you to worry about me-" l Valeria followed up her advan- tage. When l think of Ann hurt ing you like this"
 Leave her name out" Peter said hoarsely. The stark misery in his eyes enraged Valeria. She hated Ann, who had put 1t there.
 Peter had gone calmly about putting Valeria out of his mind when he had broken with her. But when Ann left, he had turned into a recluSe. Everybody was talking about 1t. All Valeria's friends were smiling and saying, Peter posi- lively sunk over his wife leaving him. Did you ever see anyone SC completely gone? Valeria, isn't there something you could do?"
 She had used all her resource during the month, only to meet Peter's blank indifference.
 It's awful to be shut out like this,' she said now. I've been SC lonely. l haven't been anywhere. couldn't, worrying about you"
 Paul Johnson looked up as Peter entered the office. Peter, call came to you. Someone wants you to come to this addres on Bond street. Where in the devil is Bono