Evening star., 1936-09-06

her behind thick hedge of young
men to whom she was explaining the
intricacies of faro. Tony groaned.
Before you're booked solid" he
murmured, "how about ten o'clock
tonight? Moonlight swim, eh? Just
you and me. What about it?" She
flashed her lovely smile at him.
"I'll be at the boathouse," Tony
said. Ten. Don't forget"
mo chance" said Arizona warmly.
An hour later Arizona, on her way
down to dinner, found she had taken
the wrong staircase and was momen-
tarily completely lost in the labyrinth
of the vast house. She crossed the
art gallery. the miniature room, the
room with the weirdly beautiful, old
Chinese horses in their glass cases,
and was about to pass the dimly-
lighted library when the sound of a
low, agitated voice caught her atten-
ton. Someone was talking on the
telephone. and though the speaker was
hidden by the half closed door. there
was no mistaking that accent.
IF you coma out here now you
ruin everything" the Count was
declaring in what could only be de-
scribed as whispered shrek. II tella
you. I'm going to do it tonight! I'm
no wasting the time! We going to get
plenty dough from maiiana on!'
Arizona's first instinct was to run
to Tony and tell him what she had
heard. but a moments consideration
showed her that such a move might
be disastrous. The Count was being
threatened in some way 3D.. but
by what sort of creditor or accomplice?
Arizona shook her head solemnly.
All she could do, for the moment, was
to keep him in sight watch
every move he made, and then.
IF anything with the Spratt brand
on it goes out" she muttered to her
self, "I'll know who the rnstler is!'
The Count was already in the
drawing room when Arizona finally
entered it. He and Mouse-Alice we're
engaged in whispered conversation
which died away at Arizona's ap-
proach; but determined to keep in her
self-elected role of one-man-posse.
Arizona ignored their hostile attitude
and reached for a canape of caviar.
Il always wanted to try this Rus
sian buckshot." she said amiably,
lever since learned it was the favor
ite ammunition on the social frontw
At ten o'clock that night. Tony.
looking very much Greek god in
his bathing trunks. stood in the moon
light at the boat house and whistled
a popular love song, tenderly. At ten
fifteen, the tune wavered slightly, and
at ten-forty, died altogether.
I'm darned if I'll wait any longer"
said he furiously, and waited another
half hour. hating all women. At half
past eleven, he started back to the
house, thoroughly miserable and
hoping nobody would see him.
Thinks she can make a fool of
mer' he muttered. "I'll bet she
forgot"
At that very moment, however,
Arizona was remembering her date
with him for the hundredth miserable
time, and wondering how she was
going to square herself for break
ing it. The big, flashy roadster in
which she was riding aimlessly about
the country was driven by the Count,
who maintained surly silence, while
on her other side, Mouse-Alice occa-
sionally wiped away a furtive tear.
However, though the thought of Tony
was an unhappy thorn in Arizona's
side, no one would have guessed from
her manner that she wasn't enjoying
herself thoroughly.
MY. but this is swell night" she
-.