The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-07-04

Internal UuSyOOO1co!
Elizabeth was hurt. She would
have liked to shout her happiness
from the houSetops.
The car arrived. He would not
even permit her to go in search of
Jasper and Nancy, to bid them
goodbye.
But as they whirled along the
desert roads, Stewards, Elizabeth's
misgivings left her. Wasn't it per-
fectly natural that Gerald, being
a real he-man, should loathe pub
ncity?
Sitting beside him in the back
seat, she viewed his handsome,
absorbed profile with a thrill of
pride. Married! At 1871. To the
most fascinating man in the
world!
The immortal lovers of history
passed before her mental vision,
changing pattern like a kaleidoS-
cope. Paolo and Francesca. Dante
and Beatrice. Like young Lochin-
var, Gerald had come out of the
West to carry her off!
She eSsayed conversation. But
he was in no mood for it. He
answered in monoSyllables.
OF course he was tired, what
with being up all night. and the
excitement of getting married.
The sun was climbing high
now, The dry air parching. Eliza
beth's head began to ache in
tolerably, from the heat, and the
champagne they had drunk last
night and in the plane this morn
ing, and the rocking of the car,
for the chauffeur drove fast.
Gerald slept. Elizabeth would
have loved to curl up on the seat
with her head on his shoulder
and sleep, too. But she was afraid
Of disturbing him.
Or was it something more? For
as the hours wore on, she felt
sense of disquiet that was as much
mental as physical. She told her
self there was no reason for it,
that Gerald loved her as she loved
him.
But as she looked at his face,
relaxed in sleep, the mouth half
open, the jowl slack, cheeks sag
ging as his head dropped towards
his chest, it was as though she
looked on the face of a stranger.
She tried to throw her mood off,
but it persisted.
The sun was directly overhead
when, after more than five hours
driving, they reached San Diego.
Gerald dismissed the car close
to a big hotel on the ocean front,
paying the driver and tipping him
lavishly.
When man and machine had
gone, to Elizabeth's establishment,
he suggested hiring another car at
once and going on to Tia Juana.
But that's in Mexico! And I'm
half dead, Gerald" She begged
him to let her lie down somewhere,
anywhere, at least till the heat of
the day had subsidized little.
With rather bad grace he gave
in. "Only for a few hours, though"
He added: II suppose this hotel
will do as well as any"
They walked through the gates
and up the avenue to the en-
trance.
People we're coming in and out
from lunch in the wide, flower
filled lobby.
THE best thing, Elizabeth, is
for you to engage single room
for the afternoon in your own
name. After our experience in
Yuma-"-he half grinned at her
ruefully-"we don't want the
house reporter on our track-not
till we've sent a long night-letter
to your stepfather, which we'll do
at Tia Juana tonight, when we're
over the border and beyond his
stopping u.s."
She was relieved at this. Ach-
ing, weary and grimy as she was,
it would be good to be alone, and
have a long refreshing sleep.
When Elizabeth had signed her
name in the register, and turned
towards Gerald who was waiting
for her at some little distance in
the lobby, she saw a grey-haired,
pleaSant-looking woman of about
so go up to him, her hand out
stretched.
The woman had a clear, carry
ing voice. She heard it plainly.
why, Gerald, how are you?
I'd no idea you were in California.
Have you brought your wife
along? Or is Mrs. Bruton in
Chicago?"
CHAPTER vi
The room clerk had given Eliza
beth her key. From her stiff
fingers it clattered to the desk.
She picked it up.
A wife? Was the woman crazy?
A wife in Chicago? Mrs. Bruton?
Gerald?
A great wave of faintness swept
over her. She reeled. She put out
. hand to steady herself and