The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-08-06
CHAPTER TwENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
shela wrote the final draft Of
Ia. Ic..e- e hsr father the fol-
lowing day and posted it after her
spanish lesson. In order TO do so
she had to walk TO the corner ana
because she vas restless and II
was such a beautiful day she de-
cided 10 90 farther.
Without regard for the direction
she followed the sunny, leaf-dap-
MED streets past the ornate beauti-
ful homes to the expensive look
ing modernistic flats all OF winch
blended together in such charm
ing melange Of architecture.
Fate was directing her footsteps
a. il had ever since her arrival
hut Sheila was conscious Of MOTH
ing except a desire to keep moving
as she idly watched the servants
gossiping at the gates.
No enc else was visible at THIS
hour Even the taxi cab drivers
were snoring in their cabs parked
along the street Raoul had tele-
phoned that morning that he would
cali for her after lunch.
She could detect no difference
in his tone and she hoped that
their misunderstanding would soon
be forgotten by both of them.
So far as she was concerned
she never intended to mention it
again.
She was passing one Of the new
flats when suddenly she saw him.
His car was parked before the
entrance and Raoul was piling
suitcases into ii.
Sheila started to hail him then
she saw that he was not alone.
There was girl in the car. The
same girl she had seen at the
beauty shop.
Sheila Is Seen.
If there had been any way TO
avoid passing them Sheila would
have done il. But as her eyes
fell upon the girl Raoul saw
Sheila. The expression in his eyes
was one of white hot resentment.
"He thinks I've followed him
here Intentionally" Sheila thought.
With her head high she said,
Good morning, Raoul," and
walked on giving him no oppor-
tunity to do more than lift his
hat but Sheila had seen the eyes
of the girl with him widen with
recognition. She knew this was
the American she had seen the
day before. Had Raoul told her
he intended to marry Sheila?
Well. he would never marry her
now. This time 1t was all over.
Nothing he could possibly say
would explain the fact that he had
lied to her. Sheila heard the car
behind her start and go on its
way.
But she had walked on as if she
dared not stop. Mind and heart
were paralyzed but her legs moved
automatically 1t was almost two
hours later before she dragged
back to the pension.
Luncheon was over. That helped.
Because she could not have eaten
anything. Up the stairs to her
room she went and she did not
stop at the telephone. There was
no use to call Jim.
Make Arrangements
Later she would make her own
arrangements with the travel
agent. There might be ship leav-
ing sooner than the one Jim was
taking. Sheila did not care where
she went or what happened to
her.
If only she could throw off this
horrible inertia which bound her
like a chain.
She was pulling things from the
drawers in a half hearted effort
to pack when Raoul was an
nounced. No" she said to the
servant, tell the gentleman I am
not at home"
But I have already said YOU
were here, Senorita, I saw you
come in"
Then tell him I will not see
him." Sheila ordered, closing the
door.
1t opened less than five minutes
later to admit Raoul.
81 have to see you" he said
you must listen to me"
White-faced with blazing ewes
she cried, Il am not interested"