Smyrna times., 1938-09-15
ing toward them.

''Oh, Lon," she said LITTLE
breathlessly. met now his
Give me a little time IL
think"
She pushed him away and ran
up the path toward the ranch house
In the days that followed, despjta
her greatest endeavors Lon ner.
sisted in occupying her thoughts
Somewhat in desperation she cast
about for escape. And then a plan
come to mind She'd ask him II
come to New York.
The idea seemed a good one and
strangely enough Lon agreed n
come in the fall when the ranch
was closed up for the winter.
And SO Deborah left him, feeling
queer, the drawl of his voice IN
her ears, a picture Of his sun
bronzed face in her heart.
Fall came, and she planned ;
party, sort of reception for Lon
She invited all those who had Bean
at the Double @ Bar that sumner
Lon arrived in due time and called
at Deborah's apartment. She was
little taken back at the ease and
grace with which he wore his smart
new tuxedo, and in spite Of her.
self she thrilled when he swept her
into his arms.
The dinner was set for eight. AT
7:30 the guests began TO arrive. Lon
arched his brows in faint surprise
when he saw that the men wore
chaps and high-heeled boots and
sombreros and checkered shirts.
that the women were CARRIED n
divided riding skirts and gay-colored
blouses. But no word passed his
lips. There was no sign that he
noticed, none save the merest if
twinkles in his blue eyes.
A butler came to the door and
yelled: Come and get it, cowboy!''
Ions eyes twinkled again, and he
offered Deborah his arm in quite
courtly fashion. The others rushed
pellmeu to the table
Deborah felt a little uneasy as
Lon escorted her to her seat. Her
uneasiness grew as he looked Slight
ly puzzled upon discovering there
was no silverware at his place save
a broad-bladed knife. He hesitated
watching in amaZement as the other
guests picked up their knives. and
with suppressed chuckles began to
scoop up peas and shove them into
their mouths He watched as they
poured coffee from their cups and
drank from their saucers. Then
his mouth set in a grim line, and
a cold finty light came into his
eyes. He stood up.
Il understand, he said, looking
directly at Deborah, exactly what
you're trying to do. And / regret /
can't appreciate the humor Of the
thing. You see, !" he added, smiling
a little, I'VE Westerners have had
it drilled into US ever 50 many
times by you Fasteners, that we're
crude and ignorant and have no
manners; that you folks are su-
perior in every way. I know all
that. and have always tried to bear
it in mind. I've always tried to
follow your code when. like tonight,
l am your guest. But" he paused
and made a little, perfunctory bow
toward Deborah. Now I know
something else; know that whatever
other manner you folks might have,
you don't know the meaning Of hos
pitality."
And with this he carefully placed
his napkin on the table, pushed back
his chair and strode from the room.
He had reached the front hall when
Deborah suddenly came to herself
and rushed after him.
Lon! Lon!" she called. please
come back. II was all my fault.
I'm sorry. Please!"
But Lon was already through the
door and halfway down the stairs.
Above, on the landing Deborah
stood as if dazed. There was
terrible gnawing sensation inside Of
her, a great, desolate. miserable
feeling. She knew then that Lon
Fairweather had been the man she
was afraid of meeting. She knew it
now, but too late Lon had gone.
And Deborah knew he'd never come
back. Lon had turned the tables.
She was the victim. no longer the
victor.