Evening star., 1940-03-04
CHAPTER 18.

Melvyn hltS him on the nose.
CHAPTER 18.
The door to Eric's room was open
wide when Elaine reached the top of
the stairs. putting slightly, for she
had run the whole way. Rushing
into the room she saw Eric sitting
sullenly in a chair, head bowed,
handkerchief pressed to his nose.
She walked slowly over to him, pity
ing him, yet angry. How-how ieal-
Gus he was. how swift he had been
to accept Helen's version of Melvyn's s
kiss!
He rose as she came over to the
bed and offered her a chair, but his
gesture was merely automatic; his
eyes still held the same mad, un-
reasoning anger in which he had
greeted her. She met his gaze frank
ly and unf1inchingly. She had MOTH
ing to feel ashamed of and If he
thought she was going to apologize
for anything he had another guess
coming!
His eyes were the first to fall.
go ahead-laugh to me-" he COM
manded in hurt tone. Tell me
what fool I was
Elaine did neither, struggling her
shoulders. "As long as you know
that you did act like a fool 1 have
nothing to say" she told him quietly.
"Only, we'll, whatever possessed you
to do such a thing?"
He flung himself onto the bed and
buried his face in his hands. When
he spoke his voice was filled with
agony. Il really don't know. All
know is that when Helen called me
on the telephone and told me about
your kissing James brother I saw
red. And then, when I came home
this evening, Stuart began grinning
as though he had put fast one
over on me and the first thing I
knew was that was taking a swing
at him. He's strong and he almost
knocked me out"
Eric Won't Believe.
Elaine began to tell him how sorry
she felt, but seeing him blot at his
nose with the ood-stained hand
kerchief she drew clean one from
her pocket and dashed down the
hall to the bathroom. She returned
a few minutes later and drawing his
head to her shoulder applied the wet
handkerchief to his nose.
He sighed and pressed his cheek
against hers. Il really don't believe
what Helen said" he told her halt
ingly. I'm sorry about the whole
thing"
But did kiss him, Eric" Elaine
told him, deciding to tell the truth
and he done with it. He would un-
derstand that the kiss meant Moth
ing. "Melvyn was so happy to see
me again that he-well, we both
kissed each other" That was the
truth, too, and Elaine wondered why
she hadn't realized it sooner. Had
she really ben determined to pre-
vent the kiss she could have stopped
him. But she had been happy to
see him and in the final analysis
she had been so happy that she
hadn't really objected to the kiss.
He ran his hand through her hair
tugging teasingly at a misplaced
curl. But you really didn't mean
1t as anything more than that
he told her confidently. He sat up
on the bed, shaking his head. Gosh
don't know what ever got into me
I never had fight before, not even
when I was kid"
Elaine could have told him that
Jealousy caused people to do strange
things. She could have told him
too, that even though she knew he
was in the wrong she was glad tc
know that despite the cowardice he
had displayed in the presence of the
thug he loved her enough to resort
to force If any one tried to pre-.
empt his claim on her. But she sale
nothing, deciding it was better te
forget the whole affair as quickly
as possible. And besides, she hac
much more interesting news.
Eric's Pride Hurt.
Eric" she cried happily, sinking
to chair, guess what?"
His face went blank as though
he were having difhculty in keepin,
up with her swift chain of thought
He glanced at her for an instan
and then waved his hands in help
less gesture. "All right, what?"
He could at least have tried t,
guess, Elaine thought. pout steal
Ing over her lips. She Moved tn,
wooden, straightforward chair clos
er and looked disconsolately at him
She knew she was being silly, tina
Eric was too concerned over his un
seemly conduct to bother abou
playing games, but it would hav
been much more fun to tell him tn
news after he had vainly racke,
his brain trying to guess what
was. With a little sigh she tol,
him all about the addition. that sh
was going to broadcast once a weel
and that she was to receive S.
every seven days for doing so.
She looked at him eagerly whel
she had finished. There. I gues
now you'll have to let me help witt
the family finances" she told hin
teasingly. Goodness, I'm liable Il
become a rich person, too"
But Eric reacted far dif1erentl
from what she had expected. In
stead OF showing pleasure at he
lucky break, he turned his eyes t
the ceiling, the sullen frown ono
more returning to his face.
1T means" he said in a strange
tense voice, that you will be earn
ing more than three times as mucl
as l." Hhe shook his head sadly
"A man doesn't like to know that
Elaine"
Wants to Speed Marriage.
This was something she had def
nitely not expected and for a littl
while Elaine sat quietly in the chail
absently twiddling her thumbs. Sh
was keenly aware that she ha
chosen the improper time to tell hin
the news. Eric's encounter witt