Evening star., 1936-07-26

shining cars were parked, line on line,
like a smart cavalry regiment of steel.
Gale fought his way to Lois side. But
ne had no time to speak. Janet had
surged gaily between them.
you two darlings come with me.
And don't argue. It's surprise"
She led the procession which wound
its way. honking, down the hillside.
Now that she was in the car, she
dropped her wild. high spirits like
disguise. She was reckless, as she was
everything, with a calculated eff
cheney.
It's Stella Markers house. Now
don't jump overheard, darling. | know
everything you're going to say. It's a
lunatic palace. But Stella's just had
another fearful row with her dear
Prince and is sailing for Europe - or
wherever she does go after fearful
row. So you can have the place for
whatever | can get for it. I'll let you
have it cheap. Which is sweet of me,
seeing as how l get rake-off." She
was at least utterly honest.
Gale said stubbornly, but we don't
want lunatic palace - we don't want
any sort of palace"
You may not want it, but you
need it." She took one hand from the
wheel and laid it on Lois's knee. Oar
ling, your Gale is going to be a big
shot. And he's got to live in big way.
He owes it to Papa Rand, who's
backed him, and to his Studio, who's
paying him more dough than any kid
lead ever pulled out of this giddy vii
lage. He owes it to me too. We've all
got to play ball together. darling. and
you've got to help him hold his
catches"
Lois had never seen a palace. She
did not know, in that first glimpse of
her new home. whether it was lunatic
or not. At least it had the appearance
OF having been recently vacated by
lunatics. A Japanese butler was scut-
ting through the spacious ornateness,
nervously removing the traces of a
battle which seemed to have extended
its devastation to the very attic.
ITS all yours, darling, swimming
pool, gymnasium, stables, horses, cock
tail bars, mirrored bathrooms. All for
a miserable two hundred week. It's
a gift. said Janet.
Two hundred what? Cents or dol
lars? Lois didn't know any more. 1t
was all fabulous. There were no stand
ards to 60 by - none that she recog-
nized. Gale stood beside her looking
down at the swimming pool and hold
ing her hand fast. He'd always wanted
swimming pool. But he hated this
one.
A wild desire possessed him to es-
cape - to turn and run for his life,
back home. But he knew he couldn't.
He had to 60 through with it II play
ball, as Janet said. He'd even take
this place - he could feel the invisible
pressure that was being brought to
bear on him - unless Lois stood firm
- unless she hated it as he did. He
looked at her. He wanted to plead,
Don't let's!' And said, "Well, what
about it?"
Lois thought of the home that she
had really wanted with him. She
thought. II mustn't let him down. l
mustn't hold him back. l mustn't
show how it frightens me. It's his life
I've got to share it." And said
bravely, Its fine, Gale its lovely"
Two hundred out of two thousand.
Why it was nothing. He drew long,
unsteady breath. Sure he could af-
ford it. And save enough besides. If
she wanted it - it was all right. He'd
give her anything. But he felt reck-
less, a little desperate, as though a
defense on which he had counted had
suddenly thrown down it's arms and
he was left to fight alone.
II guess it's settled then"
SJa,Xrao ko v~.o:,,jpp