The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-24
CHAHrER EORTY-ONE

SllSAL
Fabienne opened the door that LEI
tn the steps of her apartment nous
and the wind caught at the skirts
OF her coat, whipping it around he1
logs. The wind had died earlier II
the evening, but now it was up agar
ike a December gale, nipping hel
fingers before she could get hel
gloves on.
If it weren't so late in March she
thought, I'd almost think we were
In for a blizzard.
The engine of her car was cold
It took a long time for her to gel
started and she INDUCED in a
hearty Damn" Every moment
meant so much to her. She won
dered when Chris had risen from
her drugged sleep and left. Surely
h hoped, it couldn't have beer
yerv long ago. Bill had said those
%sleeping tablets would put a hearty
man to sleep for ten Or twelve hours
It was less than six since she hac
left Christ in her deep sleep.
The a jerked, was still, jerkec
again, and finally the motor turned
over. She sped rapidly into Fifth
avenue, was halted by a red light
turned east and vas again stopped
by a red light. So it went all the
miles of her route across town and
IN Fifth avenue, Park avenue ano
at last onto the East River drive
to East End avenue and the Park
Plaza hospital.
The street was utterly deserted
rs if men had been driven from the
streets by the gale that swept Jelly
over it.
There was one car an open road
gter, parked half a block away
from the apartment building thai
housed the hospital.
AS she passed it, Fabienne's eye
was caught by the colors Of the
license plates and a message tina
flashed to her brain. She backed
her car up beside it and looked
again.
The plates were California is
sued
She got out of her car and went
bver to the small roadster and with
the light of her cigaret lighter
eupped against the wind in hel
hand, she read the initials on the
door: C. M. P. 1t was Christine's
car! It must have been standing
there since she whisked Christine
away earlier in the afternoon.
It did not mean, she told herself
she didn't feel, that Christine was
at the hospital.
She ran her car in ahead OIL
Christine's, a hundred feet or sc
away from the entrance, and got
out, debating the wisdom Of ask
ing the doorman if Mrs. Parsons hao
come in. Lewis would still be or
duty and surely he would remem
Der her distraught passenger Of the
afternoon.
But Lewis was not in the foyer
A. sleepy.eyed elevator boy, porins
earnestly over an evening tabloid
looked up, recognized her ant
pulled himself to his feet.
"Evening, Robert. Where's Lewis?
she asked.
"Eatin' his supper, Miss Seymour
I'll take you up"
ANYONE else come in lately,
Robert?"
II dunno, miss. 7 amt been here
long. Amt no doctors in, though
They all left by ten"
He let her off into the dim foyer
where night lights burned.
A Whitehead nurse appeared 81
lently, showing traces of hastily
Weakened sleep. "Oh it's you, Miss
Seymour" she whispered.
Good evening, Miss Brown" Fa'
bienne answered in a like whisper
her eyes sweeping the sleepy calm
Of the waiting room and the shad
ows beyond. Il hope I didn't dis
turb you? IL left my pocketbook
here this afternoon and 1
thought I'd stop in to get it."
Where did you leave it?" thu
nurse asked her, trying to hide q
yawn.
Fabienne wondered if she'd keer
her from going up to the second
door where the private rooms were,
and how she could make her errand
seem casual yet persistent.
I'm not quite sure" she said
u think 1 had it in-in-" Then she
smelled coffee boiling and noted the
half-turn of the nurses head in the
direction Of the pantry at the enc
of the hall. She said, "I'll look fol
1t and slip right out Miss Brown
you'd better catch your coffee be.
fore it boils over"
The nurse smiled gratefully. 1.-THE
wind always makes me feel sleepy
she said. Il simply have to have
something to eat and a little coffee
TO keep me awake"
Casually Fabienne said, 1T mus
be hard to keep awake. It's so quiet
and calm in this hospital at night
Nothing exciting ever happens
does it?"
Every seldom" Miss Brown sail
Importantly.
And the last Of the visitors i:
out by half past nine?!"
"Oh, always"
Did you have many tonight?'
Eabienne asked conversationally,
No. No one, as a matter Of
fact"
Fabienne felt her breath escap,
with a sigh Of relief.
Anyone not connected with thu
hospital would be unlikely to know
about the private elevator which