Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1936-11-12

cate chin.
I liked our lazy chat. Caro- was
doing most of the talking. Molly's
preoccupation permitted me to
study her closely. Molly had, /
was sure, horsepower OF many
sorts above all tremendous will
power. / like to think of the iron
interior under the sheath of her
pellucid beauty. Caro's laxative
ness permitted me to enjoy what
was her most fascinating quality
a bounding, Astounding vitality.
Caro- possessed that understand
ing and sympathy which makes
for tact. l felt that she sensed her
friends preoccupation; that she
was trying to cover it up. I helped
her.
"You like America, Caro-" I
drew her out. sYou would like to
live here always?"
ooh yes!" Caro- exclaimed. ooh
yes! 1t has opened a whole new
world to me and whole new life"
Caro's quick ears caught before
mine the sound of an automobile
turning into the drive. "Here
comes Ace, Molly!' she exclaimed.
1t seemed to me l read into her
voice faint note of warning.
AS though Caro- herself caught
and regretted that involuntary cry,
she added in casual tone, Elm
Mr.. Hexson's car. And my be-
loved granddad's with Them
81 knew as we'll as you two girls
where to 60 for a drink" Ace
Blaikie threw out of the murmur of
greetings. He seated himself be-
tween Molly and Caro-. Doctor
Marden chose seat beside me.
That was the last time those
three men were to sit on my piazza
together. All wore the Legion
d'Honneur. Doctor Marden, him
self tall man, the shortest of the
three, appeared first. He wore his
abundant silvery hair straight back
from his forehead. On his chin lay
an imperial, still black. A thin aqui-
line nose cut like the blade of a
scimitar out of the planes of his
face. His black eyes, extremely
fine, lighted long, pallid, pear
shaped face. Those eyes were def
initely sad and yet they watched
all the time. Watched what? I
didn't know then what they
watched.
Next came Ace-a noticeably tall
man. Though in the late. forties,
Ace retained his magnificent figure.
although. his golden cYrls4 were
shot with white and !. bis. face had
developed lines, he was still one of
those men.you would turn to look
at in the street. .:
Tallest of all was Bruce Hexson.
Physically, he differed as widely
from Ace as he did in character
and personality. He was big with
enormous, muscular, stopped Shout
ders. In some aspects-standing
straight-his figure recalled statues
of Lincoln; in others crouching
over-he looked like a grizzly bear.
His huge head was made huger by
the tangled, dark shag of his hair.
His hazel eyes-once brilliant, now
luninous-lay like lonely lakes in
the depths of great hollows.
AS usual, when Ace entered a
company, he became its center. In
sensibly our talk focused upon him.
Bruce Hexson sat very quiet, lit
tie absent, as one drifting in and
out of the conversation. Myron
Marden threw in an occasional
comment. Occasionally: Ac e's
glance rested on Molly for an in
slant. 1 noted a new element in
his look and 1 did not like tia
triumphant possessiveness. .-,..-:.
In spite of Aces vivacity, a, con
straint had fallen upon US. :" Caro-
Prentiss had completely duieted; a
vel, of reserve seemed to. .deaden
her animation. Bruce Hexsen's
eyes wandered from Aces face
to the distant marsh and there set
in preoccupied serenity,
I, conscious of conflicting. psyche.
logical currents in my little party,
was beginning to develop social
embarrassment when diversion
came I caught the scamper of
Sylvia's little feet over the lawn
as she came up from the pool. She
came racing up the steps, carry
ing her favorite doll--Dorinda
Belle. :,
"'Who is SYLVAN Ace greet
ed her. "Come here!" =,
Sylvia went to him unhesitating-
ly; perched on the high knee to
which he invited her. From the pre-
carious height she responded with
her shy composure to all their
greetings. NJ.
How is Dorinda BELIEF" Ace
asked.
"she's very well, thank you,"
Sylvia answered in her prim, con-
ventional little-girl way.
Dorinda Belle had been my doll.
Now she is Sylvia's. Sylvia pos
sesses all kinds of dolls-but of
them all she loves Dorinda Belle
best. Why 1 don't know. Dorinda
Belle possesses "a sawdust-filled,
cloth body, china head, china
arms china 1eos Her hair iS