The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-02-24
Personal
Service
By THAYER WALDO
Mcclure Syndicate-WNU Service.)

leer. In TACT, refusing 1t status as
full-fedged one is based upon pure
ly technical grounds: he neglected
to exhibit his contortional tour de
force. Rather, he screened it with
great care behind his open news-
paper. Of course, that may have
been all for the best; there was a
lady seated opposite him at the
breakfast table, and she CHANGED to
be his wife.
But my dear GIRL" he said, moth
ing but silk in the purr; ''my dear,
dear girl-how preposterous! Could
you conceive of idiotic jealous sus-
plclons in me, of all people? l en-
gagged bodyguard for you merely
to ensure your complete protection
and my peace of mind"
With an emphatic movement Irene
Rand reached across and snatched
the printed barricade from his
hands.
"You," she stated in fiat accusa-
ton, "are triple distilled liar! In
the last 10 years you've never given
me single thought when l wasn't
right IN the same room, and as few
as possible then. You've gone and
hired some horrible plug-ugly Just to
embarrass me so won't go any,
where, all because in your vile
imagination"
pet" Reynold interrupted, suave-
ly mild, remember your blood
pressure. Do you want the veins in
your neck standing out when they
take those close-ups today?"
Swift solicitous fingers futtered to
her throat, stroked it smoothingly.
Reynold lit a fat cigar and con-
tinued:
my motives, 1 can only repeat,
are of the highest order. AS we'll
known star, you can't afford to ig-
more the current prevalence of kid
naping and robbery"
In the kitchen on their right
sounded buzz. The titular head
of the house glanced around in an
almost apprehensive fashion. Then
he faced forward again, managing
a careless smile.
"Ah, yes" he murmured; "that
must be the chap now. asked him
to drop around this morning so you
could meet him."
Irene gasped and began loudly:
"Reynold P. Rand, if you think
I'm actually going to put up with
this, you're daffy as hell and"
Deity he had risen and slipped
through the swing door, leaving her
amidspeech. She sprang around the
table, bolted after him-and then
came to halt just inside the din
ing. room. Reynolds meager back
was toward her, in the hallway;
towering neck and more above him
stood great warrior-featured blond
lad with cleaning teeth.
'Oh, Mr.. Drake-Rey's just been
telling me all about you. Do come
in and sit down."
Both men faced her, one sur
prised, the other wearing a mask of
cold politeness.
How do you do, Mrs. Randi"
The tone was self-possessed and i'm
personal. ITS a pleasure to meet
you; I've seen so many of your
pictures.
His Indifference brought an added
thrill. Here indeed was novelty!
Thank you," she said, leading
him into the library. "Reynold,
will you please call the studio and
tell them I'll be a little late. Mr..
Drake and I need to chat and get
acquainted"
He came at nine that evening.
looking monumental but even hand
somer in dress clothes. Driving
alone, they went to the Capitol club.
For an hour she enjoyed herself
utterly,
Drake still would unbend but
slightly. She was trying for the
dozenth time to draw him into con-
versation when, several tables
away, she suddenly glimpsed a fa-
miliar face, and started. Maurice!
AS she stared he saw her, evidently
not for the first time. ElaborateIv
he bowed; the accompanying smile
was hard, ironic.
Quickly she glanced at her es-
cort, and as instantly knew real ex-
element. He had seen, tool He
was positively glaring in that d.
rection Irene leaned across the Ia
BILE to whisper: Q
Never mind-he's probably tight.
l never laid eyes on him before
But it was futile; that seemed
only to aggravate matters. With a
bull-like groWl deep in his young
chest, Drake sprang up and was
striding toward the offender, fists
hugely doubled
Shocked wonder checked her
thoughts as she saw him charge
straight past Maurice, heading for
the table beyond Then the tow
headed giant pulled a man out of
chair, sent him down again with a
right TO the chir-and the withheld
little Shrek burst from Irene. In
credibly, the man Drake had
punched was Reynold
The next second or so she never
recalled. She only knew that at