The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-01-27
M
STRANGE CASE
J1UL1ACRAlG
Nv ksrd Jones cs,rSss ssA s's

Continued from page three) ;
let the matter pass so easily. Mes
bitt, the happy-go-lucky, a man
of quick loves and hates, might
possibly be willing to let things
drop. But something told Julia
that Nash wouldn't forget.
That night she slept fitfully,
and in the morning she was
grateful for a cold shower which
revived her a little and made up
for a bad stretch of hours in the
strange room. She realized that
she must have slept at least lit
tie toward morning, for she hadn't
heard the men depart on their
hunting jaunt. Her suspicion was
that they had failed to arise at
all-but when he went down.
stairs she found Obo laying fire
on the hearth and he told her
that the "gentumen" had gone be-
fore the sun was up.
Julia looked at the clock on
the mantel, it's hands indicating
80. "Mr. Woodford asked me
to tell you they'd want a good
breakfast" she said.
Obo grinned happily. Eyes,
Missile. Obo always have good
breakfasts"
She felt a little crushed at this
remark, and was forced to smile
TO herself. And then, as she
thouqht of Tom Payson her smile
faded quickly. Had he gone back
to his own camp last night? Or
was he still on Evergreen Island,
waiting for another chance to use
the communication system on the
Wood Nymph? Surely, she
thought, he would never be so
reckless as to attempt it again.
And yet it was his only. chance
to help her-apd something told
her that he would.
owe got to find him." she tola
herself. "I've got to tell him that
he mustn't get into trouble on my
account again.
She would have left the lodge
then, but Mrs. Joseph appeared
on the balcony and called down
lofty good-morning. Julia answer,
ed ier as pleasantly as she coulo
manage, wondering how she
might get away without arouslng
the widows suspicious.
"Tm famished," the woman
confessed, making her way regal;
w. down the staircase. I'm AFRAID
/ quite forgot to have dinner last
night. l hope the boys bring IN
something delicious from their
hunting trip"
81 think Obo is getting break
fast ready now" Julia told her.
"Indeed?" >,
There was much implied in the
word. Julia sensed that the WI
dow was assuming that Julia, as
the companion of the host, had
ordered breakfast in the. absence
of Woodford. She sensed also
that the widow was assuming the
situation and resenting it, too. IN
q sudden flash, Julia recognized
the source of this strange We
mans unhappiness an unhappi-
ness that cleaked her vaguely yet
surely. She was a possessive wo,
man: a woman who wanted all
things and all men, and she could
never be happy on this earth.
Julia was glad when 'Cintra ap-
peared at last, yawning INDECENT
". The slender dancer had hard
" reached the bottom OF the
stairs when there was. comno-
ton outside and Woodford push
ed open the door from the porch.
He was supporting Nesbitt on
one arm, and Julia saw that Nash,
too, was helping to hold Royal
erect. Cintra's hand flew to her
mout hand she stifled a little cry.
otis all right" Woodford said,
helping Nesbitt into the, room.
Gust a little accident"
Nesbitt's face was white as he
looked toward ,Cintra and smiled.
"I deserved it," he said weakly.
81 left the others and started
threshing around in the bush.
Hugo mistook me for a deer, nat
urally." =,
Woodford sat Nesbitt on the
big leather davenport. Gust clip
on the shoulder" he said. "But
we'd better start back this morn
ing. Don't want to take chance
on any infection" o.
In an instant the widow was at
Nesbitt's side, tenderly removing
his leather hunting jacket. But
Cintra Lee only stood staring, her
lips half open and trembling. She
was staring not at Nesbitt but
at Hugo Nash.
Instinctively Julia went to her.