Evening star., 1941-10-07

their play, Strasson called her on
the phone.
"How is the English rose today?"
he purred.
I'm all right" she replied with
emphasis.
Mr.. Harrington tells me I might
be in luck with you tonight. Per-
haps you will have dinner with me
and see a revue?"
"Why, yes" Felicity answered,
Stimulating pleasure and hating her
self. Yes. I'd like that"
Good. Ill call for you at in
my car. Don't dress. 1t will all be
very informal"
Felicity Is Rebuffed.
Felicity hung up the receiver in
the library and stood beside the
ornate table thinking She couldn't
see the way ahead. Take each day
as it comes. she remembered from
her childhood. 1t was her grand
mothers most frequent admonitlon,
"Oh, Mrs. Fowler" she said at
luncheon. Mr.. Strasson has in
vited me out for dinner and the
theater tonight
The housekeeper immobile face
did not relax, but her voice was
kinder. SOP
will YOU look after the children?
Hilary especially. He hasn't been
sleeping so we'll
I'll look after them. This after
noon, you'd better rest. You LOOK
worn out. The evening will be no
Measure if you're dead tired
Felicitys eyes widened and she
looked gratefully at the woman
whose voice was so kind though nef
fare was so forbidding. For a MN
ute their eyes met, the girls plue
and wide with surprise; the "ofh-
ans. dark and fathomless.
Mrs. Fowler" Felicity was moVec
To sav. "can you tell me anythlne
about Mrs. harrington? I'm so Wor'
RED" 80,
The voice that replied was as chill
and hard as her eyes. L can't say
about that"
Fehcitv's eyes fell. Forgive me,
she mumbled. Il forgot you're very
loyal"
"That's the very word, miss
You'll find us all-loyal."
In spite of her anxiety, Felicity
slent that afternoon and aWokt
with a sensation of lightness ant
authorization. She bathed ane
dressed carefully. She wore oeei
blue wool dress. soft and full across
the bodice, gracefully tapering from
the waist. She pulled a matchlnE
hat over her corn-colored hair, ano
throwing a coat over her arm, wen
In search of the children.
A Shot in the Dark.
She found them with Mrs. FoWlel
chattering over supper. They LOOKED
happv and flushed, and Felicity
coming upon them quietly, caugh
Mrs. Fowler smiling gayly at thel
nonsense.
Elaine was the first to see Fehclt,
and she called to her shrilly, Or
Miss Felicity, don't you look nice!
The set look crept over Mrs. FoW
ler's face as she muttered. TOO nice.
Now I'm going out to have a
good a time as you're having, Sn
said. but when StraSSon was an
nounCed to her a few minutes later
the eavety with which she klsSe'
the children goodnight was forcec
Sitting opposite him in the softly
lighted restaurant where they at
dinner, apprehension darted through
Felicity once more. 1t was a 81
look in Erics closely-set eyes Whel
he asked about Mrs. Harrington.
she is unwell, I hear?' Felicit
detected a guarded curiosity, as
Strasson, too. found Shirley Tar
ringtons disappearance of interest.
Felicity found herself answerin
with equal caution. Shes in
nursing home
Strasson laughed. Such an Eng
lish expression! Sanitarium we sa
here"
You're not so American as a
that, yourself she accused hir
lauehingly.
mo, call me a cosmopolitan
your passport doesn't say that
I'll have to look and see.
BE sure to look at them ALL n
sooner had she said that than Eel
city regretted It.
It was shot in the dark but
spite of Strasson's controlled e>