Evening star., 1935-06-14

eyes blazing with indig-
nation
''Never mind that" Robert inter-
fupted quickly. IT'S got nothing to
do with Daphne It's I who say that
you must not.
But YOU know nothing about him.
How can you2 You've only seen him
once" Alison protested.
81 know him quite enough"
what have you heard?" she de-
Ei1anded.
I'D rather not talk about that" he
began, but Alison cut in.
"You must tell mel"
Surely It's enough If /"
mol" She could not control her
anger now. you order me not to
meet him, you say he's not a fit
friend for me. It's unreasonable! I
must know why"
Daphne was still sitting on the floor
beside the sofa, her long pink-tipped
fingers lazily turning the lengths of
cloth, but now Alison caught quick
look flashed between her and Robert:
warning glance that said Be firm!"
AliSon's eyes became hard.
'Well?" she snapped.
My dear girl, surely you can trust
me. Don't you think you'd better just
take my word?" Robert was un-
happy: he had never seen his quiet
and gentle girl in this mood and it
was not easy to be firm.
No" With an immense effort. she
controlled her voice. spoke coolly. I'm
not going to take your word, father,
or anybody else's without knowing
why. If you'll tell me what he has
done I can judge"
Aren't you making rather a fuss
over mere acquaintance" put in
Daphne sweetly.
I'm talking to my father" It was
rude, but Alison did not care. IT
think you've made enough mischief
Already"
"Alison!" protested Robert.
Il know. But don't want to hear
what she's got to say! I'm asking
you to tell me. What has he done?"
Robert shifted uneasily; Daphnes
eyes were on him, family mocking,
Alison was glaring at him. her eyes
dark with rage. He coughed and
THE mans a crook. my dear"
"All right. He's a crook then. But
Ehat has he done?"
I'll tell you!" Daphne swung sud-
denly to her feet. scattering the pat
terms across the floor. He calls him.
aelf Guy Westurn. doesn't he? That's
not his name. His real names Guy
Lumley, and he didn't dare to tell
you that. because he was afraid you
might find out the truth about him !!
He's only too we'll known, you see!
He said he was an architect, didn t
he? It's not true. He is, he was. a
doctor. A doctor who Just escaped
being struck off the register, my
dear"
How do you know all this?" Alison
was dangerously quiet now.
How? Because he had a practice
out on the Riviera, at Nice, when I
was out there. before he went smash.
As matter of fact, I was warned
against him by some friends Of mine" "
Daphne was cool slightly contemp-
tuous There we're stories, even then.
After I left the whole thing came
out and he had to chuck up his
practice!"
What whole thing?"
Il really think, dear" broke in
Robert. "ti1at you must leave it at
that. If Daphne told you. you prob
ably wouldn't understand
DO you think I'm as silly as all
that?" Alison gave a little harsh
laugh.
Even then. I think you ought to
admit that older people have some
sense, dear" Daphne's tone was
smooth. Your father wouldn't inter
fere without enough reason"
My father'd believe anything you
told him!" Alison flung the truth at
her.
Daphne let it pass with a faint
gesture Of despair: it was Robert who
burst out angrily with Really, Ali
SOM"
Il don't care. It's true! Ever since
got home she's been trying to make
trouble between me and you!" Now
that it had come, the girl let herself
go. She was on the verge of tears.
"She hates me and she means to
come between us if she can, that's the
truth! She hates me because I see
through her and I've found her out.
She's afraid I might tell you-" She
stopped short, choking the words back,
half afraid of what she had said.
Tell me what? You're being utter
" silly" Robert was stern, almost as
pale as the girl.
Tell you that it's not you she loves.
and that she's marrying you for
money!"
1t was out now. There was COM
plete silence, the appalled, silence
which follows when a bomb has burst.