Evening star., 1936-06-07
LLEWELLYN HUGHES

AlteI dill CneSe years.! he SmueQ at ner.
Because of them," she explained simply.
Phil! you've been awfully sweet to me-
can't think what would have done but for
you"
Rubbish"
Almost seven months since sought fame
and fortune in the big city," she said "Al-
ready the past seems SO far away"
They walked on in silence One of his shoes
had worn through in the sole, and across the
small lobby of her apartment house his foot
print left tell tale mark He pushed the button
and brought down the self-operating elevator
for her.
Phil" she regretted, 81 won't be able to
see you tomorrow"
He stared at her.
"Mr. Torelli asked me to 60 to the football
game with him, and to dinner afterwards I've
refused him so often.''
He gulped down his disappointment "Hes
swell fellow -" But he couldn't 60 on. His
heart had sunk into his rain-sodden shoes.
Then" he stammered, then won't be seeing
you at all tomorrow"
Her inspection of him quickened. "Phil -
is anything the matter1"
1SO IlOululS IfOululS dl dil why!
"The way you're looking at me-"
He sought to excuse it. 81 was just wonder
ing" he blundered. ''supposing tried to kiss
you, if I'd get a smack on the nose?"
Color spread through her pale cheeks. He
saw that he had succeeded only in sounding
brutal, and with muttered apology he turned
away.
"Phil"
She went to him, laid her hand on his sleeve.
Something, her eyes continued to tell him, was
wrong! They were also saying that any worry
or trouble that touched him automatically
touched her, too.
''Phil -if-if you really want to kiss
Gently he took her in his arms, pressed his
lips to hers Goodbye" he said brokenly.
God keep you safe and WELL"
At once something filled her eyes with tears,
and she had only confused vision of him
stridng through the lobby and merging into
the ran-filled early morning.
1t was not until eight months later, when he
was stranded in Mexico City, his money spent,
and no further word from Torelli. that McLen-
non learned the real reason for the gamblers
interest in his archaeological expedition.
A week old American newspaper doing table
cloth service under him in the Chinese res
taurant, disclosed the fact that Leon Torelli,
well-known New York night-club proprietor
and gambler, had taken unto himself his third
wife, one Louise Blake!
In that announcement McLennon saw the
whole story; how he had been tricked and de-
liberately maneuvered out of the way so that
Torelli would be free to marry Louise. Now he
understood why he had never received more
than one thousand of the fifteen promised him
by Torelli. Torel had never meant to give
him any more. Bitter hatred surged into
McLennons heart. For the first time in his
life he felt that he wanted to kill man.
But what of Louise? Her consent had been
necessary to the marriage. She certainly hadn't
married Torelli against her will. He was rich,
of personable appearance Philip McLennon
clenched his hands and let the despairing tears
fall unheeded down his sunken cheeks.
In the reception room of a great lecture
hall, distinguished archaeologists and scientists
were congratulating Philip McLennon on
notable contribution to the study of early
American metallurgy and the priceless gold
objects he had unearthed during his three years