Evening star., 1935-08-13

- smile. He was laughing so1ty
N as he said into the chauf-
Il y feur's tube, Drive to the post
office, Harder. Then by telegraph
Office and home?"
why the post Office in the middle
of the night. Raoul?" she asked gayly.
oh. she felt reckless now! Going to
Raouls penthouse to get drunk! What
q grand way to get even with Marshall!
What a grand way to prove to herself
that Marshalls chapter in her book OF
life was closed. finished. forever over
"I have an important letter to mail,
he said. Forgot it before we went to
the reception. Want to get it of to-
night-Sure."
He was lying, she decided. He was
going to post whatever he had taken
from the legation chancery. After a
little she said out of her thoughts:
DO you think Jose Ravero will dis
cover what you took tonight before
you sail for South America, Raoul?
And aren't you afraid I'll tell some
one? Women don't have one-way zip
pers on their mouths, you know!"
For a full minute Raoul did not
answer. He fumbled in his pockets
and drew out an oblong silver Gig
arctic case He snapped 1t open and
offered her a cigarette When she re-
fused. he took one himself and Lit 1t,
lnhaling slowly, seemingly drawing the
smoke along his tongue.
He said:
II believe. Betsy, that you should be
an authoress. You have a vivid imag-
ination. Do you ever consider writ
ing?"
Betsys voice was composed, but tiny
flames in her cheek showed her shy
ness on this subject. I've almost I'm
ished a novel; she confessed. And
I shall have to blacken both your eyes
If you laugh. And that would be
pity. You have such nice eyes,"
Raoul didn't laugh. May suggest
that YOU have a Latin hero in it
named Raoul who sneaks around lega-
tions, through secret passageways,
stealing important documents from
locked safes? Make him insanely in
love with the heroine, of course. That
Is. if you're the heroine of your story,
Betsy"
Betsy began to wonder then if her
vivid imagination had tricked her into
believing that Raoul was involved in
some diplomatic intrigue.
She was frovning slightly when she
said:
Forgive me. Raoul I did think you
rere an international spy or something
of the sort"
Then turn your imagination to
more pleasant channels, Betsy" Raoul
said, taking her hand between his two
palms. TRY seeing yourself as the
First Lady of my country. You know,
7 am returning home to run on the
Liberal ticket for the presidency.
should be elected, and think I will
be. for was more or less born to that
office. My grandfather was elected
when he was 38. my father took the
oath when he was 35, and I am 80.
Jose Ravero and all his henchmen,
who are so anxious to avoid blood
shed over the boundary will have to
wait until I am dead or out of office
to keep my country from once again
possessing that disputed territory. In
the Molivarian district Is San Juan,
the richest, most active port on the
coast And surrounding San Juan are
the finest coffee plantations in South
America. BY everything that Is right
and holy we own that land and when
I am President we are going to get it
back again"
1t was nearly 2 o'clock when they
reached Raoul's pent house. Twice
Betsy had almost said, Take me
home, Raoul. I'm being a silly little
fool" But something stubborn and
reckless and aching within her had
held back the words. She knew that
she was doing wrong-very wrong
but she was powerless to stop. Libby
was ultra sophisticated. Terry's dancer
and Johns Angelica were worldly, too.
Well, then, If men went in for their
type she would be more sophisticated
and daring than any of them.
Raouls penthouse was a futuristic
palace. The drawing room was high
and vaulted. Magenta scatter rugs
were thick and lush under the tread.
They were facing cone-shaped
mirror when Raoul helped Betsy out
of her velvet jacket. With her back
still to him he curved his arms around
her waist and locked his long bronzed
fingers. Almost unbelievingly Betsy
watched Raoul kissing the lobe Of her
ear and his shining black head moving
slowly downward as his lips sought
the curve of her throat.
Gently she put Raoul away and
turned and faced him before the
honesty Of that small frightened face
sin the mirror which would defeat her
srecklessness. She pouted her lower
lip, as If blowing away a thin spiral
of smoke.
"Raoul, when are you going to mix
those drinks? When are you going to
trot out your stable Of pink elephants?
I've been here fully five minutes and