Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-07-08
IA ZWe W7xJ 0nzCz1Cu3(@SN)
~ --.--=.:.,. ... I'D VIRGINIA scALLoN ~
CHAPTER 40

MARCIA could hardly wait I'M
til morning, so anxious was she
to determine what Walt Hartley
had told Joan. She didn't see what
he would gain by repeating the
untruths to the girl, except more
revenge against Marcia who had
angered and Inundated him so
many times. Surely he already
had caused her enough grief, Mar
cia thought: he should be satisfied.
Although the rest Of the house
hold had reused by 10 o'clock,
Joan still slept heavily and Marcia
was forced to wait, curling her
impatience. She didn't want to
leave her alone to spread what
ever gossip she might have
cleaned to shock the other guests
and embarrass her hostess, so
Marcia stood guard. She pleaded
q headache when Gary sent up
word they were going for swim,
and she was curled up in the win
dow seat when the other girl final
ly awoke.
"G'morning," she said, working
her mouth wryly. Lord, what did
I drink last night, tar? My mouth
feels like a state highway" With
out another word she popped out
Of bed and Marcia heard her Wig
orously brushing her teeth in the
bathroom.
"Sure is deluxe affair, isn't it, "
she said genially when she re-
turned from the bathroom. Then
solicitously she said, "Say, I hope
T didn't annoy you when I came
in last night. AS remember I
wasn't in any mood to be quiet.
Met the most gorgeous man. Or
did 1 tell you?"
Joan wandered about the room,
picking up discarded clothes as
she spoke. When Marcia told her
she'd Just mentioned his name, she
launched into another eulogy.
THAT'S his name all right. Walt.
He told me I was the darnedest
fighter he'd ever met, which is
some compliment coming from a
man like Walt"
Still no mention Of her, and
Marcia breathed more freely as
she asked, ''When did you get that
friendly? thought he left right
after dinner"
$50 he did. BY request" she
admitted impishly. II told you he
was a bad one, and he is. And
that's the kind I like. met him
just as he was leaving, and went
for ride with him. We hit Santa
Barbara, had a bit to drink, and
came home" she chuckled.
you'd better watch your step
with a man like that" Marcia felt
called upon to warn her. Her
blood chilled in her veins when the
other girl remarked, We'll, you
ought to know"
What do you mean by that ?"
"Oh, Walt told me lot of pop
pycock about what bad girl you
were. He was making it up as
fast as he went along; about your
stealing some money, and stealing
an advertising account and-say,
you didn't try to steal his heart
did you? Because that's one lit
tie item I'm after myself. Prob
ably all full of bullet holes, but
I'm after it just the same. He
suits me-"
No wonder men thought women
were crazy, Marcia thought as she
pondered on the strange case Of
Joan 'Stannard. After her frank
discussion of Waits disclosures
she felt confident Joan either dis
counted them entirely, or was too
good a sport to broadcast therl
further. Relieved on her own ac-
count, she worried about the i'm
petuous young writer who admit
tedly like them tough. Well,
she was due for a tough time if
she kept on Waits trail!
The rest of the day passed I'M
eventually, with the active guests
tired afterb the previous days
exertions, and the others frankly
mot able to move a finger" after
the nights orgy. Marcia shrugged,
then took book and sat under a
parasol beside the pounding sea.
The waves cracked rhythmically
j.. on the burning sands, and she
thought longingly Of the days at
- La Cresta.> If only she could get
those thoughts out Of her head.
Resolutely she tried to tell herself,
SANDY is gone, he doesn't want
you. That is all past. You must
= think of tomorrow"
But no matter how hard she
tried to force herself to see pres
ent realities, she felt deep in her
heart that ''Tonorrow's for love