Evening star., 1938-06-12

Kay and Susie s affair would be anti-climac-
tic, merely one in series of parties. And not
worth the money they were putting into 1t.
Kay'd probably given up something she
wanted to add the money toward the party.
Susie'd be pnching and saving for months.
Isabelle felt something peculiar, hurting IN
her chest Dear good Heavens Just the sight
of those two and she was beginning to lose
her mind again.
They saw her and came to her, each exag-
gerating her mannerisms to prove how per-
fectly happy she was Not care; not care
in the world! Isabelle" Susie drawled.
From what Lefty tells us you're planning to
fairly overwhelm us tomorrow"
II understand there won't be an eye left in
a socket They'll be rolling on the floor like
marbles" Kay laughed.
Personally" - Isabelle was very naughty.
At least they wouldn't have to know she was
sorry for them - personally don't approve
of these elaborate parties unless at least three
people share the expense"
"Meaning?" Kay asked.
MEANING" Isabelle said, have you and
Susie made all the arrangements for your
party?"
Every detail,' Susie answered, was at
tended to before we entered this house"
Personally" Isabelle was still naughty.
II think two such large affairs one right after
the other is bad" She added. Especially as
neither one has yet been announced IN the
papers,"
Kay looked at Susie. Susie looked at Kay.
They both looked at Isabelle.
Il assure you" Isabelle said loftily, Il have
no rabbits up my sleeve merely want to say
that have not even called up the caterers
and my tea could be called off here and now"
But she had not completely lost her mind.
She named her price:
"Kays house has no porch. Ours has that
big one all across the front and down the side.
This extra space would hardly be considered
drawback at large party"
kays animation evaporated and Susie's
boredom went with it. You're kidding!"
Kay said.
II am not" Isabelle answered coldly.
But you must be-" Susie insisted.
"Why?"
That stopped them. Then Susie flung her
arms around Isabelle, and Kay murmured:
I'm nuts, or you are"
Il am" Isabelle squirmed away from Susie.
They made her sick and tired the way they'd
put her through madhouse all afternoon.
She stood up and took command The first
thing to do is find everybody on my list and
tell them my tea is off tomorrow
what reason do we give?" Lefty asked.
She had been there all the time, listening.
''Termites," Isabelle said. Say my mother
Just told me that the men have to spray our
house tomorrow or we can't get them for
month. So tomorrow the house will be too
foul for habitation, but all right for the party
day later"
Isabelle" Lefty said, hes out on the
terrace He says you told him you'd be back.
think you ought to tell him about the ter
mites" Kay and Susie agreed. 1t hurt. But
they agreed.
Lefty, you stay here and wait for Mrs.
Jenkins and Miss Ross" Isabelle ordered.
You tell them all the details Kay and SusieIl
give you before they start around"
She found Jonathan on the terrace and told
him about the termites Now everything was
done and she could think. Personal thinking
- about Jonathan O'Neill.
Tea or no tea, shall see you tomorrow"
he told her. "At five
AT five," she mwmured, as if she spoke
from dream.
His voice, his different way of pronouncing
words the words he picked out to use -