The Washington times., 1938-04-20
The Man She Won
By Phyllis Moore Gallagher
A modern romance of life in the
Nations Capital By Washington aOriter.

Wen drive to the Landreth E1el0s
hop a plane and in six weeks all
this misery and confusion we've
been through will be behind U.s."
Suddenly Gloria was no longer
angry. She tipped her smooth,
golden head back agaisnt the up
holstery and laughed softly. She
said: cts ironical, isn't it, Rod
ney, that you were the one to
wake me up to the fact that I love
Peter. That I love him, terribly"
The brakes squealed on the
macadam, the car stopped with q
lurch.
Rodney turned on the seat, his
fingers clutched over her Shout
ders and the knuckles across the
backs of his lean brown hands
were white.
II didn't like the sound of your
voice when you said that, Gloria.
What are you trying to tell me?"
he demanded.
I'm telling you that I love
Peter. That really love him."
RODNEY CAN'T BELIEVE
Rodney found himself staring at
her, beWildered, confused, making
nothing of it. He had been so
sure OF her . so very sure. He
said so, doggedly. He said: II
don't believe you. 1t just doesn't
make sense"
But it does" Gloria answered.
"You see, until the minute you
came tonight and told me Peter
was hurt I was laboring under the
delusion that I loved you, Rodney.
But when you said he was hurt
. when I visioned him suffer,
misunderstanding for mel
knew that wouldn't want to live
if anything happened to Peter"
Rodney searched her eyes. But
what he looked for he did not
find. He said, as his hands fell
away from her in defeat: why,
you really mean it, don't you?
This isn't just a defense against
me at all, is it?"
"Yes-and no." she answered.
"Still, that's no good, Gloria.
Peter was pretty insane about Isa-
bel, you know. He still is, I i'm
agine."
NO" Gloria said. Hes over
it. Peter loves me, Rodney"
"You know that?"
Eyes, I know it. Rodney, will
you take me home noW?"
"All right" he laughed a little.
IT suppose the only thing left for
me to do is to go to France and
raise beard or something" But
mis- eyes were miserable and his
hands on the steering wheel were
trembling.
It was nearly 9 o'clock when
they started home. For the space
of five minutes they drove in 81.
lence. Then Rodney said: Good
Lord, I'm almost out of gas. In
my excitement I forgot to put any
in. And this is no collegiate trick
of mine to park with you and try
to plead my cause. See that
gauge"
Gloria said that she did and
that if gauges didn't lie the tank
was about empty. "Is there enough
so we can make it to Harper's
store near the Corners? He has
gas, know. At least I've seen a
rusty-looking pump there and
that's the closest place. Mr.. Har-
per is patient of Peters. I've
been there with Peter a number
of times"
DOWN WILLOW LANE
IF we go down Willow Lane we
might make it," Rodney decided.
And, anyway, if we run out OF
gas on the lane I won't have so
far to walk"
Rodney turned the car off the
paved and easily Travelled State
road. He drove along slowly
through the woods. past thickets,
brush and tall meadow grass.
There were some two miles Of road
to be covered before they could
reach Harpers Corner and the gas
pump. Rodney said, st think
We'll make it." But they didn't.
In the next minute the car sput-
tered, coughed, wheezed and rolled
to slow stop.
well, here we are. Want to
stay or go with me?" Rodney
asked.
Gloria turned wide eyes on the
thick black woods. She shivered
little at the darkness. She said,
I'll go with you-and howl"
AS they came up behind Har-
per's store Rodney opened his lips
to cry out Justify for service and
attention. But suddenly his mouth
snapped shut, his dark eyes fas-
tened on the back window of the
store. He swung quickly around
and caught Gloria by the elbow
and jerked her down on the
ground by his side. His fingers
were hurting her flesh, his voice
was rasping whisper.
Gloria, don't make a sound!
That's a hold-up"
Gloria's eyes went to the win.
dow now, wide and incredulous.
Old Man Harper stood in the CEN
ter of the store, his arms stretched
above his shaggy gray head. One
dark-haired youth with a hand
kerchief over his mouth had Har-
per covered with snub-nosed re-
volver; another youth was backing
toward an enormous old safe be-