The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-07
-: -: CONTRACT WIFE
CAST OF CHARACTERS
" sSsSs --AVtaaFts
IN scimtss scIbsrrof, 80,
az LOUISE HOLMES

CAST OF CHARACTERS
PATRICIA WARREN. heroine,
secretary to Don Monterey, actor
playwright.
TRISSY WARREN, Pats eou-
sin and roommate in New York.
DON MONTEREY, Patricia
aetor-employer.
ROSAMOND AkERS, Patrieia's
rival - ".
Yesterday: Don proposed TO
Pats who replies she will give her
answer the next day. Returning
to her hotel, Pats is apprehended
by detectives and rushed to police
headquarters as a blond diamond
thief suspect.
CHAPTER Y
Pats mind skittered about like
a leaf in whirlwind. Confused with
her diverse roles, she admittedly
faced a threatening dilemma. The
detective spoke admiringly.
"Say, you've got a nerve. hid
ing out at that swell joint on
Park avenue. Pretty slick, | say.
| saw you go in and | saw you
come out but not soul in the
place ever heard of you. mean,
that takes nerve"
Pats remained silent. He had
seen her go in. When? She
darted glance at him. Sudden
ly the vague feeling that she had
seen him before cleared and she
remembered. II was he who had
looked at her so strangely in the
Goddard hotel. The very fact
that she entered by one door and
made a haSty exist by another,
coupled with her appearance
when the police were combing the
city for a blond girl, had been
enough to cast suspicion upon
her.
As they made slow progress
through the crowded streets Pats
came to a decision. The time for
playing games was past and gone.
She would tell the truth, possibly
not all the truth but nothing else.
At last the cab stopped before a
towering building and her captor
suggested affably that they make
n call on the district attorney.
Passing through the foyer and in
to the elevator, he walked close to
her. his gimlet eyes watchful.
Pats knees shook and only with
difficulty she controlled her
breathing. The more she tried to
formulate a convincing explana-
ton the more involved she be-
came. Actually there was no such
person as Goldilocks so how could
she be explained?
The district attorney, a we'll |
groomed, youngest man, rose alb
ruptly from his desk as Pats and
the detective entered his office.
Several reporters crowded near as
he listened to the detectives
story. Pats heard him say, Been
trailin' her-Avalon-b o | d as
brasS-hts description-has dis
guise in her bag" The color J
drained from her face, it felt stiff |
and drawn. Then the district at
torney asked her to step to the
desk.
Pats took a deep breath, swal- |
lowed hard with little ducking
movement of her chin.
"Name, phase"
"Mrs. Don Monterey" she ans
wered in small voice. The dis
trict attorneys eyebrows raised
just a trifle, the StoutiSt gentle
man who had brought her in
grinned.
"And your address,"
avalon hotel" Her eyes gazed
at him imploringly. He looked
kind. Understandings
"Can you prove that?"
With trembling fingers Pats
opened her purse. Fumbling for
her bank book the brown wig |
crowded into view. She felt rath-
err than saw the significant glance
which passed between the onlook- |
ers. Frantically she hunted. +,
Everything got in her way-coin
purse. tinted glasses, amber comb,
compact, and always, the wig. Her
auesting fingers found the small
wedding ring. About to display
the ring as evidence she dropped
il back. IL was valueless. No ini-
tials had been engraved inside.
Hers had not been that kind of
marriage. -,
What's the idea of the wig!
was the next question.
"I-I wear it sometimes, she
faltered,
al see. Can't you fnd-what-
ever you're looking for?"
Pats shook her head. The bank
book was not there. 1t was no
doubt in the bag she had carried