Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-12-30
WITH BANNERS.
CHAPTER XII-Continued

The laughing tenderness of his
voice twisted Brooke's heart I'M
bearably. She tore her thoughts
from him and watched her brother.
She could see his lips move in uni
son with the lines spoken on the
stage.
The curtain fell slowly on the mi
nor climax of the first act. The
setting and theme had been estab-
Ished and the characters present
ed. The audience applauded enthu-
slastically. From hole in the cur
tain Brooke saw the New York pro-
Queer 60 up the aisle. Would he re-
turn?
Don't you dare go away, don't
you dare!" she flung at his straight
back.
'How did it go?" Sans voice
was hoarse.
cts wonderful, Sam. Not an I'M
necessary word; every line was
Forward march, for your story.
The acting is the best I've ever seen
in an amateur performance"
$50 what? Does it prove any,
thing? They're all good except
Daphne; she isn't getting her lines
over. I hold my breath every time
she opens her mouth. Isn't Trent
great? He's the spark-plug of the
cast. Wait till you see him in the
crucial moment in the next act,
when he thinks the girl he loves
has double-crossed him."
Jerry Field appeared beside her
dressed in leather jacket and knick-
ers, with a gun in his hand.
"How's it going, Brooke?"
II can't see the stage, but from
the response of those out front I'd
say it was hit. You're grand in
that sports costume. You've made
every point, jerry"
Thanks. That's because when I
say word of love to Lucette I'm
saying it to you" He caught her
hand and pressed his lips to it fer
vently.
"Please-don't, Jerry"
you've said that too many times,
sweet thing. After the play we'll
have reckoning-get me?"
"After the play" Brooke repeated
the words to herself So much was
t, happen that would change lives,
after the play.
"Hey! Field! Field, come on!"
Sans whisper. Sans beckoning
hand. Brooke followed Jerry as far
as the wings from which she could
see him drop to a log on the stage,
left center.
''Why don't you turn thumbs up
and end the poor boys torment?"
asked low voice behind her.
She turned quickly. Something in
Mark Trent's voice made her furi-
ously angry.
"That's quite suggestion that I
end the poor boys torment I will.
Tonight"
"Don't do it until 1 change after
the show. want to drive you home,
Brooke. There is something must
say to you"
Brooke felt the blood rush to her
face and recede. Had Henri double
crossed her and told him about the
will? Did Mark Trent think she in
tended to hide it? She wouldn't give
him chance to accuse her before
she produced that paper locked in
her desk. She said as steadily as
she could with his eyes boring into
her soul:
Sorry. The minute the curtain
falls, I shall dash to Lookout House
to change into something snappy for
the grand celebration. You wouldn't
have me come to your grand party
in this green knit, would you?
Quick! Sam wants the wings
cleared"
She backed out, conscious of
Mark Trent's disturbing presence
close beside her.
''The music has stopped! There
60 the foots!" She caught his sleeve,
looked up and begged in an un-
steady whisper:
''Do your best, Mark. This act
will kill or make the play"
His lips were on hers so quickly
that she had no chance to protest.
He kissed her passionately, thor
oughly; said in a husky whisper:
"Credit that to the silent police
man. Now, I'll play that part to the
hilt."
Brooke tried to ignore her racing
pulses. She mocked:
II seem to be in the path of an
emotional cyclose; first, Jerry Field;
now you. suppose Jed will be the
next. Your cue! Quick! Quick!"
In an instant he was on the stage.
Brooke shut her eyes tight in an
effort to steady a whirling world.
Mark Trent's lips on hers had been
like an electric current through her
body. Every pulse, every nerve re-
sponded.
She listened. It was very still in
front, sort of hypnotized stiffness.
She could hear the voices on the
stage, but she couldn't keep her
mind on what they were saying.
Even as she supplied properties,
even as the actors made their en-
frances and exits she was thinking
of Mark Trent's eyes as he had
looked down into hers, was wonder
ing what he wanted to tell her on
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