Henderson daily dispatch., 1936-08-12

ly, for all her inner turbulence.
He thought she was going to
speak. and made a eilencing ges-
ture.
wait a minute. There's no
hook at the end of my line. You'll
find me a straight shooter, as long
as you play fair with me. I'm
going to marry Eleanor Randolph
some day, but waiting until she
decides when, is getting tiresome.
So l amuse myself here and there
in the meantime. And I paw well
for my amusements."
Even in the tumult of her
thoughts, Cay was aware that the
shining look in his eyes, the glow
in his face that the mere mention
of Eleanor Randolph's name usual
ly brought, had vanished. A hard
purposefulneSs ret Tins mouth In
an ugly line.
Il told you before. Gay, you're
an attractive youngster. enjoy
your company. So now if you'll
come straight to the point-but
understand, Of course. that you'll
belong entirely to me"
Gays cheeks We're burning. Her
heart was doing a wild rat-a-tat-
tat But she managed to speak
slowly, quietly. I'm afraid it's
my fault, your talking to me like
this. Coming here-alOne-"
His laugh stopped her. Don't
stall. I'm too bu3y-maybe too
old-to get any kick out of pre-
liminaries. Damn it," he exploded,
I've told you there's only one girl
I really want. The rest of you are
only pastimes. So until Eleanor
marries me-" he went on more
lightly, II love 'em and leave 'em
with plenty of money!"
It sounded so horrible, so de-
grading. But Gay kept her self
control. She had only herself to
thank for being in this equivocal
position, for exposing herself to
such an offer. She knew that, and
felt no anger at Tim. So she
laughed little. and remarked,
You're very generous, Mr..
Keenan,"
Her irony was wasted.
His voice was harsh, his manner
impatient "Quit beating around
the bush, Gay. and tell it to me In
plain English. Your terms. I
mean"
Gay sat bolt u right. "Tn tell
it to you in plain English, ell right.
You couldn't have me on any
terms"
Doctor Wilson, Is it?"
Gay answered with all the COM
posture at her command, You're
wrong again I did Doctor Wilson
a favor, the night of his dinner.
It was business to me. He paid
me $40. And that night you and
Miss Randolph saw a light in his
library, and stopped in, the doctor
had just lanced my hand. That's
the honest truth. I like the doctor
very much-he's been frightfully
kind to me. But there's nothing
more than tha'"
Tim leaned forward, fitting her
chin until he could see her, eye to
eye. He looked long and deep into
her very inmost self, Gay felt.
But he must have beer satisfied
with that crutiny. for he re-
marked, when he released her,
well, I'll be eternally damned.
And l thought l knew women
from A to 2. We live and learn"
He grinned 81 her a trif1e sheep
ishly. I'm glad found out.
Sometimes / go-er-native, you
understand. I'm not any Gala
had. wasn't that the old boy-but
nice kid like you, Cay, is some
thing else again. sure had you
wrong"
Gay held out her hand. Thanks
a lot, Tim. I like you. and want
you for a fri nd"
They shook hands, like two men
friends, Gay thought. Tim could
have told her it vas different.
He sat back \ his chair. Mind
pipe. Gay? Eleanor hates the
sight OF EN-. But a pipe always
gives me comfortable. home-like
feeling MOI that ever had a real
home, or a~y home life worth
speaking Of. We had a step
mother: and dad with a rowing
eve and lOOCo foot opd thi,.c+