The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-08-30

the painful fact, but the effort
Now, on her return to her apart
ment the first thing which met hel
eyes was Rhea's brief note on the
front hall table. A last grim re
minder-as if any reminder were
needed!-that Tommy was lost tc
her forever.
The letter, like Rhea, was breezy
and effusive:
Monica dear, you simply
must come over tonight. I'm
throwing a party to let every
one in on the grandest news in
the world. Tommy will call for
you at nine sharp. RHEA."
Monica tore the letter into bits
and threw them into the CRATE
. She wasn't going to the party! But
how to get out Of it. She gave
panicky look at the hall clock. 1t
was eight-thirty now! Tommy
would be here any minute. He had
q fixed habit of always arriving
ahead of time.
Not that Tommy was in any way
to blame for what had happened
He had been frank enough about
everything, and so had Rhea. He
and Rhea had been the same as
engaged for nearly a year. But
Rhea had decided to go to Europe
for six months, and she didn't
want Tommy to be lonesome while
she was gone.
Sc had begged Monica to play
around with Tommy and keep him
from getting downhearted. and
Monica had weakly consented. The
truth of the matter was that Mon
lea cared too much for Tommy.
What harm could there be in a
brief interlude of happy compan-
tonship with the one man on earth
she loved? No one knew how she
felt towards Tommy Newlin and
no one would ever know.
TINE FLIES
How those months had sped by!
Then, unexpectedly, only last Sat
urday night, Tommy had said to
her, "Rhea docks in New York on
Monday. I'm taking a plane east
tomorrow noon"
Just as casually as that, he had
said it! And just as casually
Monica had answered, How grand
for you, Tommy! But isn't she
coming back sooner than she
~ planned?"
yes, a month earlier" He had
frowned as if puzzled over some
thing he could not explain. "It
doesn't seem possible she's been
away five months"
Monica nodded brightly. II
promised Rhea I'd keep you
amused. I've done my best"
You have. You've been Won
derful." They had reached the
door of her apartment and he
fingered. as if reluctant to bring a
pleasant friendship to an end.
"I'll miss you, Monica. I'll miss
you a lot
Monica stood up abruptly, jab-
bing out her cigarette and picking
up her suitcase which she had left
on the hall floor by the door. She
would take it out to the car and
then come back for her hat and
coat and an extra car robe.
She hadn't a ghost of an idea
where she was going. but she knew
she was going somewhere
The suitcase was heavy and
Monica walked slowly towards the
garage. which was at the far end
of the lot. She remembered she
had been nervous a few minutes
before. when she had driven her
car into the garage.
It was still early in the evening,
but a dark and moonlesS night and
Ghe had imagined she had seen a
man walking hastily away.
:, SHARP SCREAM
She dragged her heavy suitcase
into the garage and opened the
rear door of her small sedan. She
: leaned forward to put her baggage
on the back seat, and then as she
moved aWay to close the door she
gave a sharp scream. The hulking
figure of a man doomed up in
front of her. She screamed again
and felt heavy blow on the back
Of her head.
The next noon as Monica was
sitting up in her white hospital
bed, Tommy walked in.
Monica's heart missed a beat,
but she managed very gay little
smile.
Hello, Tommy" She looked
very cheerful indeed for an in
valid; though her face was white
and her head was swathed in a
tight bandage.
70 1--WE been hearing about what
. friend in need you were to me
last night. Lucky for me you hap
pened along when you did. Sit
down and tell me about it."
II didn't do much" Tommy's
dark blue eyes were very serious
as he pulled a chair close to her
bed and sat down on it. Tell me,
Monica, honest-are you going to
get we'll"
Gracious, yes!" Monica almost
laughed outright at Tommy's sober
face. "A few days here and I'll
be as fit as ever was"