Evening star., 1936-04-12
Nosozins Section

Lily out front. He had fixed it this way
to save her their stares. He had taxi
waiting.
She came toward him quickly, down the
three worn steps. Late sunlight struck copper
sparks from the hair that cmled beneath her
smart black hat She was pulling on pair of
gloves.
Hello, Tim," she whispered.
Her lifted face was whittier than it had been
at the beginning of the trial. Thinner. Tins
heart caught Her mouth had seemed defiant
scarlet banner in the witness box, this morn
ing. Now, seen at closer range, it was tired
and quivering. He knew she expected him to
kiss her; but he couldn't.
Hello" he said. His fingers closed beneath
her elbow almost roughly, and he hurried her
across the sidewalk. Down the street some
one shouted: Hey! There she is! There's
Lily Collierr' The door slammed. The taxi
jerked away from the curb, gaining speed as
the vanguard of the mob swged after it.
Tim watched the bleak fronts of side street
buildings whipping past the nearer window.
Even after the taxi had outdistanced the pur-
suit, he didnot turn But he could feelthe gentle
pressure of Lilys gloved fingers on his knee.
Familiar buildings. He had come to know
the streets in the neighborhood of the court
house during the weeks of the trial. Long
hours of tramping their narrow darkness.
Long hours, while something in his tortured
brain screamed its unceasing chorus DID
she2 Could She?" Hours in Hell.
Lily began to speak, very softly. Only his
name. Tim y" He pretended not to hear.
Her voice faltered.
The First National. The press rooms of the
Gazette. Rugby's Pharmacy. Down another
street, now, circling OBVIOUSLY back toward
their own part of town.
There was the lobby of the Empire The
atre, coming alive with white lights in the
shadows as the taxi rolled past.
In that lobby, one evening, he had seen
her with Hamsh. 1t was an accident. Tim
had been out of town preparing for the road
opening of ship Ahoy!" But he had missed
her So and the hours run in had seemed no
price at all for one of Lily's kisses. On his
way home. he had passed the Empire.
Did she? Could she hare gone TO him2
The taxi reached a main intersection, and
stopped for the light. Above the rumble of
passing traffic rose shrill, raucous clamor.
Newsboys, hitting the street with an extra.
Read about it Mrs. Collier Cleared In
Hamish Gale Killing! Ex-tray! Jury Acquits
Pretty Matron In Crooner Sayingr"
Beside him, in the cabs warm darkness,
he could feel Ly's lovely body stiffen pain
fully. He forced himself to look at her Enor-
nous eyes were watching him from beneath
the pillbox hat. Haunted eyes.
"Oh, Timr'
The muscles rippled spasmodically along
his lean jaw, and he set his teeth. He tried
to smile. Were almost home, p" he said.
Almost home. But even after they had
climbed the three carpeted flights to their
comfortable. quiet rooms, they were not home
Lamps shed soft light on the old mahogany,
picked out bright slices of color from the book
shelves, lay in white pools athwart the deep
designs of scattered rugs. The shutters were
drawn, closing out the town and most of its
noises. Yet the place was not peaceful.
Lily. stopping before the fireplace was
stripping off her gloves. From the doorway,
Tim watched her. Beautiful, she was. Like
restless fire. He had known that, once; and
then he had forgotten it. But Neylan. the
defense attorney, had reminded him.
1T doesn't matter is she innocent, MIR.
Collier. Neylan had smirked knowingly. ITO
jury, a beautiful woman is always innocent"