The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-01-16
CHAPTER XVII
BY RUTH AYERS

under a penny of financial obi
CATION to Or. Lenox. She hadn't
yet touched one Of his medical
corps checks. What hurt most, of
course, was that Gilbert hadn't
written. She tried to forget 1t
under the rush of creative work.
One day she had visitor.
There was a knock on her door
and opening it. Mary saw Lady
Ponce-Townsend.
How do you do" she managed
to stammer. Come in"
Lady Ponce-Townsend. Mary re-
called, was the British dowager
who'd outfitted the refugees from
the Moravia and who had been so
active in war relief work.
Lady Ponce-Townsend smiled a
harassed, toothy smile. My dear.
I've just heard of your marriage
to DR.. Gilbert Lenox. Congratu-
lations. But why haven't you let
me know about your sketches ?
They're utterly stunning"
why, I had no idea you would
be interested"
Interested" Lady Ponce-Town-
send fairly doomed. IF you have
no objections l want to exhibit
them in my Mayfair home. You
will let me, of coursel'
Still breathless after accepting
Lady Ponce Townsend's surprising
offer, Mary sat down at the desk
before the coy coal fire and
poured out her thoughts in a letter
to Gilbert.
Dear Gilbert:
Your long silence is hard to
understand. l do hope you are
well and that some day soon I'll
find a letter from you.
I'm writing today because
have news that's sure to please
you. have just had a visitor.
Lady Ponce-Townsend, remem-
Der? She is very active in war
relief work, as you know. She
heard in some way about the
sketches I've been doing and is
anxious to give an exhibit of
them at her Mayfair home. She
intends to charge outrageous
prices for admission to raise
funds for war refugees.
She wanted me to be at the
exhibit, but that, as I emphati-
cally told her, is quite out of the
question. l will not face any,
one, as you well know. while I
am still disfigured. Her ladyship
finally understood and has some
notion now of making a mystery
of me to lend Zest to the exhibit.
Having been so kindly treated
as a refugee myself, I'm only
too glad If can repay the debt
in small way. In addition,
as Lady Ponce-Townsend point
ed out, the exhibit may lead to
additional offers for me.
So now, enough about me.
You are on my mind constantly.
I wonder how you are and if all
goes well. A letter would be so
welcome. As ever,
Anna.
Winter held its grip on London
On the Maginot Line, temporary
lull seemed like an ominous dark
before a blasting dawn. Enemy
mines and submarines struck re-
lentlessly at British ships. The
city mourned behind its barricades
for the herioc dead. Espionage
flourished like some evil fungus in
the dark and spy rings were re-
lentlessly tracked down by a grim
Scotland Yard.
step aside, Miss. Passage,
please"
A middle-aged Tommy brushed
past Mary Carroll at Lady Ponce
Townsend's exhibit of the sketches.
Mary had felt an urge to 60 to
Mayfair and stand unseen some
where near the mansion.
Yes, sir" she answered meekly.
Quite a crowd, isn't it ?"
The Tommy laughed and an
swered. There's many a one that
would never get into her lady
ships 'ouse at all If it wasn't
for a benefit like this"
Mary didn't hear him. Her eyes
narrowed as she saw a limousine
draw to the door and a familiar
figure step from the car. Carla
Marchetta.
On sudden impulse, Mary joined
in the crowd that surged around
the glamorous Carla. Mary pulled
the veil on her toque across her
face and, unnoiced, walked up the
steps.
Two shillings. Miss" an i'm
perturbable butler demanded.
Mary heard the coins click on
the silver tray, but kept her
eyes fastened on Cara. For all
her alertness, Carla managed to
vanish temporarily, sweeping into
Lady Ponce-Townsend's drawing
room with almost insolent hau.
teur.
Drawing into the shelter Of a
cloakroom, Mary waited until
carla would resppear. Then she
heard voices. Someone was say
ing. Shocking, that Marchetta