The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1936-08-14
BEGIN HERE TODAY

BEGlN HENE AODAl
Molly Milford, rich and popular,
has received proposals of marriage
from three suitors, but Brent
Stuart, whom she loves, has not
asked her to marry him.
Donna, Molly's stepmother, is
only a few years older than Molly.
Donna is anxious for her step
daughter to marry. ..,,. a.q ..
Bored with a succession of par
ties, all alike, Molly asks Bret to
take her to 1.-The Red Poppy" a
questionable light club. He re-
fuses. Molly is determined to go
anyway, and sets out for The
Red Poppy" with Wick Ross, an
other admirer.
NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER II
Glittering signs winked famii-
iarly at Molly as she rolled along
in Wick's smart car. They made
the mental visions she had con-
jured up seem unreal. In the
darkness. she smiled a little.
Brent was probably right when ne
called her child. 1t had been
silly to inveigle Wick into this ad-
venture.
He had been nice to humor her,
but THE Red Poppy" doubtless
wouldn't measure up. Tomorrow
she would have a headache and
wish she had stayed at home.
Tomorrow she would be a good
girl and try to feel grateful for
her easy, protected life. She
would golf dutifully with Dad,
lunch with Brent if he asked her,
shop with Donna for the Florida
trip she was planning. Donna was
restless, too, lately.
"None of us is really living"
Molly was thinking. owe are only
being whirled about by events,
tossed around in rosy cloud that
hasn't any reality" .,
"Wick's car had long since left
familiar surroundings. Out here
in the countryside, the wind had
an eerie sound. 1t seemed spooky
even with Wick beside her. i
"a perfect place for a holdup,"
Wick spoke shortly.
give a funny feeling along my
spine," Molly whispered. "As
though dozens of people must
have passed along this same road
tonight"
"And some of Them" Wick re-
torted, "aren't the kind of folks
I'd like to meet along here"
"Don't worry. left my jewelry |
at home.'
you don't read the newspa-
pers. Holdups can be most un-
pleasant. Particularly if you've
left your money and rings at
home. Sometimes you get nasty
bump on the head or maybe a
playful dig with a knife. But
Iuck's with us so far. That bright !,
glow over there is the famous
Red Poppy"
AS they came nearer, yellow
squares of light from a long, low,
chubby type building began to
prick the darkness with color.
Wick drove around the side
where they found a motely as
semblage of automobiles. Some
were rather swank, Molly noticed.
Others looked as though they
were on their last legs.
There was nothing unusual
about the place except the dense
woodland around it and a sense
of isolation. A queer place, if you
wanted crowds. But maybe more |
things awaited inside.
Frances had said this place was
terrific. 1t must have points, to
be revealed later. Il
Here's our cheerful choice"
Wick muttered. He helped Molly
from the car. "Not too late to
turn back" he added.
Don't be silly"
at has a rotten reputation.
81 have a feeling something's
going to happen" Molly said in
a low tone. Something out of the
ordinary"
Don't say l didn't warn you"
"When l wake up behind bars,
I'll say, Wick and Brent wanted |
me to be a good girl and | would
not Anyway, what could hap
penn"
"Plenty police"
"Policew Molly spoke with the
disdain of one who has known
only the friendly protection of the !
-w~--~ YRA \