The Washington times., 1937-03-11

passport; I'll pawn enough OF
passage, I hate you"
CHAPTER XVI
Gilbert looked at Denise, Tenu-
GUS his hold upon her had been'
and he knew it, but he had never
known how tenuous. He said
slowly: IT suppose I've given you
reason to hate me?"
Then she wept as he had never
seen her weep. Great sobs shook
her thin shoulders. AS u-aS II
he were torturing her!
He said aloud: Il simply cannot
stand this"
Then let me go. Let me CO."
Her face was disfigured with tears,
but like a child's face still.
A kind of despair came to him
It was futile. She had never
wanted him, never would want
him, though he held her to the last
hour of the year she'd promised
that year in which he had meant
to make her so very happy.
Yet if he let her go home. not u
Felicia, of course, but to that man
she wanted. she would go TO no
happiness. He had no doubt about
the meaning of Michael Rendale's S
cable. Complete realization that
If she went home. she would be
brought face to face with an I'M
possible situation at least, and WITH
complete tragedy if, as her faith
er's message intimated, either
Keith or Felicia still might die
this realization had made him as
stubborn as she through the after
noon, through the whole night. He
had been obliged Chatting himself
or considering it necessary, and
Denise a little for making hlm so
consider it) to remind her that
she had no separate passport, even
that. as he was in the habit OF
giving her a weekly check on Mon
day for shopping, she had no
money until the next one.
Her sobs were quieting now, ana
determination came to him. He
would hold out. If there was no
hope for him-well then, he had
nothing to lose. At least he could
see to it that she did not throw
herself away on some one who
made love to her own sister behind
her back! -,
Even in his fatigue he realized
that was an inadequate summary
of the Felicia-Keith story, what
ever it was. He was rather rue
fully amused at q sudden idea;
Keith could not love Denise as he
did! For six months without her
had brought Keith to an affaire
with Felicia; but in the six months
without her that his own marriage
had been, he had had eyes for no
one but her. He laughed aloud at
the absurdity of that thought. He
hadn't wanted anyone else, so he
deserved no credit.
His laughter startled Denise.
She shivered little. But he made
himself ignore that. with his mind
made up. If his was the position
of the ruthless, dominating hus-
band. a position he'd never had
any intention Of filling. there it
was.
He went over to a table, poured
Denise a good-Sized drink OF
brandy, poured himself a smaller
one, and brought her her glass
"Take this, Denise, and see
whether you can be steady fol
long enough to listen to what J
have to say"
Thank you; I don't want
drink"
His voice was entirely matter
of-fact. AT this point you have
very little choice. If you don't take
this and listen, shall call the
hotel physician. say that you are
on the verge of nervous collapse
because of having received some
bad news. and order him to give
you a sedative."
"You are being completely out
TageouS."
Il know it. But I'VE only begun
What have I to loSe?"
MY respect. my liking, m!
trust"
"At the moment, because of tn,
way you are behaving, I dom
think any of those things are il
the least worth having. OF course
! valued them yesterday and ma
Vai11a them again tomorrow. I