Evening star., 1940-08-06
CHAPTER XII,
(COntinlled)


1t was about o'clock when Ruby
Neville arrived with the Sanfords.
"We haven't come to stay" said
Jack Sanford. we're on our way to
Juan les Pins, but it's hotter than
hell outside. Thought we'd drop in
for drink and cool off bit"
The long pencils of sunlight went
from the slits in the shutters as If
they had been wiped out. Mary
went out on the balcony and looked
up. Dense inky clouds had rolled
over the sky directly above, a livid
cooper light glowing at their edges.
The trees stood as still as carved
metal and smell of sulphur lay on
the sluggish air. Nancy Sanford
followed her. Just got here in
time" she said, We'll be in for it
In another 10 minutes" Even as
she spoke lightning forked through
the menacing sky, followed almost
Immediately by the deafening crash
OF adjacent thunder.
Again the lightning flashed and
lit the bending pines and fiat sullen
sea in blue-green brilliance for one
savage instant and the thunder rat
tied like a cannonade right over
head. One of the girls in the usual
crowd on the beach screamed. Come
along in," said Kit, lets play mo-
nopoly or something till the storms
over"
They trooped indoors leaving the
windows wide to the freshening air.
With the newcomers there were
about II of them. What about
roulette?" said Ruby Neville. Kit,
isn't there roulette table in the
billiard room?"
"All right, Ruby, but not for the
kids. I won't have them coming
here and losing money. They can
stay up here with the Victrola and
dance"
Mary followed in the rear of the
little procession led by the deter
mined Mrs Neville to the billiard
room. When she got there Jack
Sanford had already taken the posi-
ton of croupier and Ruby was SELL
Ing the chips to the players. Mary
stood by Kit for a moment watch
ing, and he drew her hand through
his arm in natural unconsidered
gesture. Mrs. Neville looked up at
them, her eyes travelling from Mary's
face to Kits a fiery hate and despair
In them. Mary shuddered involun-
tarily and drew away from Kit. She
said, Il think I'll go upStair now
and take care of the younger
ones"
1t was o'clock when the butler
came to ask Mary if any of the
guests were staying to dinner, and
to tell her that the storm was over.
She said, Il expect they'd all stay
If there we're enough to eat. What
could We do about so many without
notice?"
The cook told me to tell you not
to worry, madam. She can manage
cold buffet supper"
Go for Swim.
After the supper was over some
one suggested driving over to the
casino, Every one was inclined to
agree with the exception of Mary.
'Ill stay here, If you don't mind"
she said, when the moon comes up
I'm going for a swim"
Good idea" said Kit, "any one
else care for swim in the moon
light?"
The suggestion was eagerly seized
on. Anything for the excitement of
q little change. Somebody turned
on the radio and tuned in to
dance band from Rome. They
danced again till Mary announced
that the moon was rising. Then
they trooped off one by one to
change into swimming suits and
sun down the path under the pines
on to the beach.
At 10 o'clock the night was bril-
liant with benign silver-blue light,
but the bay below the villa was
small and round, walled in by high
red rocks. Almost half of it lay
mysterious and profound in black
shadow. The small jetty and diving
board thrust out at the side, illu-
mined by the moonlight. The water
was as smooth as glass as if it had
been beaten into subjection by the
heavy rain, the edge of it breaking
into long curls of cream along the
Band.
Mary went down with Kit, who