Henderson daily dispatch., 1936-03-16

little bounder trying to do? Fancied
that he was being clever?
Wilma relieved the near tension,
by remarking impatiently:
IF we're all through. let's go out
and calm ourselves with cigaret."
Gordon agreed with evident re-
luctance. preceding Selwyn Marsh
who stood aside to let the younger
man pass. Marsh glanced back and
caught Thora's eye.
He wnked sOlemnly.
When the time came to leave for
Mrs. Steele's. Thora slipped unob-
trusively from the kitchen door. in
tending to take the short path
through the polo field. AS she
neared the garden hedge. her prog
ress was halted by a sharp hail from
an upper window.
"Miss Dahl! Where are you 60
ing?"
ITO Mrs. Steele's," she replied,
looking up in some surprise to Mr..
Marsh's window.
"Wait minute" he ordered. ~Th
be right down."
She retraced her steps slowly and
entered the house rough one Of the
long library windows. He would ex-
-pect to find her there. she thought.
In a moment. she heard his brisk
steps coming along the hall. When
he entered, she caught her breath.
Stood staring.
At a Seiwyn Marsh she never had
seen before. A stranger. In dinner
clothes!
And not only In formal dress His
hair had been cit, clipped close at
the sides where it was grayest. Over
the top ran a succession Of orderly
little waves. The amazing transfor-
nation had taken years from his ap.
pearance.
(TO BE C0NTINUED)
/ that Mr.. Marsh isn't right"
you're both of you silly!" Wilma
exclaimed with q pout.
Meanwhile. 1Thora was aeuuainting
| herself with her dutiec for the eve-
| ming and following the f1uttering
Mrs. Steele about, from the kitchen
to the dining room. Back again.
II do hope everything is all right"
| the hostess sighed. making one moro
inspection Of the faultless table. ut
is a small party" she confided to
Thora, "but it's one of those affairs
where everything has to be just 500
"Yes" her assistant murmured
politely.
It'll say so. The Gordons you
knc W, are rich. They're accustomed
to the best. And they're very crit
ical. Between you and me. my dear.
Frances Gordon is sweet and a
cat"
@Thora raised her brows a trif1e at
this intimate revelation. 1t didn't
sound much like Mr.. Gordon's de-
scription Of his mother. But Mrs.
Steele was hurrying on
'tMr. and Mrs. Pryor are about as
bad Miss Pryor :. she's his sister
is worse. They're cousins Of
Selwyn. George Pryor isn't nearly as
well OF as Selwyn and it hurts them.
They're very quick to find fault.
That II one reason I had Sherm
come along. He's a peacemaker when
That bunch gets together. do hope
I. haven't made any mistake in seat
ing"
AS nearly as Thora could tell. the
arrangements were perfect. Thanks
to Mrs. Steele's painstaking prepara-
tfons there would be very little for
her to do. save keeping check upon
Um's movements. That young man
had BEEN subjected to countless re-
hearsals and was standing by. clad
in a stifdy starched linen Jacket and
owl-eyed with Importance. Thora
gaveihin1AS t,eassufing smile. Dusky
Jim was all that stood between her
and sappeafing before the dinner
guests. IF he should fail her!
The situation somehow appealed to
her sense Of hunor. Her experience
with formal dinners was very slight.
and here ehe was 16W acting ina
professional capacity. She was con-
scious Of sudden desire to see these
people together, hear what they
talked about. It was very evident
that Selwyn Marsh was to have his
seat at the head Of the. board. She
would like to see him when he stood
in his place. and eOlemniy told these
people that wilma was engaged to
marry Ali Babba. AS if everyOnesin
the vicinity OF Brookvilie didn't. know
it. A<uueer custom.
fTO BE CONTINUED