Evening star., 1935-09-15
FEATHER
INHERHkT
bl JULIE ANNE MOORE

Lee Monday alone had failed to ar
rive. Selma had invited Lee for her
self. To annoy Carl, obviously. And
for this she had arranged the dinner.
what do you suppose has happened
to Lee?" Ann said.
"wish knew" Bill replied. "He
isn't the sort to break an engagement
without a good reason"
In view Of the fact that AIMS ques-
ton had been uppermost in the mind
OF every one present, 1t was not so
much q coincidence that ut that mo-
ment Deane Runbrecker hazarded an
answer. Under the stimulus of too
many cocktails, his high-pitched voice
was loud and challenging. Osten-
sibly addressing a young DR.. Gardner
across the table, his words reached
every ear in the room:
I'll tell you why Lee Monday isn't
here. He either ran into q pretty
girl or he discovered somebody with q
stock of good liquor"
Senator Runbrecker glared at his
lItCbl 1d1Cu oOll dklu d1tCl . ulOIIlCHJ .
shocked silence the subdued conversa-
tional murmur resumed in q gallant
pretense Of ignoring Deane's outburst.
It was some moments before Ann could
get Bills attention, but when at last
he looked at her she said In q barely
audible voice:
i've always said that where there's
too much money there's q compensat-
ing weakness of character funny
you didn't mention women or whisky
when you were selling Lees stock
this afternoon"
The corners Of Bills mouth tight
ened and his right eye half closed.
Ann could see that he was q little
angry.
Dope" he murmured. Cant. you
see the FOOLS ready to slide under the
tablet"
Some people never tell the truth
unless they're drunk"
Bill turned to the girl on his left
and appeared to be much interested
in what she was saying, so much
interested in fact that he was prob
ably the only person at the table who
was unaware of Selma's sudden exit
from the room and her immediate re-
turn with Lee Monday. The first he
knew of Lees arrival was when Sena-
tor Runbrecker rose from his chair
and energetically clapped his hands
With two exceptions. every one at
the table followed the Senator's ex-
ample Bill rose. grinning, but his
hands remained at his sides. Ann die
not rise.
Hating herself for the devil that
got into her in moments like this
she still could not overcome her dis
approval of what she saw as cheap
theatrical pretense. What did these
people know, or care, about Lees
fight across the country in a sealed
cabin? If they felt anything at all
1t was not admiration for what HI
| had done. They were moved, rather
! Ann told herself, by sense of theil
own good fortune in having this init
mate contact with a young man whose
name had been in headlines since HI
was q small boy. Though her be.
havior made her the most conspicuou'
person in the room, she remained
seated.
They were still standing, still ap'
plauding when Lee Monday came to Z
point behind the chair reserved fol
him, and Ann, her face slight!
flushed, looked up to find his eye.
fixed upon her. Her color deepenec
but she managed to nod in respons,
to his pleasant smile.
Bill scowled at her when he hac
resumed his seat. Say, what kline
Of woman are you, anyway? i
wouldn't have cost you anything II
stand up for a minute"
| NO" said Ann, "and II wouldn't