The midland journal., 1940-03-29

RUloC W w SOAl1CtAlAABS eAiy thAAA6p ~
attract and hold his attention.
you're looking WE'LL" she said.
you're looking well, too" His
eyes, regarding her steadily across
the space which separated them, held
family ironical expression which
she remembered very well. "I'm
relieved" The engaging grin slant
ed side-wise. ''Your photographs
have given me the impression that
you'd been skipping your vitamins
and losing too much Sleep"
"My Photographs" Gay ques-
toned.
"The press has been giving you
considerable space recently" he
said in reply.
The press! Had they done some
thing stupid at home? Gays eyes
flew to meet Kate's startled glance.
Kate's expression was not reassur-
ing. She looked as though she was
resigning herself to some inevita-
BILE disaster. Gay turned again to
John.
''This time you have the advan-
tage," she said. ''We haven't seen
the papers for two days."
She fancied, for a moment, that
he, as well as Kate, knew the thought
which had flashed into her mind.
His expression was wholly ironical.
But
81 was referring to the rotogra-
vure sections" he said, land the
| fifty-cent magazines"
| He hesitated, then, "May ! wish
you happiness?" he asked.
''Why not?"
81 do wish that for you." He con-
tinued to regard her steadily but
the slanting smile had vanished and
his eyes were very grave.
"Thank you, john"
| His steady gaze presently altered.
He glanced around the room.
"I'm very poor host" he said.
you've had to bring in your lug
gage and get your supper. I've been
talking politics up at the village
store. Why didn't you let me know
you were coming?"
The question had, for Gay, only
one implication. Resentment, like a
fresh breeze blowing through room
too warm and perfumed, cleared the
confusion from her mind.
''Did you think I knew you were
here?" she asked quietly but with
warmth kindling in her voice.
He turned to look at her in sur
prise.
''But If you didn't, why did you
conner"
Resentment famed into anger.
But anger was stupid. She returned
his glance directly, her chin uncon-
sciously lifting, her eyes bright and
scornful.
"You haven't become less-fatu-
Gus, have your" she asked.
II didn't mean that the way it
sounded" he said quickly. "I'm not
that fatuous. / meant, how did you
expect to get in unless someone was
here?"
Her level glance did not waver.
His momentary confusion gave her
the advantage. She pressed it reso-
lutely, still smarting from hurniliat-
ed pride.
''Why should I have had the faint
est idea that you, especially, should
be here?" she asked.
"But who else would be?" His ex-
preston was frankly puzzled. "I've
never rented it. My kid sister had
house-party here this summer.
Otherwise it hasn't been occupied
except when I've been here"
She pressed her advantage stub
bornly, incensed by the posses
sive tone in which he spoke of her
property. ''Who gave you permis-
sion to use the cabin at any timer"
| she asked.
"Permission-?" He stared at her
in perplexity.
Didn't you know that Uncle John
left the cabin to me?"
"To you?"
"Yes." 1t was the granddaughter
of David Graham speaking, the
granddaughter of Peter Schuyler,
secure in her inherited assurance,
quite obviously taking pleasure in
the routing of an intruder.
"But that's impossible" he said
crisply.
"His lawyer sent me a key three
years ago nearly" Gay said, "just
after Uncle John died"
She watched him intently, expect
ing some attempt at justification,
explanations, an apology, perhaps.
She did not expect the smile of
somewhat incredulous amusement
which crept slowly upward from his
lips into his eyes.
"Does that impress you as being
amusing?" she asked with dignity.
"Uncle John was my godfather.
There's no particular reason, is
there, why he shouldn't have left
the cabin to me?" sn
II suppose there isn't" he said, as
though that point was of small i'm
portance. The smile deepened. 81
was just wondering how many 9th
er people are likely to pop in here
with keys. You see,'' he continued