The midland journal., 1940-03-29
CHAPTER H-Continued

ChAF tA--NVMthMuCU
3
"Impetuous," Kate murmured.
~'He seems to be in hurry"
He appeared almost before she
had completed the thought, tall,
rangy young man in corduroys and
a leather coat, the brim of dark
felt hat pulled down over his eyes.
He halted abruptly in the doorway,
stood surveying the brightly lit room
with an expression which changed,
as Kate watched, from brusque in
,auiry to blank amazement. His
face, lean and brown, with proni-
nent cheek-bones and jaw line, was
vaguely familiar. She had seen him
somewhere, in quite different set
ting. Somewhere
"Hello, John" Gays voice sound
ed completely natural, neither very
cordial nor very aloof, certainly not
at all surprised. Kate heard her
rise from the chair. The young man
in the doorway slowly removed his
hat. His hair was thick and dark
and cut short to thwart, Kate sus-
pected, tendency toward waves.
She doubted whether, after the first
quick glance, he was aware of her
presence in the room. His eyes re-
manned fixed upon Gay.
Gay" he said slowly, incredu-
lously.
He had beautiful mouth. "Beau-
tiful' wasn't a word you used to
describe a man, Kate told herself.
It was beautiful, though, generous,
sensitive, expressive. Wondering
recognition kindled in his dark eyes.
For an unguarded moment some
strong emotion gave his dark, rath-
er grave face glancing brilliance.
Kate found herself, in that moment
of silence, almost holding her
breath.
II have the advantage, John,"
Gay said. 81 knew it was you who
was here"
The brilliance faded out of his
face. Kate saw his mouth set
little grinly.
''You usually have, haven't your"
he asked quietly.
seemed to have shaken Gays COM
posure. She turned to Kate. Kate"
she said, "Miss Oliver, may I pre-
sent-Is it-Doctor Houghton now?"
she asked, turning again to the tall
young man in the doorway.
Doctor Houghton," he affirmed.
He smiled at Kate little diffident-
ly. "I've met Miss Oliver" he said.
Certainly. How do you do?"
Kate remembered now. She had the
answer. This was DR.. Lawrence's
nephew, John, who'd come with him
to Gays debutante party. This was
the young man with whom Gay
had stolen away from the party that
night. She, Kate, had seen them re-
turning. She remembered now.
Gays face, soft and bright, framed
in the collar of a white fur coat,
upturned to the tall young man bend
ing to speak to her in the dinly lit
passage that led to side-door Of
the ballroom.
She had the answer but it did not
relieve her concern. There was
something between Gay and this
young man. Kate felt it vibrating
in the air of the room though the
words they spoke were casual. This
was the motive, then, whether she'd
known he was here or the meeting
was a coincidence. This, he, was
why she had wanted to come.
Kate gave distracted thought to
Gays family, to blond young man
with charming manners whom she
liked very much.
Heaven help usi" she said silent
ly. the shadow of events to come
lying darkly across her mind. And
then, because her rectory past would
pop up now and then, "The prayers
of the congregation are requested"
she added.
''Of course you've met Kate" The
singing vibration was in Gays voice.
''I'm sorry. had forgotten"
II hadn't" He took few steps
forward into the room. miss Oil
yer rescued me, on one occasion,
from a fate worse than DEATH"
II remember" Kate said. Gay
glanced at her quickly. Kate was
lighting a cigarette. Her eyes in
the squirt Of flame from the match
were twinkling under the frown that
knotted her brows. "You had," she
added. speaking to John, "a tenden-
cy to bolt into empty rooms"
''It was my first debutante party"
he said. His diffident half-smile wild
ening into an engaging grin, ex-
cluded Gay. That studied indif-
ference enraged her now as II had