The Washington times., 1938-04-07
The Man She Won
modern romance of life in the
Nations Capital By Washington 1Oriter.
By Phyllis Moore Gallagher

was sitting. He stood before her.
very tall and grim and darkly de-
termined.
He said, you ought to know by
now that we're washed up, Isabel.
I knew it months ago. I don't
love you and I don't think you
love me. Why not be completely
honest? Why not admit that you
married me only for my money
that I married you, not really
wanting to. but because there was
no other way.
CHAPTER XVIII
Isabel moved her dark eyes from
Rodney's face to the tip Of her
cigarette, blew on it gently until
it glowed red. She was consider.
ing his statement that their love
was all washed up.
THAT is beside the point, Rod
ney," she said evenly. I'VE have
a very agreeable life together. 1t
suits me perfectly. It is entirely
what I wanted.
IT wouldn't change it for any.
thing. I like being Mrs. Rodney
Callman"-she grinned at him
lazily-"but, of course, if you wish
to divorce me, there isn't anything
I can do about it particularly. Ex-
cept, of course. to see that you
don't Danish me with alimony that
looks like something you'd drop in
blind mans cup"
Rodney's eyes were grimly I'M
smiling. IF remember cor
rectly, Isabel, you're quite well
fixed financially. You were rather
stubborn about me settling con-
siderable sum on you the day be-
fore we were married"
"You should remember it," said
Isabel, "you weren't drunk. Though
I suppose you'll use that as an ex-
cuse-to Gloria, for inStance-for
having married me-"
mo, I wasn't drunk said Rod.
ney evenly. mot with liquor, any.
way"
NOT LIKE GLORIA
Her dark eyes continued to laugh
at him lazily, little derisiyely.
She was perfectly sure Of her
power over him. She thought:
He'll get these spells and chase
every petticoat he sees. But he'll
always come back to me. And
that's all right, too" She took a
long draw on the cigarette and ex-
hailed blue-gray plume Of smoke
slowly. She said: Having money
settled on me was really a smart
thing to do, Rodney. I'm not a
stupid little fool like Gloria. She
would never have thought of that.
NO" said Rodney stffly, "she
wouldn't have"
Rodney took a cocktail shaker
off the mantel and poured him
self a drink in a tall-stemmed
glass. He stood there then, silent
ly twirling the fragile glass in his
fingers drinking.
He was thinking back on the
last year with the swiftness of
his vivid thoughts. He was re.
membering that night at the fights
in Washington, when he had first
become conscious of Isabel as an
extremely beautiful and desirable
woman.
He had hardly known that
Tommy was in the ring and that
someone named Giant WaloWit2
was giving him a beating. All
around him people had yelled and
booed and Missed, and yet he had
heard nothing but the wild pound.
ing of his heart, had been con.
sciouS of nothing but Isabel's hand,
thin and curiously alive, closing
over his. His reaction to her
touch had been as disconcerting
as it was unexpected. He had
been excited when, after the
fights, Marcella had said she had
headache and had left in a cab.
with Hans, changing his mind
after a little while and following
her home.
AFTER THE FIGHT
That had left him alone with
Isabel. They had driven down on
the Speedway and had parked
where the willows weeped over the
Potomac. Isabel's face, turned
slowly up to his, had been a blur
of white. with a soft, sweet shadow
that was her enticing mouth. He
had bent his head-Gloria had slid
abruptly from his mind-his
mouth had crushed down on Isa-
bel's-soft and trembling and COM
pletely responsive-and had stayed
there.
After that he couldn't see
enough Of her. He couldn't satiate
himself with her kisses either.
They had gone everywhere to-
gether. He had been proud and
possessive and a little jealous,
Those two weeks had been exactly
like having a shot in the arm.
To Be Continued