The Washington times., 1936-06-15

in a trap. You can't get out.
You'll never get out!"
Ricky would find escape. A fine,
free, happy escape. The anguish
and parting would end. Nell clung
desperately to her high, shining
faith. He wouldn't fail her. He
couldn't!
It was the end of March. the
date when Ricky sent his money.
None came. Instead was a letter.
Nell hid her face and wept wildly
reading that letter.
This was Ricky'S letter.
"Vera Holmes is in Detroit. The
Ajax Motor Company has bought
out the Arnold. They're planning
to enlarge in a big way. Vera
looked me up. She's made an ap-
pointment with her uncle and says
my future is assured. But I think
I'll stay here with Lee Edwards.
They've promised me big raise
when I've worked six months. BY
the first of June I should have
$125 a month.
"Of course, I'll see Vera's uncle.
We had lunch together. She spoke
carelessly of $500 a month as my
salary. If that comes true, Nell,
dearest, all our troubles will be
over.
"she gave a dinner party. Lee
was also invited. He loaned me a
tuxedo and insisted I go. He said
it was policy. Well, anyway. it
was a glamorous affair. A lot of
fun sitting down again to a festive
table-having a chance to laugh.
Vera's uncle is travelled fellow
with a fund of stories to tell.
There were four other young
couples. Music, dancing, gaiety.
I enjoyed it. I had a grand time.
But when got home, Nell,
darling, I felt like bawling be-
cause it seemed a dirty trick to
you"
The tears were hot in Nell'S eyes
when she reached this paragraph.
Ricky liked rollicky, happy things.
Always. Once he had written:
There's a little maid here who
makes up the beds. About ia
whimsical, pathetic kid. Stands on
one foot, rubbing the other shoe
up and down her leg and incoming
at me. Do you know dear, I'm so
starved for laughter and converse
ton I string her along? You've no
idea how hungry a person gets for
mere human companionShip."
Nell didn't want Vera Holmes,
who was most appealing, Seduc-
tive woman, to come upon Ricky
in one of these devastated, seeking
moods, when anything with a gen.
tie voice and female form would
be attractive to him. He liked
Vera. She wanted him. Enor-
mously. Nell had seen it in her
avid, flaming eyes.
A Wife-marriage, fidelity
these wouldn't weigh one iota with
Vera against her own momentary
delight.
CHAPTER XVII
The letter continued: "Lee is
giving a weekend to the same
crowd. I'll be expected to go. You
don't mind, do you, dear? It's
almost imperative-if one is to
remain sane-to get out from un.
der and forget"
She Wept, bitterly now. She
felt sorry for herself, resentful of
her thickened figure and the
pinched sharpness of her features.
Glad Ricky wasn't seeing her these
days. He wouldn't remember her
in this disconsolate ugliness. Yet
she felt cheated. No matter what
misery the woman bears, even to
} the despoiling of her body, the
I man is free. He can step forth,
trim and gallant, desired by beau
tiful women in the very moment
his own child comes into life.
She didn't want to deny Ricky
pleasure. But she was afraid. She
recalled the night he had gone off
to the party. And that he admitted
freely his interest in women. Any
day in the week he could pick out
a dozen girls who were almost
intriguing to him.
Now, coupled with his native
liking for the sex, was his appalling
loneliness.
Ito Be COntinued)
copyright. 1885, by King Features