The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-05-03

the lobby Of keiths Motel Al
the door she hesitsted and turned
back. Someone really should go to
keith's aid.
The woman might be a muir
deress. She had behaved queeriy,
bending over the PROSTATE form
Of her lover. laughing down at
him. a big. throaty laugh.
So many things had happened
in the last hour that Hilda was
bit dazed. She was ashamed and
resentful over Keith's treatment
of her. Mingled with the resent
ment was shock. The money
which Keith had been so freely
spending belonged to the big
woman, Iva.
And to obtain that money Keith
had made love to her. just as he
had done to Hilda.
So long had Hilda believed in
him, so willing had she been to
find reasonable excuses for him
that, even now, with the evidence
staring her in the face. her mind,
from long habit, searched for an
alibi. The woman was insane, her
story fabrication.
But no, Keith had admitted the
truth by his humble entreaties.
And Iva had knocked Keith down.
Impossible and fantastic as it
might be Hilda had seen it with
her own two eyes.
She still stood in the entrance
of the hotel. Something really
should be done about Keith be-
fore the woman killed him.
Circling through Hilda's numb
brain was definite sensation
very like gloating. She had want
ed to scratch Keith. to inflict
painful wounds on his satisfied
ego. More than anything else she
had longed to see him suffer.
Well, her wish had been grant
ed, both mentally and physically.
Keith had suffered and would con-
| tinue to suffer. The life he had
made for himself had caught up
with him at last.
Standing there. wondering if she
should notify the hotel manage
ment of Keith's predicament, Hilda
realized that he was less than a
stranger TO her.
She was filled with amaZement
that she had SO stubbornly elung
to dead love. In truth, had she
] - al
Looking back she knew it. Keith
had been but a symbol of love and
romantic enchantment. oh, the
utter stupidity of it all.
All at once Hilda's heart turned
over. Steve, in mad hurry, was
whirling through the revolving
door. He plunged for the elevator.
steve" she called, and he
stopped 30 quickly as to almost
lose his balance. Seeing her his
expression changed from concern
to fury.
MY God. Hilda," he exclaimed.
81 knew i'll knew it" dis
gustedly. For an hour you've had
roe out of my mind. What do you
mean? Are you insane? l knew
I'd find you here-hanging around
Keith" His tone was like blue
vitriol
Please. Steve-you are attract
ing attention"
He caught her hand and dragged
her into small, unoccupied writ
ing room.
why did you leave your hotel ?"
he demanded. Haven't l told you
a hundred times"
II know, Steve, but I was lone
ly. ] went TO buy Christmas pres
ents" AS proof she held out the
neatly wrapped packages.
Steve nodded in evaporation.
He exhaled great sigh. So you
went to buy Christmas presents. "
he repeated. For three months
I've connived and plotted to keep
you a mystery.
I've built you up, kept a hun
dred newspaper hounds from find
ing you. And now. on the eve of
the most sensational event in radio
history. the event which will mean
thousands to your sponsors, you
calmly walk out the door and go
Christmas shopping" Grooming