The Washington times., 1938-03-12

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saying:
"Old Henry here will look after
Isabel if you'll allow that, Peter.
He's perfectly harmless. Beneath
those rioting curls is just a placid
craving for a poultry farm and a
life of quiet!" And Peter was an
swering: IF Isabel wishes to go
When Gloria came back-a
small lovely girl she was-in a
black hat and dress with crisp
white collar and cuffs, her eyes
widened and her heart stood still.
For Isabel was in the car beside
Rodney, close to him. There were
coins of red in her cheeks and her
eyes were glowing. Don't look
so shocked, Glo'," she laughed.
II can't ride on Henry's lap! I'm
practically a married woman, you
know!"
Henry Drake was smiling at
| Gloria now; he was pleased with
| the arrangement. For the first
, time in Gloria's life she was
acutely conscious of a man pre-
ferrlng her to Isabel. Henry
Drake stuck his left hand in his
pocket, hunched his shoulders
and laughed lightly. Gloria's
heart was beating cruelty hard,
but her mind was cold anG clear.
She said, significantly, not caring
that her voice had an edge Of ice:
IN THE RUMBLE SEAT
IT like rumble seats, Henry.
Rodney's roadster has, I see, a
perfectly luxurious one! Shall we
climb in?"
Isabel laughed from the depths
Of the car and simply ignored the
matter of the rumble. Rodney
laughed, too. He called out to his
cousin, Control yourself back
there, Henry! Remember, you're
scarcely more than a puppy!"
"And you," said Henry, helping
lGloria into the rumble, "are old!
IThirty.one. Getting green around
the edges and warped in the mid
die. And you've got a night
club SOUL"
Then the roadster was sweeping
away from the curb and there was
terror in Gloria's heart. She had
a strange feeling Of something
dark and ugly closing over her
down over Rodney, who was the
man she loved; Isabel, who was
her sister, and Peter, who was her
dear friend. She turned her head
Slightly as they swung around the
corner. Peter was still standing
there where they had left him
itall and blond-and if Gloria had
been close enough to see-there
was misery in his gray eyes.
Beside Gloria, Henry Drake was
sitting as If thunderstruck by her
|lbeauty. He was saying, in a half
whisper, IT think we're going to
have a lot of fun together, Gloria.
And, look, don't let Rodney add
your scalp to his belt. He bowls
the gals over every time-never
misses-and foams at the mouth
whenever he hears the rustic OF a
petticoat. You couldn't fall Tor a
guy like that"
And Gloria cried out in her
mind, But I haveI I-have!"
CHAPTER III
That Sunday at the Kenwooo
Country Club would always be a
confusing memory to Gloria. There
were some things, however, which
she would recall vividly. She
would always, with a sort OF sink
ing feeling, remember these fash
ionable young women staring al
her, raising their broWs d1screetly
and exchanging eloquent glances
Those glances said quite plainly
that Rodney Callman and Henry
Drake belonged" and yet they
had deserted them for two girls
who did not "belong."
Gloria could quite definitely
read the lips of the little redheao
/ as she said: "Oh-h, I know who the
blonde is. She sells Gigs at the
palace Hotel. 1t was her cat thai
thumbed a ride on Marcella's wed
ding veil!"
She could see the other girls
asking about Isabel, wonderlne
aloud If "the brunette in Rods
nortv worked in the CallmaL
Chemical Factory" :,
But even more clearly Glorls
would remember Rodney's glas!
being emptied and refilled, emptiec
and refilled; Rodney's eyes always
getting blacker and more burning
She could see IsabePs smooth pale
skin beginning to flush, tlnau2
duly glowing; hear 1sabels voice
growing always deeper and softer
Henry brakes voice, on the con
trary, as the afternoon and evening
wore on, acquired a raSplng Shrlll
ness. He talked constantly abou
his craving for a chicken farm.
Then Rodney and Isabel hat
turned on the radio and were dane
| ing, too close; Isabel curving he
throat back in a pale arc to lool
| into his face. And she, Gloria, wa
sitting there by Henry, twistini
and untwisting her handkerchie
! and bringing her glance to his fac
at intervals so as to seem cage
and attentive.
After all, she kept telling hersel
Isabel was Isabel and how ShoulC
Rodney see through her; hov
should he possibly know what sh'
was trying to do!