The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-01
CHAPTER

Fabienne was reminded OF Nlcky
standing at her elbow when he said
to Bill, You look as If you could
handle them single handed. These
are three trunks and seven pieces
Of smaller luggage"
"Righto," Bill answered cheerfully.
go right on up. I'll have them up
In a jiffy."
MAKE it snappy," ordered Nicky.
Miss Seymour wishes to leave
shortly"
Fabienne listened to this exchange
with dismay. Whatever had got
into Nicky to behave this way. Sud
denly she knew, and she said apollo
g~etically, "Dr. Mallory, meet an old
friend of mine from home, Nicky
Bartlett"
Nlcky's well-bred face showed in
slant chagrin. He'd taken this great,
coatless fellow to be the superin-
tendent. Sorry. old man," he said,
offering a friendly grin with his
hand. Bad light, you know"
Forget it," Bill answered, crush
ing Nicky's hand in his.
Irritated for no good reason, Fa.
bienne said, "Come on upstairs,
Nicky. "And, when they were up in
the apartment and Bill was strug-
Cling with a trunk at the turn Of
the stairs, "VFhy did you say that I
was leaving shortly? I'm not going
any place."
But you promised Mirabel you'd
see her later"
Tive got a headache, Nicky. To-
morrow's Sunday. We al put it off
until then. Besides, I must do a lot
of u~npacking. Please run along.
"In be darned! A few hours ago
you were delighted to see me. Now
it's Please run along Nicky, me
lad What's come over you lately,
Fab?''
I'm sorry Nicky. I do behave
badly. But I was glad to see you"
Fab still loves Nicky?"
"Of our Fab still loves Nicky,"
she said, looking up at him affec-
tionately. la%ughingly.
Her face was turned up like q
flower. He bent over to kiss her on
the cheek. But her mouth was red
and tempting. He kissed her once
and then again, lingeringly. She
tried to push him away, hearing a
sound at the door.
Bill Mallory stood in the door
frame, looking embarrassed and
something else that she was toe con-
fused to recognize.
He had seen the kiss, but he had
not seen her feeble effort to push
Nicky away. He had heard her say
that she loved Nicky.
He said, Sorry, folks, but you'll
have to get a park bench until we
get the trunks in. Two more CON
ing up" He pulled one in with a
yank Of a powerful arm and went
out again without looking at eithe1
of them.
Fabienne looked at the door
through which he had passed. Then
she turned around to Nicky and
her cheeks were pink, her eyes hot.
I've changed my mind, darling. I
will go back with you. I'd rather do
my unpacking tomorrow. o e
along"
To Bill on the landing, she said.
I'm going with Nicky. Thanks for
everything, Bill"
IT'S nothing at all. Have a good
time" he answered with coll polite
ness.
After the door closed in back Of
Nicky and Fabienne, and the big
a rolled away smoothly, Bill Nal
Tory sat on the landing step and
CROPPED for a pack of cigarets. He
lit thoughtfully and said, That's
that, my boy"
In the town car Nicky was say.
Ing, you and Cleopatra and your.
-'infinitive variety! There's one
thing about you, Fab, that never
falls to fascinate me-"
"Yes?" she said absently, her
thoughts busy elsewhere.
Your weather-vane decisions. One
minute you will, the next minute
you won't, or vice versa. Anyway,
I'm glad you decided to come"
"Oh, THAT she answered. "I-
I decided my headache wasn't too
bad after all" Her statement was
a long way from being truthful.
She had decided that if she found
herself alone In the apartment with
Bill Mallory she'd find herself bleat.
9ng that she was not in love with
Nicky and the kiss he'd seen didn't
mean anything.
And after that little idiotic out.
ourst' n thought, Bill would give
her a long look of surprise that
plainly said 1t meant nothing to him
and why was she telling him all
that.
Oh, no, she didn't intend to let
herself in for anything like that.
She must be very careful to zee
Bill only when Ellen was there. A
friendly little threesoms.
Nicky took her hand and her in.
etinct was to pull it away. Instead,
she said to him. "Nicky, 1 wist,
you'd try to be fascinating to me-"
Nicky gave her a bemused, DUE.
zled glance.
my heart and. my. hand, not to
mention a few trifling lares and
penates, are yours for the asking.
darling"
IT know" she said YEARLY. .
"How do you know? I've never
really asked you to marry me-"
She laughed. That's right, but ]
got the idea somewhere"
THAT I'd be waiting around"