The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-03-12

hoard ;iust then at the door
CHAPTER III
Derrk mutrcrcd something m-
paticnt and called, Come in
At sight of his guests, however
his manner altered as if by magic
In an instant nc was all charming
boyiSh Difference.
"Why. good morning, Sr. nc
cried. 1T was nice Of you TO drop
in again. Do SIt mere Miss
As the tall golden girl in the
rich fur wrap moved forward
Constance was unpleaSantly con-
sciouS of her own faded tweeuS
and shabby hat.
"Miss Thoryald, may present
Miss Maidwell?" Derek was muir
muring. Miss Maidwell - Mr.
ThOrvald."
There was in his gesture the
manner Of one presenting Con-
stance to royalty. .,
Ernest Thorvald bowed, smiled
briefly but pleasantly, said some
thing inconScquential, and began
scribbling in a notebook he took
from hi SpOckct.
Hildcgarde Thorvald said IN a
slow, warm voice, "How nice TO
meet one of Mr.. ManthOn'S
friends - since we are 10 see a
great deal of him for while. .
Perhaps you are an artist, too"
ooh, no" smiled Constance.
"My artistic effects are chievcd
solely on the typewriter"
"Oh, you write them"
Miss Thorvald's manner was
simple and friendly.
IF YOU can cab it writing &.
They would chat for while, like
this, about nothing; and then
Derck would tell them. Con-
stance heard her own voice run
ming on lightly. My best literary
efforts sound something like this
Manthon, Derek; American gal
lery. Born, Worcester, MaSSa-
chuSettS, 1905. Honorable
Mention, 1885. First Prize Win
ner, 1887. Pictures exhibited:
Old Man Resting, Italian Boy,
Lady in Blue. e. You see, | cata-
log for the Museum"
"The Lady in Blue" Miss
ThoivaldS. amber eyes were sud
denly interested. "Of course. |
thought | had seen you some
where before. The portrait is
really lovely. / couldn't help
feeling that there was a story be-
hind it,"
Constance glanced at Derck
under yelled lids. He was Smil-
ing and flushed with pleasure.
He would tell them now.
"Well, you see, Miss Thorvald,'
he began, that canvas has spe-
cial significance for me. 1t was
finished the day"
"Hello." Ernest Thorvald, who
had finished writing in his note
book, glanced at his watch and
stood up decisively. Guess we'd
better get down 10 the business
that brought US"
Constance knew a moment of
shocked unbchef as Derek broke
off. his sentence unfinished, to
turn to the older man.
"Now about the arrangements
for Your workshop at the ranch,
Ernest Thovald was going on.
'I'm ordering some fixtures to be
sent on at once. Perhaps you'll
look over this list now or bet
ter still, since |, see you're prac-
tically packed, perhaps YOU had
better run along in the car with
US and make a few selections
yourself. e.. Well have time be-
fore we go to the airport"
DCrck'S eyes flew 10 Con-
stances face i'm desperate ap-
peal for patience and understand
ing, but hers pervcrSely refused
to meet them. d.. This could not
be happcnln%--nOt really But
if it were, she told herself proud
~, she would not influence DCrek
by the flicker Of an cyelaSh.
Aren't YOU being particularly
impossible, Dad" Hildeg arde
ThoIva!dS eyes flickrd her faith
er'S face with lciSurcly amuse-
ment- "pcrhaps Mr.. Manthon
could not use this last hour in his
own interests. This is what
living with Dad is like" she ex-
planned 10 Constance. "When an
idea gets hold of him. he can't
sleep or eat or talk about any
thing else till it's an accomplish
ed fact-and neither can anyone
around him. Dad, Mr.. Manthor
was going to tell us something
about The Lady in Blue"
PLENTY of time for that after
We get aboard the plane" Emes
"REI,HARY.E