Evening star., 1940-06-19
CHAPTER III.


going on. You know how the Han
sons are about publicity
like that"
Uncle Merit nodded his head
thoughtfully. II can understand
now why you're 50 worried about
Luke's plans"
isn't there something we could
do?" she asked
Uncle Merit shrugged and rubbed
his pink jowl somewhat ruefully.
MAYBE he won't go through with
It," he suggested. Anyway, I'm
glad to hear about you and Greg.
You'll be happy and safe with him.
He has money-social position-all
. girl could ask for in husband
And he's handsome, too" He
grinned at her, gave her arm one
final reassuring pat and started up
the stairs.
AS Lucy turned to go back to the
breakfast room, she was startled to
see that there was some one seated
on the bench at the far end of the
hall by the door. 1t was a young
man and he sprang to his feet now
and came toward her.
He was redheaded and his ewes
were OF a very intense shade of blue.
There was a grace and swing to his
walk as he came toward her. Lucy
knew him, for she'd seen him often
at parties, once or twice in night
clubs where Greg had taken her.
And this was not the first time she'd
seen him waiting thus for her Uncle
Luke. His name was Block. He wrote
what Uncle Luke referred to as
impossible" plays, and he danced
and did impersonations for what
she knew must be very meager
living.
''Uncle Luke never sees any one
on Monday morning." she told him
crisply. Its Thursdays that he
sees people"
Block Challenges Lucy.
He came quite close to her and
his electric blue eyes were family
lronic. 80 you're going to marry
Greg Hanson?" he said.
Eyes. Since you overheard. OF
course I am" She looked down at
her ring proudly.
What do you want to do that
for?"
She drew back little in aston
ishment. "Why-well because"
"You know you don't love him"
He threw her that family mocking
smile again. "I'll wager you don't
feel as much excitement when Greg
Hanson kisses you as you feel right
at this moment when you look into
my eyes" he said.
1t was true. Shed been curiously
. disturbed by every brief contact
shed ever had with this Mr.. Block
But she'd told herself each time
that it was because she felt sorry
for him. He was frightfully shabby
and there was a boyish appeal about
him. But how did he know she'd
9elt that curious stirring? Had her
eyes betrayed her? "Why," she
stammered, Il don't even know
you! How silly!"
ut isn't silly" he told her tensely.
tits true"
"But I don't even know you'll" she
repeated.
"of course you don't-at least not
yet"
Aren't you being rather crude?"
she returned with quiet dignity
He smiled at her as one would a
small, willful child. There's moth
Ing in the world, Lucy Granville,
quite as crude as snobbery"
Lucy Gets Guys Tray.
She drew her breath sharply
and stared at him. ."Well-Uncle
Luke never sees any one on Mon
day!" she said firmly. $50 you may
as well 60 away" She continued on
her way to the breakfast room.
"1ll wait, anyhow" Mr.. Block
called after her genially. you've no
idea how patient I can be-" His
eyes were full of amusement.
Lucy changed her mind about
breakfast, for herself at least, and
went instead to the kitchen to pre-
pare a tray for Guy. "It's silly"
she thought. whoever heard Of
such a thing? He talked as if he
believed in love at first sight, or
something like that-telling me
Gregs kisses don't thrill me as much
as" But did they? She had
to admit that she had never been
particularly stirred by Greg's kisses.
OF course, after they were married.
It would be quite different.
She saw, out Of the corner OF her
eye, as she made her way down to
She laboratory with Guys tray, that
Mr. Block had not left.
Here you are, Guy" she said, as
6f1e set the tray on his table mo-
ment later. why don't you try
eating for a changer"
Guy glanced up, frown on his
pallid face. The thick lensed glasses
always gave his eyes such an owlish
look, Lucy thought. She was glad
when he took them off and smiled
At her absently. I'm not really
hungry" he said. He barely touched
the food and then was back at his
work.
Guy Loses Temper.
Lucy climbed onto a stool and
watched him.
"Uncle Merit thinks perhaps Uncle
Luke won't go through with what
he's threatening" Lucy told Guy.
She swung her feet pensively. Guy
did not answer her Presently she
glanced at him. "Why Guy!" she
cried. whats wrong?"
Her brothers face was twisted the
eorners Of his mouth drawn down
into an expression Of fury. He
picked up a huge glass bowl from
his table and heaved 1t to the floor,
where 1t made great crashing
sound and then tinkling as the
pieces Of glass flew all about. Lucy
slid of the stool and ran to him.