The Washington times., 1935-01-05

an exhausting trip. I hate to
have you CO."
1T kills me not to see you, but
there's no time. My brothers
been trying to get me all night
while we were in Santa Barbara.
I've been delayed for hours, now"
TOO bad! a So sorry you have
to go. You're sure it couldn't be
arranged by phone?"
"No. My presence is required. ."
"Well, goodbye, Kent. I won't
keep you'll know you've got a lot
to do. I wish I could pack for
YOU"
TITS done. I'm only taking a
bag"
Good luck, dear. love you!"
And I love you - goodby,
sweet"
The green Verdugo hills and lit
tie home dropping away. Kent'S
head throbbing with the throb Of
the motors. Cora! To do a thing
like this! Why, she'd always been
so reasonable. She'd never pushed
any claim on him. Oh, but If Shar-
lene should get hold of this! He
could never love a woman in his
life the way he loved Sharlene. {.
Desert, yaWning chasms below,
heat. desolation. Why did Cora
have to pull this? Could Leigh
keep 1t out of the papers? Shar-
lene must never know. Oh, Lord!
Lord! please-Silly Of him, going
back to his childhood beliefs to
appeal for help.
CHAPTER TX
Kent lost track of the hours.
His connections we're miraculous.
Part Of him recognized this and
approved the work of the pilots
But Cora would not let him
alone for long. Ten years of Cora,
good scout though she was, had
grown deadly tiresome. He had
loved her, Of course, when she
had left her husband and baby
and come to him. But it didn't
last. Cora was faithful-but Cora
wasn't a flame-like sharlene.
New York at last, with Leigh
out at the airport to meet him
and take him directly to the hos
pital.
shes still living" Leigh said,
as he seized his brothers bag, "but
1t won't be long now" He hur-
ried Kent into a waiting taxi. and
as they raced forward, he went on;
"She's kept herself alive by
sheer will-just to see you."
ANYTHING broken in the pa
mo, but it may cost a lot of
dough-" Leigh's rugged, young
face looked anxious. He worried
perennially about his older
brothers expenditures, though
the supply seemed inexhaustible.
That's all right" Kent said
brusquely, Il expect to have to
pay. The main thing Is, Shar.
lene mustn't know about this. I
don't want her to know there
ever was a Cora"
"Oh, come now, she wouldn't
expect that you are so immacu.
late"
THAT isn't it. There's some.
thing new and fresh and charm.
ing I won't have it tarnished
by Cora"
"All the same" Leigh said sen.
tentiouSly, you owe Cora q lot
and don't forget it,"
Cora looked like something
dragged out Of the river. Her
dark hair hung in dank wisps
about her greenish face. She
opened her enormous pale eyes
and looked at Kent. After a mo.
ment she recognized him and
smiled. 1t was CHASTITY, that
smile. He took the inert hand
lying outside the bedclothes in
both Of his. 1t was Shockingly
familiar, yet strange.
"1-love-you-dear," she whis.
pered hoarSely.
Eyes, Cora"
"I'm-going-to-die."
"Do-Something-for me?"
"Of course, Cora. What Is it?"
"Marry-me."
"Marry-me," she repeated
painfully.
"But, Cora, I can't do that"
"1'm-going-to die. Give me
your name. That's ALL ask. I"
Leigh turned from the window
and exchanged glances with his
brother. Then hS came over to
the bedside.