The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-06-03
yMNzI21Rx NvoethQ0Hkz By Mabel McEIIiott @ Ioss. NEA Service. Inc.
Q Iqss, NEA Service, Inc.
SYNOPSIS


 nOwledge an unwilling attraction toward him. She is worried over the progress of an affair between
 ZOE PARKER, her best friend. and GIBBS LARKIN, of whom Zoe's parents disapprove.
 Katharine and DIR. JOHN KAYE, friend of the Strykhurst family, take Zoe to a night club where she sees Gibbs with a nO- tOriOus woman. Zoe threatens to
 kill herself.
 That same night Michael is in-
 veigled into taking SALLY
 MOON, local coquette, to the same place. Sally, arriving home late, informs her father that she
 and Michael are engaged.
 Zoe drinks poison. Doctor
 Kaye sets to work to save her life.
 CHAPTER XIX
 Dr. Kaye spoke slowly. as one who is deadly weary. "We pulled through" he said. She's going to get we'll"
 Katharine crumpled against the window frame. Her creamy silk evening frock was wrinkled. Her eyes had great hollows under them "Oh, John, thank God! You did it we owe it all to you"
 He shrugged his shoulders. Tt was the least I could do."
 You mean because you took us to the Club and she saw Gibbs there? Why, that was fate"
 'Not exactly" said John Kaye, rather dryly. You see I happened to know he was one of the habitues
 hear gossip around town
 "It's taught me something.' ' Katharine said, on along, shudder- ing breath of exhaustion. Its taught me never to interfere with human destiny. That, after all, is Gods business ."
 ''1f only we could all learn that lesson so early" said the man wryly. Come along now. Time for you to get some sleep. Zoe is resting quietly"
 Does her mother know?"
 'I sent the nurse to tell her five minutes ago."
 Then must have been asleep" marveled Katharine. And I thought I'd never sleep again till was sure. What weak creatures we humans are, John! You must have thought so when you came out of that room a moment ago and saw me dozing."
 T thought 7" he paused and Smiled that peculiarly winning smile of his. "Never mind what I thought"
 Katharine went home again, tip- toeing through the quiet house, through the dew-soaked garden. The morning seemed new-minted for her especial pleasure. It was a fresh gift. Never before had she realized how divinely sweet a morning could be.
 Zoe's convalescence was slow. Ma. one but John Kaye and Kath- arine knew what really had hap pened that terrible night. Some columnist from the city printed an item on the effect that "Gibbs Lar kin took it on the chin from a cer- tain prominent medico at the Blue Sky Club" Katharine, reading 1t, eAGAAbACAs put lACl6 WGIS IlO 1uTs ther repercussions from the inci- dent. Gibbs evidently had not beeen seriously hurt and. wherever he was, he had the sense to keep out of Zoe's path now.
 Later Katharine read his name in the sailing lists. Bound for Plymouth and Havre. She won- dered if Cissy Malotte, the blues singer. were on board the boat also.
 The day came when Zoe was al- lowed to walk in the garden. She seemed thinner, more thoughtful than before. Her close brush with death had sobered her, changed her from the laughing, rather friv- olous girl she had been into a Quieter woman. Katharine was conscious of being drawn to her as to a younger sister.
 For the moment thoughts of Michael Heatheroe were pushed in- to the background of Katharine's mind. She saw him almost daily. Sometimes he rode at her side; sometimes not. But their relation ship was now on a firmer basis. Katharine no longer felt 1t neces- sary to be stiff and offhand with him. Every day she saw about him some quality that she liked and ad- mired more.
 Who says men and women can not be friends?" she demanded of pr. Kaye one rainy Sunday. Ber- tine and her father were at the country club for tea. Katharine was exquisite in soft country tweeds, her fair hair curled about her face in nimbus of ringlets.
 II don't know. Who does?" John Kaye returned lazily. Ellen had kindled a fire in the library grate. for the afternoon was cool as well as damp-a curious day for August-and Katharine sat on a low hassock, poking idly at the em- bers with one of the fire tools.
 "Oh. don't know. Everybody" Katharine offered vaguely, smiling to herself. The man watched her with interest, balancing a teacup In one hand, the other occupied with cigaret.
 "Generalizations are always stu pid." the doctor said idly.
 T love this" Katharine went on, with animation, including the fire and the tea tray in the wave of her hand. 'It's pleasant to be shut in like this, with rain pounding against the windows and beating at the door," She smiled a secret smile, thinking of the day she and Michael Heatheroe had been shel- tered in the wayside cabin. Michael had been angry at her that day. Why? Some day, perhaps. she would know. He had never spoken to her in that way since.
 "Pleasant, inded. You never