Evening star., 1936-02-02
THIS WEEK

grateful to her for her tight little nasal
voice. When Neal introduced her to
Valerie and Philip. she buried: These
embassy boys are the first Argentines
I've ever laid eyes on Aren't they
darling?"
Close on her heels crowded the Gif-
fords, and she dragged them into the
scene: "Oh, Uncle. Auntie! Miss Gray
and Mister Rutledge my father
and mother
Valerie found them both as simple
as could be. but they looked at her
with eyes of admiration. assuming
that she was great lady of wealth.
Hazel turned to Neal and, without
waiting to be asked. simply lifted her
arms. hung herself from his shoulder.
offered her waist to his left arm and
spun him away. He gave Valerie one
desperate look that cried for help.
But Mrs. Clifford seized upon Vale
RES friendly beauty with something
of the grip of drowning person,
while Philip fuIned at her side.
"Hazers young and pretty" she said,
and crazy about life and folks. Don't
she and Mr.. Douglas look nice to-
gether! My husband thinks the world
and all of MIR. Douglas. He's talking
about taking him West with him when
we go back home - that is if Mr..
Douglas would like it. Him and Hazel
wouldn't make bad match at that,
would they?"
Yes, indeed - no, indeed" said
Valerie. with sudden qualm of fear
What if Neal should revolt against
his clandestine life with herr a poor
life in which the only change would be
for the worse - the loss of one of their
jobs. In his arms was a younger,
prettier girl who could bring him more
wealth than Philip Rutledge could
ever offer Valerie. The West was gol-
den with opportunity for Neal. and
Washington offered him and Valerie
only penny as far as the eye could
reach, with Section 2l3 standing as
a bar to the most modest life together
Meanwhile Neal was in an agony
because Hazel was as sentimental as
she was pretty. She danced as if she
were swooning with amorous sur
render. He would have been glad to
escape from her and vanish. But that
would leave Valerie to the UNANIMOUSLY
attractive and wealthy Rutledge. And
it would make an enemy of his boss's
daughter.
If Neal offended Hazel. he would
offend Clifford; and then where would
he be? But how could he live up to
Hazers manifest expectations with
Valerie looking on?
AS soon as the music stopped he
hurried back to Valerie with eyes
pleading for understanding. Hazel
kept her hand in his arm as he stood
mopping his brow. The music struck
up again and he pretended not to feel
her tugs while he wondered how to free
himself of her without bashing her
over the head in her aunt's presence
Then young Argentine attache, who
had been overwhelmed by Hazel's
blondeness. presumed upon his posi-
ton as one of the hosts, and, making
a low bow that enchanted Hazel,
asked for dance.
Without delay. Hazel deserted Neal
and foated away. her yellow head
and snowy face looking like lily
wreathed in jonquils. drifting on the
dark stream of the Argentine's broad
cloth.
''And who's all that?" said Mrs.
Clifford.
Neal happened to know: That's
Captain Jose Rivadavia."
"A fortune hunter" Mrs. Clifford
hazarded.
mo, as matter of fact he's enor-
mously rich. His people own million
acres or so and cattle, silver mines
and what not"
"A cattle man? A miner?" Mrs.