Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-25

beginning. paused Il tnnk III > Only ldlI
to warn you that it won't do any good to lie
any more because | know the truth"
That shook her--T-couid tell from the
way her hands clcnchcd together into fists.
What" she said very softly do you
know the truth about? ?"
About you" l said And Norma and
Libby Brompton. About what you did to
Jimmie Salter"
She had no defense prepared against that
attack absolutely none little shiver ran
through her whole body. Her hand, like a
creamy lunar moth in the darkness, huttered
TO her throat
You . you 49,.
1T wasn't hard to put the pieces together
once ! got them You were engaged o.
Jimmie and then You broke the engagement
just before he died. You broke the engage
mcnt because you suddenly discovered he was
a heel who made up TO every redhead he saw.
You discovered II because he'd been fool
enough 10 make "A pass at Libby Eromptou
and Libby had told Norma and Norma told
you That's what happened, isn't 1t
She seemed in daze now as If my words
had hurled her headlong into an abyss of
memories which entirely engulfed the present
moment. II wasn't very pleasant for me, but
l had to go through with II.
you and Norma and Libby" / said
That's the prologue taxi accident outside
the Night Court in New York a taxi acct
dent with dead-drunk passenger and
dead-drlnk driver O.. that's the end OF the
first act isn't II
Slowly, very slowly she moved SO that She
was staring straight at me. ! could just soe
her eyes and the haunted misery In them
Then YOU DO know she whispered. rs
strange Or Wcstlakc hut in a way it's almost
a relief 10 have someone know at last In
pulsvelv she turned away. IT'S cold here
Let's 20 indoors.
Avoiding tho living-room where IN" others
were she took me into a small stHdy-llk"
room whose walls We're lined with books \
cheerful fire blazing She sat down ~
front Of IT, holding her hands ont 20 tho
flames the fur coat loose around h"i
shoulders Her eyes stared unsccjngly IN her
dead white face and when she spoke 1t was as
If she were speaking 20 herself
Il used to Try to pretend that II never
happened. that II was just a terrible night
mare 1t almost worked Until Norma died
Now-its real again so real that its the only
thing in my life Ike CHASTITY fox rnawing a.
me" She gave a little sob "Lihtys dead
Norma's dead And I'm allYe when I'm Tho
one who should be dead because it was all
my fault All my fault
I DIDN'T say anything. I just stood There
! behind her unob'rusiyc!y l could tell she
felt no more antagouism To- mc. In fact
hardly existed for her. | was just something
impersonal and yet sympathetic ON which o.
unload part of her dreadful lonely burden
.you kro,y the beginning she sand J.
loved Jimmie Ia loved htm ever since
could rc,,,.r-h,r Thought ne VAS tho most
,l,,,o,,,,,s ,,.rso, IN Tho world on knew
tb.t ~, No. sor,c,,r,cs. cot drunk At PARTIES
and ,bircs PM = never seemed sinister
An tba bows used 10 take drinks And !
knew he was attractive. Of course lid All
my girl friends We're crazy about HIM Bat
that only made me KIND OF proud
She paused There was something pitlfW
about her small sllppered toe thrust out
toward the fire
II rover dreamed any more than his
father d,j that he was uo-eood that be-
really drank that ho he'd been CARRYING
on with other women You see he was SO
clever and careful He always picked people