Evening star., 1936-11-29
kesoxias Section

Like hell you do" he said. grinning.
Nobody ever used yon for door mat" He
Lit a pipe and settled himself in one of the
kitchen chairs. "Well. now that I've told you
the story of my life, how about you? The only
reason people ever come to an out-of-the-
way place like this is either because they're
writing a novel or having nervous break
down. Which is it,"
why Il just got fed up - and -"
II see. Nervous breakdown. Thank the
Lord it isn't novel. take it you don't know
the owner?"
"No-not personally. Somebody told me
about her - and this place. IL guess l
had the same idea as you. but of course
The coolness returned to her voice. But of
course, wouldn't think of intruding on"
Don't be foolish. You've got as much
right here as l have. and it's plenty big
enough for two. I'm quite harmless. and just
to satisfy the conventions. Ill sleep in the
barn. l suppose that in addition to being
fed up, you're also - broker"
w-uh -"
SAY no more about it. understand. Ill
tell you - find that the care of the garden,
is terrible drain on my time Suppose you
take that over. It's excellent for nervous
breakdowns. and we'll call it square. BY the
way, how did you come and how did you get
into the house?"
In my car. drove it into the barn. And
came in - through the window. didn't
Suddenly she realized that she must get him
away from the house for a moment. while she ),
locked the kitchen door. He mustn't know she
had key. He mustn't know that she was -
that 'horse-faced dame" Thank heaven she
had slammed the door shut when the breeze
had fickered the lamp.
'I'm-I'm tired. I think III turn in.
There's bag in the car 80"
When he had gone through the window. she
hastily turned the rusty key in the lock of the
door and hid it in her purse. She was clearing
up the dishes when he came back. He didn't
come in, Just handed the bag through the
window.
Good night" he said, and turned and
started off into the darkness. Then he paused
and came back.
by the way, what's your name?'
Sarah huh -" She groped. but only for
second. Sarah Simpson"
Mines Steve. Steve Brownley. Good
night" Again he turned. and disappeared.
Sunlight glinted on the broad green leaves
of the corn, and heavy haze of midsummer
heat lay over the wooded slopes. Sarah
leaned on her hoe and let it soak in. She
wore no hat, but her heavy hair lay smooth
and shining against the curve of her beauti-
fully shaped head.
rs it Ceres or Juno. that I'm thinking
of" voice broke in. Il always get my
mythology mixed up"
She turned, and her voice was sharp as she
saw Steve coming up the path that led from
the barn to the truck garden. II thought
you were supposed to be working"
Il am, but it's not going right. You see
I've got situation like this. where the girl
and the man -"
Nov, now" she protested. Il thought
we'd settled all that"
"Well, since can't write, let me hoe"
She surrendered the hoe to him. you
finish this row while 60 in and get dinner. =
His eyes followed her, and he smiled as
she climbed the path back to the house and
through the kitchen door.
The lock had long since been broken at
Sarah's insistenoe. 50 they no longer used
the window. "If Old Horse Face ever finds
out and raises a row." she had said, "!1l be