Evening star., 1936-07-17
CHAPTER XVII.

noon she and Richard had listened
over the radio to the Army-Navy
game and Patsy, betting dollar
with Richard on the Navy, had lost.
Then they had had dinner together
at Log Tavern on the Severn, and
Richard had talked most of the time
about Admiral Benson and the South
Pole trip. Though she had once suS-
pected that he had Joined the expe-
dition solely to get away from her,
she was convinced now that he was
genuinely interested in it.
But now, back at Tree Tops. and
Richard gone. all of his exciting
words of the trip to the South Pole
slipped from her mind and only
thoughts of Courtney Valance re-
mained. She put the key in the lock
of the big front door and stepped into
the hall.
Marcia and DR.. Cole Proctor we're
sitting on the sofa in the front of
softly pulsing fire, talking so low
that Patsy could scarcely hear their
voices. In the last three months DR..
Proctor had come to the house often
enough professionally. But lately, it
seemed to Patsy, he was coming every
day-and not quite professionally.
Now, seeing them alone and Un-
guarded like this, Patsy realized for
the first time that the famous special
ist was in love with her sister and that
under his care and devotion she was
improving noticeably. Lately Marcia
had started using rouge and lpstick
again, which made her look more like
the lovely girl that daShins Tom
Kane had escorted from the academy
chapel beneath crossed swords that
elittered in the sunshine Of June
week.
Marcia heard Patsy in the hall
She turned slightly on the sofa and
said over her slim shoulder: Is
that you, Patsy? A Mr.. Courtney
Valance telephoned. He's at var
vel Hall and would like you to give
him ring as soon as you can"
She Smiled-such a soft, lovely.
radiant smile that Patsy's heart re-
sponded to 1T warmly. Could it be
possible that Marcia, too, was in
love? That after two years OF Wild
oWhood-of hell-that she was to
find a reprieve in this doctors de-
votion? Or would love ultimately bring
her more misery than she had ever
endured
Patsy said: Hello, DR., Proctor.
Nice to see you again And then:
Mr.. Valance Is a motion picture
casting director, Marcia. He wants
To hear me sing. Remember I told
you about meeting him at Virginia'S
cocktail party in the early Fall? I've
been practicing every morning this
month just hoping he'd not forget
me and come back"
Then she went into the library to
rall Courtney Valance. AS she picked
up the receiver. gave his number and
heard his voice on the other end of
the wire she had a strange feeling
that she had taken some irrevocable
step He had been sitting, he told her,
by the telephone waiting for her to
ring him. She asked him to come out
to Tree Tops and he said: "Right-o!
BY the time you reach the front door
I'll be there! I'm that anxious!"
Patsy was still smiling as she put
the receiver down. But just as 1t
touched its cradle burst of bells
shattered the rooms silence.
Ted, in an excited voice calling over
long distance, told Patsy that he and
Virginia, flying on their way back from
the Army-Navy game, had had to
make a forced landing because of en-
for owe
f1ouse-a Mr.. Silas Carroll-about
2S miles north of Annapolis, and would
Patsy drive out for them. AS he gave
her the directions Patsy scribbled
them down on the back of an envelope
and said she doubted if she could find
such an isolated place. Besides she
told him Courtney Valance was COM
ing to call and she wanted TO sing
for him. Wouldn't the farmer, if he
paid him we'll. drive them into Annap-
oils?
Ted laughed Patsy, listen" he
said, Il know you won't believe me
But this farmer is throwing a party
in his barn. He calls it a 'huSking
bee"
"A husking bee?" Patsy's voice was
puzzled
Now wait minute! Don't keep
interrupting me- You see. there are
about 40 farmers and their best girls
out in the barn now. shucking corn
like f1ends. The lad who gets a red
ear has to kiss the girl sitting next
to him If she'll let him. She won't
usually, and then the chase is on. He
has TO catch her and hold her until
he has kissed her. It's all very Jolly.
You'd be surprised how many red
see that no amount of money can
lure these huskers out of the barn.
From the stack of corn piled up in
the center of the floor Id say they'll
be husking and kissing until dawn"
oh, all right" she told him. Mr..
Valance and I will come for you after
1 sing for him, and not before! That
IS, II we can find you by these wild
directions!"
SWELL" Ted answered. And snap
Into it, kid! You'll miss the fun of
your life if you don't get here before
the husklng bee is over! Virginia's S
out in the barn now, and I'm going
back. I'm in a husking and kissing
humor no foolin'."
But when he reached the wide.
lantern-lit barn his eyes, his whole
lace gloWed with dull fury For a
youth in blue denim overalls had
just turned up red ear and was kiss
Ing Virginia. And Virginia, contrary
to all rules of the bee, was making no
resistance, but placidly permitting him
to kiss her.
Mr.. Carroll, the farmer host. went
over to welcome Ted and said: Amt
this the craziest ever? First bee we
had in years. Honest, yed think
ives headed straight for the nut house
instead of being downright sly, now
wouldn't va? You see, this year,
with money for hired help scarce'n
hens teeth, us farmers decided to CO.
operate and the red ears is orlv a