Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1941-04-18
CHAPTER II

the Count aboard the yacht of one
of his friends. She was ready at
in a crisp white frock from Paris;
her mahogany hair high on her head
and her only jewelry, the emerald
ring.
"You are very lovely tonight" the
Count told her when he arrived. But
he would have liked to see his little
American heiress, as he called her.
wearing some fine jewels. He did
not believe her when she said she
had none. "All Americans have jew
els" he said. So Sonny had let it
go at that.
There was a gay crowd aboard the
yacht. Titles were so thick that
Sonny giggled to herself. cts a
long way from that lunchroom on
M-25," she thought and smiled at
the sensation she would create if she
should make such a remark.
The women were chic and fashion
able. There was a British duchess
aboard, dripping diamonds. Sonny's
simple, perfect white frock, her dead
white skin made her stand out among
these beautifully tanned, continental
women in their sophisticated clothes.
She looked incredibly young to them.
The Duchess knew the HOLSTERS.
Lovely people. l was entertained
once at their home," she said across
the table to Sonny.
ut is a beautiful place." Sonny
managed.
It was plain from the Duchess s
conversation and her eager eyes she
knew something of Sonny's story. The
Count listened attentively. He was
not entirely sure about Sonny. He
wanted more information about her.
He knew she was a widow and had
been married to one of the Hollister
boys, but very little else.
LET me see. Your name was
Richardson. l don't think I met your
people when was over" the Duchess
persisted.
II hardly think so. I came from
the middle west, near Detroit"
81 was entertained in Detroit, too,"
said the Duchess brightly. "The Reau-
mes in Crosse Pointe."
81 did not come from socially
prominent family" the girl said crisp
ly. That, she thought, might be filed
under the department of under-state-
ment.
The man on the Duchess's right
claimed her attention then.
Dinner served on deck was long and
formal. A Hungarian politician sat
on Sonny's right, an Italian high
army official, on her left. She was
bored. She wondered how long it
would be before she and the Count
could leave. Not for hours, she sup
posed.
Later there was dancing on the
deck. The Count held Sonny tightly
as they danced, murmuring sweet
nothings into her ear.
The Duchess watched them with
interest. "The Conte seems enam-
CURED with the little American girl.
She's wealthy, but such scandal"
she murrnured to the Hungarian min
lister. "There's gossip she killed her
husband"
He screwed his monocle into his
eye: "That child?"
"Not such child. She's been in
the prints, great headlines. Some
friends of the HOLSTERS sent them to
me-" The Duchess lowered her voice:
81 feel sorry for the Conte's mother.
They're a marvellous family, you
know. 1 must speak to the Conte a.
bout it"
The Hungarian nodded: "But the
Conte could use the money, much
money"
The Duchess's reply to that was
quite American: Couldn't we all?"
When the Count brought Sonny
home that night, he wanted to stay
and talk to her, but she evaded. She
knew quite well what he had in mind
but she wanted to be rid of him, quicl
ly. There was something she had tt
do. She had made up her mind a
last.
When he had gone, she went to tn,
telephone. The sleepy night opera
tor was a long time getting her mes
sage. She sent off cable to Kirk
II want to come home. May II"
She hoped he would understand al
that she would have liked to includ
in that message,
Next day she waited, desperatel.
impatient for his reply. When Their
was no word by noon, she was fran