Evening star., 1937-08-12
CHAPTER XXI.

Carol had never felt 50 miserable
in her life. 1t was bad enough to
have a cold. She came Of good,
healthy stock. as she would have said,
and she had lived strength-bringing
out-of-door life. When she felt a
little less than topnotch, it aston
ished and angered her. But now this
severe cold was only a small fraction
Of her discomfort.
She sat propped up in bed in her
stateroom, writing letter. More ac-
curately it might be said she was try
ing to write letter. Crumpled wads
Of paper, with few lines written on
them only to be discarded. were all
around her She found it impossible
to concentrate. Thoughts of Duke
came between her and what she was
irving to write. All reason for their
association was ended, now that she
had won enough to redeem Brookdale.
What-what could she do.
There was a tap on the door.
who's there?" she cried, slight
trace Of annoyance in her voice.
Its Duke" came the answer.
"Just a minute" she cried. crum-
pling the last sheet Of paper on which
she had been writing.
She was wrapped up in one OF the
highest flannel robes ever sold over
any counter She tore 1t of and
unmindful Of the cold. jumped out
OF bed in her bare feet, went to the
tiny closet.
Whats the delay?" called Duke.
"Tve got to get into something
she answered, as she swung herself
into an exquisite negligee Of powder
blue satin and rose chiffon. and
knotted the sash. She glanced in the
mirror Her hair, which was drawn
back from her face in a tight. unbe-
coming knot, she loosened and fluffed
into soft curls.
Come on; make it snappy," said
Duke.
Calm yourself" she called back. A
hurried pat-pat Of powder. a quick
stroke Of lipstick and she jumped
back into bed. Just as she was about
70 call to him to come in she noticed
the flannel robe. She showed 1t quick
y under the covers. patted down the
hump it made, sank back in a languid,
becoming pose and then told him to
come IN
"You don't look 70 awfully SICK" he
exclaimed when he saw her. He was
thinking that he had never seen her
or any one else for that matter hook
% beautiful as she did At that mo-
ment.
I'm not. I'm fine"
'*Oh. no. you're not" He laid his
big strong hand against her cheek.
you've got a temperature.
She wondered If he knew she was
trembling as he touched her.
"A pretty swell kimono that" he
burst out in admiration. forgetting for
the moment his role OF doctor. And
you look swell in It,"
Thanks for the compliment, bit
the name Is negligee," she said teas
lngly.
Duke put his hand in his pocket
and handed her a paper.
11 DdA0 AC0 yO0AS
Brookdale. I sent North for it, when
/ saw the end in sight. It came
last pight Just before train time"
Carol could not trust herself to
speak. She tossed 1t. as If it were
something Of no importance what
ever, beside the other papers on the
table
Now we're quits" he said.
She nodded.
And now it is good-by forever to
the tracks for you'll" he went on I'm
glad, Carol, for you. You've been
plucky as well as clever But do you
know I'm gladdest because of your
father. hope he knows-perhaps he
does-that now you're all through
with being q dressed-up gypsy. Re-
member that's what he always called
the race-track outflt?"
She could not speak yet. She was
afraid she was going to be bested by
the tears she was struggling 10 val
1Antly to keep back.
Duke was speaking again, but In
. different tone
"And now, beautiful. I came here
70 play doctor. First thing, you take
OF that chiffon business and put on
q good, thick robe. What are you do
ins-looking for a sure route to the
pneumonia ward?"
"1 haven't anything but this" lied
Carol, between coughs.
"You must have" insisted Duke.
Rosetta would see to that. I'll see."
He pulled open the closet door and
began rummaging among the dresses.
"1n call Rosetta-she must have
something" he said
"Oh, all right then" Carol said.
She reached under the bed covers