The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-02-13
WAIT FOR ME-

r., KATHERINE MACY

until Peter shows ID. Il might Be
TIL Doomsday. Of course. or. as
she said nothing, YOU can turn
things over to me. can serape Up
enough money for your carfsre and
your hotel bill III be glad to.
I'm pay you hack" said Jan
stiffls.
Don't worry. Tomorrow's pay
isy.
They drew IN their feet As a
parade Of youngsters on bicycles
raced BY them. Jan relaxed and
told him. I'm really grateful 10
you. Mr.. Gardner -. steve. And
I'm sorry can't tell you anything
more about about why I came
10 New York"
You might II didn't work
for newspaper and II you
weren't afraid ! couldn't resist
the temptation to print II -
Maybe. You see, I'm not the
only one involved.
still protecting the Van Niet
honor" he said dryly. You have
A pretty romantic notion about the
family. haven't YOU Did it ever
occur to you that the breath Of
scandal has touched them before,
yet they're still doing business at
the same old stand >"
Jan rose, stepping over
game of marbles. II don't
want to fight with you again,
Steve"
Back at the hotel. Steve said.
Il suppose you want 10 90 right
back. You get packed up while
20 to the office and get the money.
I'll find out about your train, too"
Thinking. but not telling him.
that she had nothing to pack, she
was reminded of something Wait.
I've just remembered. I have
some things Peter bought for me.
l can't take them back to Holly
mount
What sort of things? >"
Clothes" she said In a low
voice. II haven't worn most of
them. Can they be sent back"
Steve whistled and thrust his
hands into his pockets. Look. Do
you know where he got them Did
he pay cash? Then, as long as
they were charged. tell the man at
the desk here to have the shop pick
them up. Tell him to say Mr.. Van
Vliet didn't want them after all.
You'll have to keep the ones you've
worn. of course"
Il never want to see them
again"
"Oh, be practical. You can't
leave them for the chamber
maid"
Jan went back to the rooms
alone, and did as Steve told her.
She packed the green suit, the
white evening dress. and the jade
wrap and a few other things in
one of the new bags. When she
met Steve in the lobby, she asked.
Mind if I pay the bill here? He
must not see that Mr.. and Mrs.
Peter Van Vliet' on the register.
Steve handed her some bills
and she said formally, Thank
You very much"
They talked little in the taxi on
the way to the station. Her
thoughts were flying ahead to
Steve followed her into the train
and stood above her in the aisle.
She thanked him again gravely. He
gripped her hand with one quick.
sure pressure, grinned at her and
said. IN be seeing you. III he
around if you need me again. Just
send out an SOS" and was
gone.
His departure, oddly enough.
left definite emptiness in her
heart. His blunt practically,
though II Infatuated her, was
bracing.
She wondered if she would ever
see him again. and thought, with
some bitterness. that she wished
she could wipe out the whole mem
DRY of this day.
Near Philadelphia 1t began to
rain steadily. She ate dinner beside
a window streaming with water.
In Washington, she waited dearly
for the local train 10 Leesburg.
There she would have to find a car.
Steve had thought of that, and had
given her enough money.
At the Leesburg station she
found a taxi driver who was will
ing TO take her out. II was still
raining and she was cold. anxious
TO get home
The drive was unpleasant. over
the country roads. and several
times the driver skidded into the
grass Once he had TO get out and
use rocks from the side Of the road
to make traction for his tires in
the clay Hope III get back once
we get there" he told her gloom
lily
Jan. rsttling YEARLY in the
back seat. agreed with him.
but she was past caring.
She and her bag were left on
the doorstep Of Dover House at
last, under the dripping caves.
There were lights in the windows.
Was Rob .?
The door opened without her
key. and the first thing that met
her eyes was a yellow envelope on
the table in the hall.