The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-11-22
g Ledger
CHAPTER XXXIv

leave. It was Marty again who an
swered the door. He thought 1t was
the orchids he had ordered for Lynn
But it was not. It was q cable.
Lynn, standing there ready, mo-
toned to Marty to open the message
with a trembling hand. The mes
sage was terse, seven short words:
Rene Boucher died II o'clock,
American Hospital"
Slowly he handed it to Lynn. She
could not believe it.
"Cruel!" she cried.
1t was to Marty, crying I'M
ashamed, that Lynn turned now for
comfort So it came about, Lynn
Morrow did not sail after all.
That night after Marty left, Lynn
began her unpacking YEARLY. There
was front-page story that night in
all the newspapers. Rene, the ris-
ing young genius, was dead.
To Lynn it seemed incredible that
his genius was stilled forever. Just
when life promised everything for
him. She chided herself that she
had not gone to Rome with him.
IL would have looked after him.
This never would have happened"
But all this was too late.
HE knew he was going to diel"
Lynn, weeping alone, hoped desper-
ately he had known she was coming
to him. Life must 60 on.
But life had changed for Lynn.
Something had gone out Of it. It
seemed strange to be in a world
without Rene. Lynn had only one
burning regret now, that she had
not been a wife to him. He had
needed her and she had failed him.
Just after New Years Day Chuck
and Helen asked Lynn to have a
quiet dinner with them at their club.
Helen wrote that the matter was
important.
"We're leaving for Algiers at the
end of the week and we want to
see you, anyway" she wrote.
Lynn hesitated; she had gone no
place since Christmas. But Helen
was so insistent that she finally
agreed. Helen had warned her to
look her prettiest, and, as Lynn
dressed, she looked at her white
face with disfavor. She chose black
frock-she could not force herself
to wear anything else-and Chuck
sent her some yellow orchids. She
felt she would be a disappointment
to Helen, and to the friend whom
Helen wanted her to meet that eve
ming. Helen was such a darling,
always plotting, Lynn smiled wan
ly. What was the use?
Chuck was waiting for her and,
had she looked, she could have seen
the admiration in his eyes. She al
ways took his breath away when he
had not seen her in long time.
They're waiting in the bar, Lynn.
You look gorgeous!" He gave her
hand squeeze, unable to mention
Rene. Her sad eyes told him more
than she could say.
"Be nice to this fellow we have
at dinner, Lynn" he warned as they
took the elevator up to the bar. Lynn
smiled. Chuck was so obvious in
his excitement. He looked so hap
py, Lynn was herself content. At
least he had solved his troubles.
When Lynn joined Helen and her
guest she was surprised to find him
fat and old. His name was Arnold
Kaufman. The four chatted over a
cocktail and went on into the formal
club dining room. Helen was burst
ing with excitement. Kaufman hard
ly seemed to notice Lynn at ALL He
listened to her conversation casual
ly. 1t was not until coffee was on the
table that he said suddenly:
''How old are your"
Twenty"
Good"
He grinned at Helen. you're a
smart woman, Mrs. Austin. I'm usu-
ally suspicious of my friends" He
Lit a huge cigar and leaned back.
How'd you like to have movie
test?"
Movie test?" Lynn set her cup
down suddenly. She looked at Hell
ems beaming face.
isn't it wonderful" Helen de-
manded. "I knew it all along.
used to think Of it when we were in
Florida, Lynn. You're so lovely. Il
seemed such a natural thingl"
Chuck was as excited as his wife.
"Now, now, you two. Don't get
Miss Morrow's hopes up too high.
I've seen some lovely women fall
down completely before a camera"
Lynn won't" Helen was conf
dent.
"We'l see."
Lynn leaned forward I'm not
sure I'd like to go to Hollywood"
Kaufman looked at her over his
cigar. you're the only woman in
America Uho doesn'tio he eaid
shortly. you'll like it. You're the
type"
Lynn's mobile face was serious.
II don't know that l car act"
"You don't have to act, when l
turn one of my real directors loose
on you. Wen make you act, all
right" Lynn smiled at him sud-
denly.
"And with that smile =" Katz-
man thumped his cigar on the edge