Evening star., 1935-09-27
INSTALLMENT XVIII.
mn sat in the lobby OF the hotel

A mn sat in the lobby OF the hotel
| ~ in Boston and tried to per-
| ~ suade herself that after the
4 events Of the past two months
life could produce neither surprise nor
complexity that she could not face
with comparative calm. The worst,
she reflected. was behind.
Their night and day in Boston had
had a quieting effect on her nerves.
In fact, their entire journey from
Washington had been SO completely
satisfactory that she was a little
ashamed of the uneasiness she had en-
tertained when she was leaving Mol
lies apartment.
Molie, always the martyr, had taken
it on herself in the beginning to re-
lieve Ann and Rita of any fears con-
corning Deane. Without consulting
any one she announced that she and
Deane would ride in the rumble Of
Selma's car and that Carl would sit
with Selma. That left Rita and Ann
to crowd into the seat with Bill, their
several pieces of luggage being packed
In New York the hotel arrangements
had been substantially as they were
here in Boston, Mollie and Selma oc-
cupying one Of two adjoining rooms
and Rita and Ann the other. The three
men had all taken separate rooms on
another floor.
Thus any possibility of friction be-
tween Selma and Rita-apparently
unlikely, in view of Selma's changed
attitude toward Rita-had been re-
moved, and Ann had barely seen
Deane Runbrecker since leaving Wash
ington.
Watching the constant flow of we'll
| dressed men and women through the
hotel lobby, Ann thought of these
things and was more grateful to Mollie
than Mollie would ever know. She
had not forgotten the night she sur
prised Mollie and Bill in the apart
ment kitchen, but she had grown so
fond of Mollie that she knew now that
nothing could ever seriously impair
their friendship.
But for greater service than Mollie
had performed Ann was indebted to a
mechanical accident. over every mile
of their long ride she had dreaded the
| moment of her meeting with Lee. He
would be waiting, of course. Mollie
would have arranged that. And IA
tigued as she most certainly would be,
she would have no choice but to face
him and try to justify her abrupt de-
cision to break off their engagement.
Given nights rest and an oppor-
tunity to organize her thoughts and
feelings, she would be better able to
cope with him.
Lee. however, had not been waiting
when they reached the hotel last
night and it was not until this morn
ing that they learned he had been
forced down near some isolated village
because of motor trouble. His wire
to Mollie explained he required a new
part to repair his engine and owing
to the difficulty of getting it, prob
ably would not reach Boston before
or o'clock.
All day Mollie had been in a fever
of anxiety and when at a quarter of
she called the airport and was in
formed that Lee had not yet arrived
she suddenly burst into tears iAnd
it was then that Ann, giving her lips
a last touch Of vivid color, caught up
her coat and hat and, with a signal
to Rita, slipped out of the room. Un-
able to share Mollie's premature dis
appointment-if she could have been
so selfish. she would have considered
it extraordinarily good fortune If Lee
had not arrived at all-she had come
to this deep chair in the lobby and
let her thoughts come and go as they
would.
Ann !"
Eyes fixed on the meZZanine, OBJ
serving the seemingly endless process
sion of lovely women in evening gowns
and Immediately attired men, she
had not seen Lee come through the
side entrance and was so startled by
the sound Of his voice that for
moment she could only stare. dumbly,
without even the semblance of
smile on her lips.
Gosh. it's good to see you" Lee
said earnestly. He took her hands
from her lap and pulled her to her
feet. For a moment Ann thought that
he would kiss her there in view OF
the hundred pairs Of eyes that had
already identified him; but he only