Evening star., 1938-02-17

III W0SHlHgLOn! Sne COuntered."
that. One brief, apparently careless
glance. and he seemed to know what
was in ones heart and mind. It was
irritating.
I do like it, Bill" she said stead
lily. Il still want to make money"
She saw that he wasn't listening.
HIS eyes were on the sunlight-f1ooded
yard
This would be a swell day to be
married." he unused aloud.
Joyce shook her head, smiling a
little. mo, Bill-in advance"
His eyes were very wide and blue.
"Oh, I wasn't proposing, Joyce. Just
thinking aloud"
Her eyes sparkled suddenly. why
don't you marry some girl who has
money. Bill? Every poor young doc
tor needs rich wife,
i've explained that to you many
times" he complained.
Joyce laughed. But didn't un-
derstand any of those times"
DR.. Bill frowned at her. It'll put
it another way. then. Why don't you
marry Craig Wyatt? He's rich"
The smile faded from her face and
her eyes left his.
"Mr. Wyatt hasn't asked me-" she
said quietly, land he won't. If he
should"-her eyes met Bills again
II might say yes"
DR.. Bill looked at her with be-
wildered unbelief. do YOU mean to
tell me seriously, Joyce, that you
would marry man simply because
ne had money!" He scowled. II
don't believe it."
Her shrug brought angry color to
her face. She asked coolly, Aren't
men pretty much alike, aside from
their bank accounts?"
And hated herself instantly for say
ing 1t. 1t sounded so cold-blooded
when put into words And then her
thought returned to that last year
In high school when she had been
shamed before her classmates. Even
now she could see their scornful
smiles, hear their Multiplying, half
sneering whispers, when they saw her
madeover graduation dress-and when
they discovered that she, of all the
class. wore no class ring. Color
flooded her cheeks
Il mean every word of it, Bill" she
said huskily.
"Joyce!" his voice held horror, and
then he smiled rather shakily. "You
don't mean it," he growled. Girls
like Joyce Adair don't do things like
that!"
Don't they?" Her eyes were fixed
on a catalpa tree down the pike.
Men are not alike, Joyce" DR.. Bill
said patiently. He paused, frowning,
then, Il have two small bottles in my
satchel. Each contains a number Of
white tablets, similar in appearance.
One is medicine, able to save a
mans life, the other is poison, able to
kill man"
"Intimating that Mr.. Wyatt is
poison, Bill?" Joyce interrupted
coldly.
Bill flushed angrily. Meaning
nothing of the kind" he snapped. II
have nothing against Craig Wyatt.
He's just another spoiled boy with
an adoring mama. He's the result
of his raising, just as you and I are"
Another big sedan slipped to q silent
stop and Joyce flicked DR.. Bill with
cool eyes.
"Bye-bye, doctor!" she gibed.
Thanks for the free diagnosis"
Two days slipped quickly by for
Joyce. The stand was doing a fair
business and at profit.
She was polishing the mirrorlike
surface of the counter that afternoon
when she heard roar in the distance.
The sound was familiar ard her heart
quickened. She told herself sternly,
Don't be foolish, young lady. He
won't come here again."
She looked down the pike, saw a
Hash of scarlet through the trees. The
roar swelled In volume, q scarlet sports
roadster careened around the bend,
skidded dangerously, righted itself
and came plunging down the pike.
Gravel pattered against the front
Of the stand as the. roadster slid to
stop. A black-headed, gray-eyed
young man gave her q mock-military
salute.
Missed you that time, Joyce" he
smiled.
Joyce began breathing again; she
managed a frown.
Are you in a hurry?" she asked
Craig Wyatt.
Long legs appeared above the wheel.
Craig slid effortlessly over the side
and came to the counter.
Big hurry is right" he informed
her. Il was coming to see you" His
glance roved coolly over the stand.
How do you like it?"
She ignored his question, countered
with another. why did you come
back, Mr.. Wyatt2"
Craig looked grave for q moment,
then smiled. IT don't know. It's q
mystery to me. Maybe you know"
Joyce shook her head, sighing. He
looked very handsome In gray slackS
a