Evening star., 1941-05-25

outfit would have been just as silly
as this getup, wouldn't it?"
oh" she laughed. I've been al
miring how you've changed into the
bold sea-raider all at once. The
boards becoming. And the clothes,
well, that's rather a hobby with
father. At home, he likes to affect
a sort of Moorish atmosphere But
I get tired of it now and then. Do
you like my dress? 1t came from
Paris"
Beautiful You look like very
young grand duchess. That's why
I feel such a luigi"
She was pleased at that. Thank
you, Burgess" He had forgotten
how soft she could make his name
A servant brought them their first
course, and she was silent for
awhile. He asked about her father.
lie eats his dinner alone" she
said.
The meal was perfect, and when
it was finished, they went into
a long, open room he had never
seen before. She turned on a mod
ern American phonograph in the
corner and danced with him to the
soft Spanish melodies it played. She
was quietly charming him with
almost hypnotic skill and he found
himself pulling her close as they
danced, enjoying the smoothness OF
her forehead against her cheek.
Mana brought them pair of
cool drinks and Carlita led him out
to the low wall that edged the ter
race 1t was warm Spanish night.
brilliantly starred; the air clear and
edged with the smell of the sea.
Matt felt a heady sense OF we'll
being and all the sarcastic and
clever questions he had meant to
ask became things to put off until
tomorrow. This is a beautiful
house, Carlita," he said approvingly.
She leaned toward him And
you're not sorry you came, are you,
Burgess? You have been happy?"
Yes, guess So
My father likes you," she said.
"He likes honest men. You know,
Burgess, was not telling all the
truth when I said my father was a
very poor merchant I" ="
Her eyes were wide with self
reproach. Matt felt very forgiving
toward her. II kind of guessed
that"
He has many ships ano much
gold and he is very powerful. In
many ways" She looked down
modestly Il didn't tell you that be-
cause 1 didn't think you would be-
lieve 1t until you saw it. But he
likes you very much, Burgess"
She was very sweet tonight. For
moment he forgot the other things
about her She was looking at him
and her lips were very close. He
bent over suddenly tense and took
her in his arms There was sting
ing satisfaction in crushing her
eager mouth; in feeling the gray
cloth rough and warm under his
! fingers
She let him kiss her once, then
pulled herself away and ran into
the house without a word. The
automatic record changer went or
playing. Matt walked in and shut
it off. He went back to the railing
and finished his drink He sat there
a long time in the soft Spanish
moonlight.
The next day they went driving
along the sea and the few times
Matt succeeded in bringing up the
matter of her father and his Owr
problem she chided him for forget
ting that this was a holiday. Thai
night they had coffee under tht
palm trees in the little courtyard
When she got up TO put the cup,
on the table she walked arounc
in back of him as he sat on a bench
and kissed him lightly on the fore.
head. He took her by the wrist.
and pulled her down beside him.
Look, baby" he said, I'm getting
tired of this run-around stuff. J
want to know right now why vol
shanghaied me and brought me
here. Oh, don't look so innocently
surprised. You know as we'll as dc
that the whole thing was arranged
She looked at him sadly. Bur.
CESS, you're hurting my wrists
When he held them more lightly
! she said, You're so sweet when