The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-08-19
nv IDA RINER GLEASON
ACT or CHARACTERS

CAST OF CHARACTERS
KATHLEEN o'SHAN - hero
inc, writer of greeting card verse
verse.
BOB MeTAVISH-hero, detee-
tive story writer.
PAT-the janitor who played
Cupid.
The DUCHESS-patron of sur
realist art.
tologist.
Yesterday: Enmity springs up
between Bob and the professor.
The professor kicks Sehmatz, who
run. through the Duchess sur
resist picture.
CHAPTER VII
In minute everyone was talk
irg at once and craning their
necks to see. Bob turned to the
Duchess. =,
"You can't think how sorry |
am this had to happen, ne be-
gan. ~
Professor Bracey righted the
vase. IF your writer friend m
sists on bringing his dog with
him, my dear Duchess, you can
expect to have things happen:
That is, if McTavish is a writer
he added pointedly.
Bob took quick step forward
as though he was going to drive
his fist hard into the other man 5
dark. haunting face, then ne
gurned and snapped his fingers 70
Schmatz. "If you want me about
this, you'll know where to md
me-" he told the Duchess.
at wasn't your fault, Bob
DEAR" she replied.
ut really was an accident,
Duchess" the professor inter-
rupted with a shrug. Besides,
that wasn't the picture you should
exhibit anyway. IL didn't COM
pare with that City at Midnight"
He pointed at murky canvas
showing a tangled mass Of lines
and corners.
Immediately the Duchess at
tenrion was distracted from the
catastrophe to the other painting
and Bob and his dog made their
escape.
That night for the first time
since she left home Kathleen could
not sleep. The affair in the studio
affected her more than she cared
to admit. All those queer people
Professor Bracy, and the Ouch
ess-rushing to Bob's defense.
Just who were they all and how
did they fit into the puzzle? She
had been thinking more about
Bob McTaviSh than she had re-
allied, and always it gave her a
warm glowing feeling to know
he was so near she could call him
if she wished. And Schmatz-he
was cunning. The jolly little sup
per they had had in her studio,
and the walks they had taken IN
the park with the dog at their
heels. She had been so happy
lately she hadn't had time to
worry because her pay was small
for her long hours of work. Al
most she had forgotten the posi-
bility of having to go back to
Gloversville and Aunt Hattie and
Joe Williams.
Yet she was almost certain she
was not in love with Bob. Not
if what Aunt Hattie had told her
was true. Aunt Hattie had known
Uncle Henry for years and years,
and her affection for him had
gradually deepened into some
thing big and broad and sacred.
Really nice people never fell IN
love suddenly. 1t wasn't-well,
like the measles, for instance. She
didn't actually know anything
about Bob, except that he had the
very incest smile she had ever
seen. and when she was with him
nothing else really mattered.
Everything seemed gay and young
and hopeful.
Maybe that disturbing Profess
sor Bracey was the one she might
really love. If only he hadn't
kicked the dog. He certainly in
spired a feeling of awe and I'M
certainty that was possibly what
Aunt Hattie had meant. But she
wondered why Schmatz had at
tackled him, why she, herself,
cringed whenever he touched her.
She almost dreaded the time when
she would see him again. Bob
hated him after what happened
at the party. She was sure of that.
But after Bob had gone, the pro-
fessor had turned it all off so
easily.
Yet, why had the Duchess been
so quick to try to lay the blame
on some one else? Most certainly
Bob had given their hostess all
his attention during the time he
was there. She had watched him
laughing with her and looking
down at her when they sat so
long on that secluded couch.
What possible chance could a
Gloversville girl have with such
a woman?
That was the thought that had
hardened her heart, and that was
what made her speak so distantly
TO Bob the next day, when she
met him coming up the steps. He
had been talking to Pat, who was