The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-26
CHAPTER

O4A4 NAA Jaw
the day after the play because she
did not come to the mansion. But
as he worked and directed the
work of clearing the theater, send
ing back the rented chairs, replac-
ing the furniture, tearing away the
temporary stage, he did a deal Of
thinking.
1t hurt him to feel that Lola was
guilty of theft.
Lola was beautiful. She typified
the Mexican senorita famous in
story and song. Somewhere down
Mexico way" he himself might
have fallen desperately in love
with just such a person, he rea-
lized, and he knew she would tear
a mans heart out with the fierce
ness and passion Of her devotion.
She was that type; quiet, but pow
erful.
And she's probably as danger
ous as she is pretty" he unused
here tonight. "a thief, S r
enough to do what she did and get
by with it, is likely to have all
manner of intrigue in her SOUL"
He liked to mediate on such
things. Somehow it gave him a
tingle of interest and excitement,
and he did not realize that this
was merely the boy in him. Some
men never grow up. Part of Bill
Bailey's charm was the fact that,
in spite of his maturity of "a
years, he was often like a lad of
IA.
Thinking about her, therefore, he
built up quite a romantic circum-
stance around pretty Lola, entirely
in his mind. He envisioned her as
embittered by some lost love down
in New Mexico. Possibly she had
killed a rival-didn't ~senoritas al
ways carry daggers hidden in their
hair, or somewhere?-and possibly
she was wanted by police down
there.
Christopher, she probably was!
The police here had known about
her. They had seen the six girls
photos in the paper that first time
and recognized a criminal among
them Immediately, then sent a de-
tective out to work in the Merri-
field home. Doubtless, when they
got the goods" on her here. they
could send her back to New Mex
leo for trial as well.
There were some flaws in Bills
hurried reasoning, but the sadness
of it dominated his astuteness now.
He felt badly about the whole af-
fair because, in all truth, he liked
Lola. He saw Gayle Dixon come
out a side door of the mansion
the hour was just after dinner now
and he decided to talk it over
with her.
sit down." he invited, making
DON on the stone bench where he
sat under the trees. Lola is nice,
isn't she?"
Lola? $50. How tactless, Bill
Bailey! You invite me to sit with
you, and at once tell me how pref
ty another girl is"
Bill grinned. II didn't say pref
ty. But she is. I said nice"
ITS the same thing. Anyway, I
can't be angry. Yes, she's nice"
You, uh-you know what I'm
thinking"
Il a guess. Maybe. I hate to
think of it, but-well, is there any
proof? Anything but thoughts?"
Bill nodded. I'm sorry to say
there is"
""Oh, Bill"
He nodded again, in agreement
now. II understand. 1t hurts,
doesn't it? 1 told you she was
nice. I like her, matter of fact"
Pill, Lola's a darling. I mean
well, goodness, she is gentle and
kind, even if she is very shy at
times. And she looks as if she
were longing so for something, pos
sibly for happiness. I just can't
think that She"
Facts are facts, Gayle. I was
sitting here incoming about her my
self. She's been swell, though.
She's helped a lot with Jeremy. l
notice her doing what we asked
drawing Jeremy out of his shell.
She talks to him, and even sings
to him sometimes"
BELLA LANAN-COURT RE