Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-19
CHAPTER XXI.


~ APHNE droned on about her
plans for the honeymoon. I
know the man who runs the
~ place and ne told me that
there are wonderful climbs,
and I thought we'd picnic and Alison
and I could explore them while you
played with your plants, Bob"
I'm not sure that I'll come" Rob
ert winked at his daughter. you
haven't said thank you yeti?
1--WE done something much better"
retorted Daphne. I've made you four
whole pounds Of those special little
nutty chocolates you love!"
"Ah!" Robert was rather overact-
ing his part. rubbing his hands to-
gether, smiling at Alison. Il tell you
Daphne was arch now. "Wait!" She
something to write home about"
You're not going to get one yeti"
Daphne was arch now. Wait she
turned to Alison. "One can't get de-
cent chocolates out in Spain, of the
beaten track. Do tell me, what kind
do YOU like best? I must make you
some. Or do you love nuts, too"
"She loves creams" put in Rob-
ert. .
"Then I'll make a whole box OF
creams specially for her" declared
Daphne affectionately, las present:
Alison had an odd sensation OF SUI
location, as if the too apparent ana
transparent efforts to placate and IN
clude her were huge, soft etderdoWns
which were being pushed down on her
until she could hardly breathe.
She made an attempt to smile ana
speak lightly. Its who must think
of presents. I must think Of one TO
give YOU, Mrs. Sumers--
Daphne, pleased"
Sorry, Daphne. What would you
nke?"
I'm sure I should love anything
YOU chose" She got up, held out
her arm linked 1t in the girls and
drew her out of the dining room.
you've your fathers taste, my dear,
which is wonderful Look what he
gave me today-these lovely pearl ear
rings!"
"They are awfully pretty!" The girl
tried hard to reciprocate the warmth
touch on her arm gave her physical
repulsion that she had never felt with
anv one else. las if she YVES snake,
thought Alison.
Entering the library, she drew away
as she said, I'm afraid / couldn t
afford anything as beautiful as that"
Daphne broke into a ringing peal
of laughter. ,,,
afford! You dear, innocent child!
Don't YOU know that with your ex-
pectations you could get credit in any
shop in London?"
mo. I never run bills"
WHY should you?" Daphne made
that sound hooking. MY dear, now
I wish that we were all like your
Alison turned away. She was feel
ing furiously angry again. Not so
easy, after all, to keep ones temper
with Daphne, who was always sneerlng
covertly, making each attempt to be
friendly into occasion for fresh digs
and hooking laughter. The only thing
to do was to pretend not to understand,
not to care!
Picking up the evening paper, Ali
son held it rather high to hide her
flushed CheekS as Sne pIetelueu W
read the news. But there were hot
tears. in her eyes which made the let
tiers dance about and she had to
blink twice to drive them back.
Suddenly the headlines took shape
and meaning, driving all the anger
from Alison'S head, all the color from
her cheeks.
Empty House Murder" ran the
heading.
Murder! For a moment she turned
cold. So tragedy had been brewing
after all in that Cd, eerie house! 1t
had not all been fancy! Her eyes ran
down, scanning, skipping the print
anxiouSly.
Mrs. Grey, pretty woman about
80. said, 1T was a dreadful expert
ence. I went down to get the cellar
open for the man delivering coal. I
didn't see the body at first, the eel
lars are so dark, and it was lying right
up at the far end, in the recess under
the stairs.
cat first I thought the last ten
ant had left some clothes behind and
then I saw what it was!
"'I screamed so my husband came
ioly 40