Evening star., 1936-08-09

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feel responsible. She came over to him
and put her arm over his shoulder.
"But i haven't any friends -
only people 60 round and round with
because I don't know how to stop.
But I'm tired of it all. Well help each
other to rest little"
He looked up at her. "And Gale?
Her arm dropped. 1--WE don't see
each other much. He has his work -"
"And there's someone else"
How did you know?
II felt it. I'm like that. I've a sort
of fair - when I care enough"
"Well' - she tried to speak lightly,
without breaking Its no secret.
Nothing is secret here. Besides. it had
to happen. Maybe you can't be al
ways pretending to be in love with
different people without it really hap
pening sooner or later. Gale and ! take
it in our stride. It's part of the game
we play"
But you're not happy"
"Who is?" she asked. But it was
stupid, sophisticated retort. He de-
served better of her. mo, I'm not.
sisc said, because I can't play the
game. Not really. I only pretend.
Sometimes I think I'm almost
through"
"Iois-darling If I can help"
She shook her head. She had seen
Gale come up the terrace from the
swimming pool. Now he stood outside
the open windows. his bathrobe slung
over his shoulders. smiling at them
With his black touseled hair and wet.
slim body he looked poignantly young.
"Hullo, Janson. heard you'd come.
It's swell to see you"
"Thanks." But he stood where he
was. He did not take the offered hand.
"You look fine" he said. like some
one in the pictures"
That's just about all am. Well,
Isa 60 dress. Stay to dinner, Janson.
and tell Lois all the home news. I've
got to 90 back on the job. See you
later"
He saluted with a mock formality.
He had looked forward to seeing Les
lie. But in moment all the eager
friendliness had been killed in him.
He turned and walked across the
patio to his dressing-room and he
could feel their silence follow him like
a stealthy enemy.
What was it someone had said once
long ago? "Janson's in love with that
Graham girl. And what Janson wants
he has to have" 1t was all rubbish. In
any case what did he care? If you'd
lost something you weren't going to
get back, what did it matter to you
VINO found it? But he realized that he
was shaking from head to foot as
though with bitter cold.
After all, he did not go to the studio
that night. He stayed and talked
boisterously. 1t was stupid effort,
the act of a jealous schoolboy. And it
did no good. He could feel their con-
straint as though he were an INTRUDER
on an old intimacy. He tried to resur-
rect their past. But that was dead too.
And then suddenly Leslie collapsed.
''It's just my nerves." he explained.
''I'm all shot to pieces I've got to
CO."
He allowed Gale to drive him back
to his apartment house. And in the
dark he was able to tumble open the
little silver box he carried. After that
he was himself again. He could listen
to what Gale was saying. And he knew
what he had to say. He felt strong and
hard and clear-headed.
'It was all a mistake, Thornton.
You didn't know it, did you? But
Lois and l were engaged when you
came back that time. You carried her
off her feet. She was taken by the
glamor and excitement of it all. You
were a sort of hero and she was fiat
tered. But it was me she loved. We