Evening star., 1935-01-19

part, she went everywhere and had
everything she wanted But what did
she want from the Gaynors?
We've been trying to wigwag you,
dearest" she told Cynthia. Tearing
mob, isn't it? 1t would take Sena-
tor to get you through. Did Holly
Barlow come with Kim and you?"
We arranged to meet" Cynthia
lied.
Where is she?" Mrs Gaynor de-
manded. In an evening gown just
little too fiamboyant, although it
shrieked of the Rue de la Paix, she
had the look Of a big bright bird
ready to swoop on her prey. whether
it be masculine attention or social
recognition.
do you know her?"
mo, but I've often read about her
in the Dixie Decatur column of the
New York paper we get down in Oro-
caizi. She's the girl who's engaged
to young Van Ruyter. isn't she?"
rs she?" Mardi Freer's eyes widened
slightly as she turned to Cynthia.
IT really don't know"
Hes one of the Philadelphia Van
Ruyters." Mrs. Gaynor elaborated.
There's Alaric Gaunt from the
British embassy with Bill Dysart."
Mardis eyes we're ever alert. "Shan't
I bring them over?"
"Oh. yes" Daisy Gaynor said.
Cynthia shifted Mrs Gaynor toward
the corner where Mrs. Barlow stood,
surrounded by satellites of three gen.
erations You won't know Washing
ton until you've known Annie Cheno-
weth Barlow" she told the other
woman.
She couldn't see Kim now. but he
and Holly must be almost back of
her. Surely the girl would have sense
enough to get within the shelter of
her grandmother's encourage.
Even down in Bonaventura they
hear of you," she told old Annie
after her friend had been introduced,
but Mrs. Barlow tossed Yucca Oil aside
to stare straight into Cynthia's eyes.
II haven't seen you for long time,
Mrs. Cornish" she said, but I've
been thinking of you, oh, quite a
little-lately."
That's flattering." Cynthia laughed.
but she knew that there was no
flattery in the old woman's state
ment. Old Annie Barlow was fash
ing her q message which she'd have to
find wit to interpret. Did she know
about Kim and Holly? Did she want
to make alliance with Kim's wife
| against them?
ooh, Kim Cornish! I've been
desolated waiting for you since saw
you at the foot of the stairway"
Mardi pounced on Kim as he came
near. "You could have gone all the
way to Bonaventura and back in
the time it's taken you to get here.
But, of course, you've had such en-
trancing company. How do you do,
Miss Barlow?"
Holly Barlow murmured something
| indifferently polite, but her glance
swept past Mardi Freer to meet
Cynthias.
Outwardly it held no enmity, but
within the girls gray eyes burned
flame which scared Cynthia'S con-
sciousness, a fanatical fire for imo-
lation of something, some one. Was
it love for Kim, which would con-
sumo whatever palked it? Was 1t
something stronger, more dangerous,
than infatuation? There was daring
in this girl and recklessness more
dangerous than her magnolia
skin, her golden hair. her Turing
mouth, her fathomless, haunted eyes.
She had the high surety Of the girls
of her time and her group. the dis
dain of public opinion that hall
marked all the young aristocrats of the
capital. an arrogance Of method rather
than Of manner. Across Kim, rigidly
self conscious, and Geoffrey Shannon,
tolerantly amused, her voice came to
Cynthia: You're Mrs. Cornish,
aren't you?"
eyes" She strove to throw a Ger
tain light amusement into the syllable
I'm Holly Barlow" Her voice was
low, and, like her face. strangely
wistful; but it was none the less a
trumpet of authority, telling Kim's