The Ely miner., 1940-01-18
CHAPTER VI-C0ntinued

Autumn snatched hat and gloves
from the chair and abruptly turned
to the door.
Hector put out a hand. Where
are you going, Autumn" he asked,
his voice trembling.
I'm starting for hell" she re-
torted. $50 long!"
He took her arm gently. won't
you let me talk to your" he pleaded.
''You had your chance to do that
last week." she told him. 'It's too
late for that now."
She flung out of the house and ran
to her car. In a moment she was
climbing out of the valley on the
winding trail that led to Kelowna.
The room into which the younger
Parr girl led Autumn was cool and
fragrant with roses. It had been
done IN pale green and ivory. A
rug of fawn-color covered the floor.
What a sweet room!" Autumn
said as she glanced about her.
I'm glad you like it." said the
girl m voice of careful incidence.
My room is there-next to this. !"
She pointed with her cigarette hold
er, long magenta affair which she
held poised In her right hand. Un-
der her left arm she carried sill
very mop which Autumn had al
ready learned was Belgian griffon.
The girl was slender ash-blonde,
with eyes of hazy violet, and lips
that were brilliantly rouged.
The open doorway that led to the
adjoining room revealed mauve-
toned boudoir that somehow seemed
a perfect setting for the girl.
Autumn glanced at the room and
then turned to pat the dog on the
girls arm. what do you call him,
Miss Parr?" she asked.
His name is Koochook-which
sounds a bit Eskimoish-but it's
spelled C-a-o-u-t-c-h-o-u-c-which on
the Ganges or somewhere means
India rubber. And for Gods sake,
don't call me Miss Parr.' You'll
scare everybody to death around
here. My devoted parents tagged
me with Melinda when I was too
young to have any opinions of my
own. get Iinda'-but I prefer
'Lin'-if you don't mind"
Rather not," Autumn replied. ST
like it,
She saw that her bag had been
brought In and unpacked, and her
things laid out In orderly fashion on
the bed.
''I had my faithful slavey attend
to your Clothes" Linda said. YOU'D
like shower, perhaps. The bath is
on the left, there, between our
rooms"
Thanks" Autumn said. I'D like
nothing better"
Linda reclined on chaise-longue,
smoking, her dog on the velvet up
holstery beside her, while Autumn
undressed.
You're a sort of cross between
me and my sister Elinor," she said
as she watched Autumn appraising-
ly. "Elinor is the horse of the fam
lily. That may have sounded funny,
but didn't mean any reflection on
you"
Autumn laughed, won out of her
depression somewhat, In spite of
herself. Where is Elinor?" she
asked.
Linda waved languid arm. ''God
knows. Probably down pruning the
appIe-trees-no, I guess it's not the
season for that. Spraying them,
maybe, or whatever it is they do
at this time of year. Or she may
be out shooting squirrels. She's
little sdd, poor Elinor, but you'll Like
her"
I'm sure I shall like all of you."
Autumn said, little helplessly.
I'm not at all sure" Linda pro-
tested. We're a bit touched, if
you ask me. The stock is good
enough, but something must have
gone wrong in the breeding. The
family takes itself quite seriously.
too-except Florian and me. We
spend most of our time laughing at
the others-and ourselves"
There's saving grace IN that"
Autumn remarked
You're the only thing Florian has
ever taken seriously-except polo,"
Linda observed, blowing smoke
rings. 1.-THE poor boy is hit-and
hit hard"
"Oh, nonsenseI" Autumn laughed
coolly.
But she colored as she felt Linda's
scrutiny change to mobile, slow
sort Of approval.
Cant say blame him, either"
Linda added. YOU'D make a dec
orative sister-in-law."
The girl was part and parcel of
all that Autumn had left behind her
In Europe. Behind her mask of
Incidence there was a rapacity for
living. Autumn knew her kind very
well, though she was somewhat sur
pr1sed to find it here.
'Are you In love with Florian. by
any chance?" Linda asked suddenly