Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-11
Continued from preceding page

creature of the country, connecting its
pulses into one organism. binding its
thoughts and its standards together,
strengthening the power which en-
abled it to act as unit.
You haven't seen nothing yet"
said Jack. wait until you get to
Texas. Are you really going there?"
"Yes. I'm bored here. I've got
new job"
For the love of tripe," he drawled.
what has that hellion of mine done
now?"
This is my doing" l said. Then l
told him about Give Harding and my
instructions.
Goodness knows what it will
mean," added, "or where I'll land up.
Dallas is my destination"
But Jack refused to be fooled.
There's something behind this" he
said, speculatively. Your Prince
called up couple of times this after
noon. Marcia told him you were out.
Now you're leaving. You're on my
side, Chris. Let me be on yours"
Thanks, Jack" I said gratefully.
But there is nothing to take sides
about"
"Well," said he, you can count
on me whether you want to. or not"
To face quiet home dinner in that
household was more than l could en-
dure. Let Marcia do the explaining, I
thought, as ordered tray sent to
my room and started packing. So long
as l was going. the break might as well
come at once.
One thing did worry me, however.
and that was the matter of the jewel
robbery. What had Mario wanted to
tell me when he telephoned?
almost called him to find out
before I remembered my promise to
Marcia. No. I decided. I'd keep the
letter of the agreement, to the end.
Then I cried into my open trunk
little about my own nobility of char
acter, until l realized that what was
really weeping over was the fact that I
had to 60 away without even saying
goodbye to the only person in the
world about whom I cared a boot.
Upon which l burst into real tears,
before realized with sanity-bringing
start, that l was wiping my eyes and
nose on my best evening frock.
1t was shortly after midnight when
l had finished the major part of my
packing. l was very hungry. for had
, been too upset to eat much supper.
Feeling it was late to be ringing for
servant, I decided to raid the pantry
ice box. So throwing on light dressing
gown I went downstairs. found some
cold fried chicken, bread and butter.
and a glass of milk and carried them
out onto the back gallery. 1t was warm
and dark there, and fragrant with
roses and syringa. A night bird sang.
How l hated to leave this beautiful
place! And the situation which was
driving me out seemed so silly, so
unnecessary - all brought about by a
foolish, selfish girls whim. l felt
almost revolutionary in my resent
ment as I looked towards the windows
of Marcia's room, which was on the
ground floor, in the wing. and then,
for the first time realized that her
light was still on. The window nearest
me was open from the bottom and the
shade not quite pulled down. Then all
at once Marcia moved into sight. clad
only in an ice green satin nightgown
which made her white skin dazzling
and her red head vivid fame. She sat
down at the dressing table and peered
at her reflection in the mirror, her
hands raised to the nape of her neck.
Then l saw what she was doing.
Marcia vas holding the ruby pendant
at her throat!
With wave of sick realization.
knew that I'd been sure of this all
along. As clearly as if Id seen her do it.
I knew that Marcia had coolly taken