The Washington times., 1938-01-07

| SICK every ClIle leave you mere III
lit" He came over to her, took the
Icoffee she had poured for him and
set it on the table. I'm not inter
ested in coffee or anything in this
world but you, Lynn! Suppose I'd
never found you after you ran
away from me! Suppose you'd
married somebody else! This just
had to be from the beginning!
think 1 knew it that first night,
deep in my heart. That's why l
ran after you"
They ended up by not going out
to breakfast, and Wild, fascinated
as always, watched Lynn cook his
breakfast eggs, the gorgeous emer-
aid sparkling on her left hand.
But Lynn could not see the stone
clearly for the tears in her eyes.
CHAPTER XIV
MRS. AUSTIN ACTS
The day after Christmas Man
haitian Idyr' was hung in the
Knodler Galleries, and Mrs. Austin
went early in the Afternoon to see
lit. Like Wild, it fascinated her
and a crowd of people were mill
ling around before it. She left
shortly, afraid that Wild might
come along, for he and Lynn were
due there at o'clock for tea. She
had made sure of that face, and
| because she was so sure OF what
was going to happen, she went di
rectly from the galleries to Mr.
Harlen's office.
Have you heard anything yet?'
"I don't expect word for a while
Just be patient. Just what do you
expect to find?"
II don't know. But there must
be something!" Mrs. Austin wait
ed, her hands clenched in her lap
It can wait. 1t does not matter!
Wild and Lynn went to the tea
fcr Rene, ard crowds flocked tc
see the picture. Later they dineo
quietly and Wild got Lynn home
early for she was very tired.
81 won't come in tonight, dar
ling. I promised I'd get home at 9
decent hour. There's company
as usual"
In her apartment alone, Lynr
sat long time and looked doWr
at the gorgeous emerald. She felt
oddly restless, as though some
thing were going to happen.
When she hung I'D her coat al
last she stopped suddenly where
she stood. There on the floor wa
half-used paper packet O.
matches. Puzzled. she pickeC
them up. They were from thu
Hotel Astor. She threw them or
the table, thinking Wild mus
have dropped them, and tried u
settle herself at the table to write
a letter to her sister. When she
Iopened her desk she had an OIL
feeling that things seemed aWry
I'm nervous tonight" She got
a few words down on the sheet o.
paper, but her ring Winkec. up al
her maliciously, and she threw
down the pen. A sudden panic
seized her. She rummaged into
drawer hunting for the damnlnt
piece of paper. 1t was there. told
ed neatly, unde,, some letters IRON
Bangor.
"Why am I like this?" Lynn gave
the letter writing up and begaI
slowly to undress for bed. ut vii
ho almost a relief to have it over,
she decided. When she was alone
she was frantic. When she wa!
with Wild she could forget, lul
her consciousness in her immedl
ate happiness. The apartment
seemed to be pressing in on her
WHY must she have this thing tc
face? nv,
LYNN tried to think straight. I'll
I tell him honestly and squarely
lust how things are, he'll bellev'
me. But his mother? What vii
she do? She'll have to know"
Lynn sat on the edge OF hel
couch bed looking down at TIT
gorgeous ring which had createc
such a sensation at the shop. Sht
had worn it to work. She wa
afraid to leave it in the apartment
Again that troubled feeling tina
somebody had been in the place
while she was away. But why?
IF 1 could only sleep!" Sh'
turned out the lights, and trler
desperately. I'm taking this to'
seriously. Wild will be fair" Bu
had she been fair to him? Sh'
cringed at facing facts.
HEARS STARTLING NEWS
While Lynn lay there in tn
shabby apar ent trying II
straighten out the tangle int
which she had got her life, Will
was in his mothers sitting-roon
at Austin Manor. She had spokel
to him in the drawing-room Whel
he came in.
They'll be leaving soon" sh
said of their guests. Come in be
fore you go to bed"
Later, when Wild faced hi
mother in the handsome sittinI
room where he had so often com
as a child, he was surprised at he
agitation.
wild, you know I love you?"
The danger signal! 1t had a
ways been so, Mrs. Austin coul
feel him stiffen, become hostile
Tears came to her eyes, and sh
prayed for the right words 70
help.
wild, must tell you somt
thing. I love you and I want 20
to be happy"
Hn turned with an innnaten