Evening star., 1938-02-22
I@iN ELLIOT MD
z BY JOHN CAPTTOE =

that Mr.. Marlowe survived through
pure chance"
DR.. Bill looked tiredly astonished.
He suppressed jaw-breaking yawn.
The effort brought tears to his eyes.
He said, Think I'll chase on home
and get some sleep" He grinned
sleepily. 1--WE been getting more pa
tients since became famous"
Joyce sat quietly for few minutes
after Bill had gene, feeling worried
and uneasy and unable to decide why
she should feel so. She had opened
the stand every day. Business hadn't
come up to her expectations. but it
didn't seem very important. The
stand which had been her pride and
| Joy was now almost q nuisance. The
sick man and the two nurses took
most Of her time. Yet she was troubled
by her change Of feeling about the
stand.
IT must be fickle somebody" she
mused irritably. but the feeling per-
sisted that the stand wasn't important
any more.
She began worrying about the pa
tient then. She went to Mr.. Mar
loves bedroom and found the night
nurse nodding in her chair. Mr. Mar
lowe was awake. He greeted her with
smile, though he still looked white
and peaked. She sat down on chair
beside the bed.
I'm feeling fine" he whispered In
answer to her question.
Joyce looked at him curiously. His
appearance still puzzled her In no
way did he measure up to her precon-
ceived ideas Of very rich man. only
his eyes and mouth gave key to the
tremendously active brain beneath
that sparse gray hair.
IF the nurses don't treat you right"
she whispered with mock scowl. Just
let me know And that applies to the
doctor, too"
He smiled little That young doc
tor is splendid chap"
Joyce felt that his sharp eyes were
picking her brain and flushed. He
closed his eyes weakly and she felt
relieved.
When you get married. child" he
whispered, Il wish you'd send me an
invitation. I'd like to send you little
present"
Joyce heard the sound of a motor
out front and got hastily to her feet.
With a whispered good night" she
left the room and went along the cor
| ridor. Mr.. MarloWe had spoken Of
DR.. Bill and then of her marriage, just
as If the two might have some connec-
tion. She felt resentful as she went
! to the front door.
AfterUard the events of that night
never seemed quite real to Joyce
Speeding over the pike toward Wash
ington in the scarlet roadster. she
felt both happy and worried, breath
| lessly thrilled and uneasy.
Craig laughed happily, and she
saw that his eyes mere shining.
ITS been long time since Sat-
urday night, Joyce" he said
At Ciro's in Washington the head
waiter greeted them with almost ex-
aggerated respect. Craig ordered an
Italian dinner, leaving the details to
the waiter
Food doesn't seem very impor-
tant to me tonight. Joyce" he said
when the waiter had left
Her eyes met his, and she dis
covered that she was trembling. She
had seen that same look in. Bills
eyes. It told her plainly that MIR.
Craig Wyatt, suave and polished
young man about town, was taking
her. Joyce Adair. daughter Of poor
country doctor, very seriously indeed
She felt confused, and Craig added
to her confusion after the ravioli had
been disposed Of.
Are you engaged to that young
doctor. Joyce?" he asked, quietly,
leaning across the table.
Joyce wished devoutly that he
hadn't brought DR.. Bills name into
it, for it merely added to her confu-
sion She shook her head
I've never been engaged, she said,
trying to speak lightly, mot even
once"