The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-12-08

found out I'm not nearly ao bod as I've been painted--l"
 q have no further business here. .n Diana said coldly, but his hand on her arm stayed her.
 "Waitl Why can't VIC be friends, DianaS I know wo got started off on the wrong foot. But I hap pen to- know that before many months you may have need of friendsl" His eyes swept inso- lently over her figure and she flushed hotly. 60 Ad0la had talked to him about the farce of her marriage. He had intimated before that, being the family law yer, he knew al about the ar- rangement, but Diana had never believed that stephen would take Richard Thorpe Into his confi- d0nce.
 "If I need friends, m probably be able to find theml And you won't he among theml" she re- torted.
 "Neither will stephen Curt, nor Phil Bruce, nor my angelic wife ~-- If they should ind out you visited me here tonightl"
 Her face was hot with shame, He was drawing her roughly Into his arms, His face was dark above hers.
 You've always naddened me- defled me you beautiful, desir- able icielel DO you think I'd bother with AdelA or Evalyn - or any of them = if I could have youp Now you've come here of your own free will. What c delight Go conquer you = possess you"
 1t was like c nightmare - or Q scene from some lurid melodrAma His lips drawing nearer = the al- most trance.like fascination that held her powerleSs, Then his lips, hot and demanding, pressing down upon her mouth with saV- age cruelty. She felt that she was slowly losing all breath, ell con- soiousnes, then @ great surglng wave of hate filled her being.
 A shaft of cold air pierced the room and Richard Thorpe re- leased her 80 abruptly that she almost fell. They turned to sec stephen Curt standing in the doorway, his face . white mask, his eyes hard, his mouth grim.
 DianA's breath caught, her heart turning over within her, and right then and there al hope vaniShed. No one - not even stephen Curt with his understanding ~ could he expected to forgive or forget the scene just witnessed.
 It was Richard Thorpe who re- covered and spoke first, "Well, Steve, I wasn't expecting you to. nightl"
 Stephens lip curled. Evidently
 II suppose lts useless to say I wasn't expecting Diana, eitherl"
 "oulteW stephen turned to Diana sharply. "You1l come with me at oneeI"
 Her voice sounded strange and for away. "Of course, stephen"
 He opened the door and she fol- lowed him out into the Snow, "YouW leave your car and ride back with me- hN said curtly, and without c word shO followed him.
 AS he put her into the car. he paused for Q moment boside her, his face aiming in the light of the dashboard which he had not waited to turn oil. A look of such hurt disappointment was on his features that Diana almost cried out.
 T didn't believe you'd be herei I trusted you that Inuchl" he said bitterly.
 Diana sat stunned. Who had told him shed be ct Richards ledger Who, but AdelaS It had Rll been c plot Co dlscredit her in Stephens eyesI Adela had not been able to stand tho sight of Stephens tender ness to Diana that afternoon. And in her biased mind she saw ste- phen's belief in DiAnA's apparent ilaison with Thorpe aS c cloak for her own nefarious actions, Now Stes phen would never believe anything Diana might tell him about her, Adela. And ESsie9 Part of the plot, too, of coursel Essie wouldn't hesi- tate to lie for Adela, evidently.
 And what could Diana do or say2 Nothing without exposing the intrigue that involved Adela and Richard and Evalyn Thorpe. And as AdelA had foreseen, no one would believe her nowl Besides, if she spoke now, the whole purpose of this mad nights trip would be destroyed,
 They drove silently through the night until they reached the por- tico of the house in Green street, Then. stephen said wearily, T must remind you again, Diana, that you are still my wife and that have a certain position to maintain. Also, you've made Q which you must live up to. And nothing must appear any different to the outside world = even after tonight. I demand itl Do you understand9"
 "Yes, stephen" she said softly, heart-hrokenly, and climbed out of the car and went into the big, quiet house.
 Wearily she climbed the stairs to her room, and in the upper hallway met 8 sleepy-eyed Adela.