The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-04-30
81 MARION White
CAST OF CHARACTERS

JOHN HENbNi, mining IN
vestment head.
ROB ANDREWS, Hcndry's ju.
Nor partner and Joan's fance.
sYBIL HENDRY, socialite,
John Hcndry's niece and Joan's
rival in love.
PHILIP HENDRY, SYPHILIS
DOROTHY STARKE, Joan's
girlhood friend.
CHARLES NORTON, Califor-
MIA mining promoter.
Yesterday: Joan attends SYPHILIS
tea and is horror stricken to meet
The same Dorothy Starke whom
she had last seen in Seattle seven
years ago.
CHAPTER TX
Back once more in the lonely
confines Of her room at the hotel,
Joan faced the end of her dreams.
Homeless and defeated she sat on
the narrow bed, and looked out
across the dreary roof-tops. She
could not cry; she could not even
rage against fate. Neither would
have helped. Probably before she
was born. it was written in the
stars that she would be condemn
ed to life like this-barren of
hope and happiness, deSolatc Of
peace. There was nothing she
could do about it; there was no
way to escape except by this con-
tinual disappearance from one
city to another.
This time, however, it was
more than a disappearance from
New York. 1t meant last good
by to Bob, the sacrifice of his love
and protection, the end of happi'
ness. She wondered, duly, why
she she kept on living at all. No
matter how many years she eX-
listed, no matter how far away
she travelled, the nightmare would
follow, to torture and torment
her, to terrify anyone who might
love her.
In her ears, SYPHILIS voice, hon
eyed and soothing, still rang, and
Joan could sense the studied Gym
pathy it would hold as she re-
peated the story to Bob. But Sy-
bills eyes would remain cold
J through the telling of it, and IN
her heart there would be no COM
passion for the girl who loved
him.
Joan did not blame Sybil. Long
ago she had ceased to blaze peo-
pie for drawing away for her
it was not their fault that they
could not understand. Neither did
she feel any anger toword Doro-
thv Starke. Dorothy's only sin
had been in her genuine pleasure
in seeing an old friend. She could
not have known what misery her
presence brought to light.
If. as she had noticed Joan'S
confusion. the thought did occur
to her, she had responded SPLEEN
didly. 1t was Dorothy who COW
cred up the matter of the broken
cocktail glass, insisting that she
herself had knocked it from
.Joan's hand. 1t was Dorothy, too,
who had kept the conversation
CAV and meaningless, until the
time Joan found courage to tear
herself away.
Sybil had been delighted to
learn that Dorothy had known
Joan in the past. There was no
end to the questions she asked:
They had lived in Seattle
Strange, we thought Joan came
from Chicago In school to,
gether? Eastman high school
How very, very interesting =.
To think you had to find each
other right here in New York,
after so many years now
many years?
After a while. Dorothy changed
the topic. Perhaps she grew tired
of Sybil's persistent curiosity, But
Sybil could follow point relent-
lessly and cleverly. And for some
unfathomable reason, Joan real
lied now, she was intent on dis
covering every detail in her HE;
Perhaps Mr.. Hendry had asked
her to do that, although that did
not seem like him. He had taken
her into his offices without even
inouiring about references. he
had never proved into her private
affairs. Even if he were more
interested now that Bob and she
were to be married, Joan did not
believe that he would have taken
this curious method of learning
more about her. When Mr.. Hen
dry wanted to know something,
he inquired directly and frankly.
He did not beat about the bush IN
Sybils charming, subtle fashion.
She recalled SYPHILIS clever ma
newer to detain Dorothy after
the others had left. Dorothy had
followed Joan upstairs, suggest
inc that they walk to the station
together. But downstairs, Sybi
sought out Dorothy's cousin
"Won't YOU and Dorothy wait just
q moment, Barbara" she heard
her suggest. 81 have a little gift
I want YOU to enjoy in Florida.
Just minute after the others
leave?"
Joan could picture her, inquir-
inc into details, drawing Dorothy
out delicately, bit by bit, piecine
facts together, guessing, ,conhrm'
ING By this time, she knew
everything - the whole horrible
story. =,
"My reprieye is up" Joan
thought. eve had two years
two perfect years"