The Washington times., 1937-03-13

straight upstairs, OenlSe' Lie
desk. I'll bring them to you.
She nodded, said, 1--WE did have
a nice afternoon, didn't We?" and
smiled at him family, and went
on.
The clerk at the desk had OBJ
tanned for him a complete aSsort-
ment of New York papers. He
wished, when he saw the first one,
that he had ordered no others. E.
Felicia and Keith had made
practically all the front pages.
The paper that he picked up first
had both their photographs, and
Eustace's. Yet in the last twenty
four hours, he had been through
so much that he had never once
thought of Eustace. The only
thought that came to him now
was that he was profoundly sorry
for Eustace.
He went upstairs, turning page
of a tabloid, to find a picture OF
Denise and himself staring out.
SISTER and brother-in-law of Mrs.
Eustace Gardiner Dayne," the cap
ton said. The words had abso-
lutely no meaning.
Denise opened the door Of their
suite as he was fumbling for a key
He said: You don't won't to look
at those things, Denise. And you
can do whatever you want about
me-only please, you must not go
home, because it's no use. Just be-
lieve me, and don't read the darn
things"
Her eyes were great blue ovalS
in an ashen-white face. Her words
were slow, as if she had to tumble
for each one of them. Il believe
you, but have to See."
She took the papers out of his
hand, sat down, opened one with
her hands that were shaking. He
wanted to leave the room so that
he need not watch the agony in
her face. But he was afraid to
leave her!
He stood behind her chair, so
that her face was hidden from
him, and he could only see a
curve Of her cheek and her down
bent bright head. He read over
her shoulder, with a vague thought
that if she came to anything toe
narrowing, he would take the
paper away.
That was one Of New York'S
more sensational dailieS. Under
a wide black headline the story be
gan, chattily:
Handsome Keith Sheldie, jr.
and beautiful Mrs. EustaCe Gar
diner Dayne lie today near death
in Magnolia Farm Hospital, Pains
town, Va, following a motor &C
cident on the shore highway
when the car which Keith Sheldie
was driving collided with a truck
only a mile from Twelve Willows
Inn. where Mrs. Dayne and Mr.
Sheldie had spent three days regis
tered as Mr.. and Mrs. Keith
Sheldie, jr.
The innkeeper, Ronald Hunt
on his way to market. made the
first identification of their un
conscious bodies. as the roadster
burned. and with it, all Mr.. Shel
dies papers.
The fact Of Mrs. Dayne's true
identity became known when the
innkeeper reached the house Of
Keith Sheldie. ST., by telephone
and was informed there was nc
Mrs. Sheldie, jr. A broadcast Of
the initials F.. R. D. (Felicia Ren
dale Rayne), resulted in an i'm
mediate telephone response from
Mr.. Eustace Gardiner Dayne, who
was just starting back from week
end at friends house in Mary
land.
Mrs. Dayne is suffering from
q fractured skull. burns of the
arms and face
Gilbert put his arms over Den
ise's shoulders. She said: "Oh
Felicia's pretty face! know that's
the least important thing-but il
makes it real
CHAPTER XVIII
"I'll get your father on the tele
phone at once, Denise. 1 should
have thought Of telephoning yes
terday. He'll tell you how much
Felicia's improved by now. Only
please don't read any more"
He was aware Of her eyes follow
ing him across the room when he
put in the transatlantic call. He
said. to break the silence that