Evening star., 1942-02-09

Of grayed greens and stormy blues,
50 that 1t came down in sheets, as
sloshed against the sides of the ca
Maybe we'd better turn back
sister. TITS going to be tough going
once we hit those country roads.
And, anyway, I haven't liked the
idea from the first"
Mas face was a blur OF white
ness in the gloom Of the car.
Don't be absurd, Lee" she said,
folding her little gloved hands with
an air of decision. "Cf course we're
going on. It's time this ridiculous
family feud was ended"
Lee snorted.
There's something peculiar about
Uncle Jarvis making a gesture OF
reconciliation after all these years"
he said. IT'S not in character, some
how"
We'll. it is strange" Mia admitted
reasonably, /" but even so, be-
lieve in meeting such gesture half
way. After all, this is the 2oth cen
tury and family feuds are bit out
Of date"
Just the same, 1t would have
been more reasonable If the thing
had been fixed up when father and
mother were alive" Lee frowned
at the landscape before him.
Through the pie-shaped wedge on
the glass that was being monoto-
nously cleaned by the windshield
wiper, he looked out on a dripping
world. Certainly it was not a very
auspicious beginning for journey
that he had opposed from the first.
Lee Is Suspicious.
Look, Lee" Mia said, Its not
20 unreasonable after all. Suppose
you were in Uncle Jarvis place and
found yourself at so with a lot OF
money and practically nothing else
in the world-no friends, no social
life, and having no fun at all. Don't
you suppose you'd do what he DID?
We'll. what did he do?" asked
Lee, irritably. HE wrote frosty
letter saying that he had decided
to forget the past and would Ike
to become better acquainted with
us, so would we please come up to
his lodge at Torrington, where he
has a nice surprise for us. A sur
prise!" Lee shifted angrily. He
sounds like an old spider weaving
a web of intrigue. How do we know
what we're walking into?"
"I think I know" said Mia de-
murely.
well, what is it," Lee asked in
cisively. /
Jarvis is married" Mia said
quietly. "He probably wants us to
meet the bride"
She leaned forward a little to
watch the effect of the news on her
brother.
"Married?" Lee asked quickly. |
"But that's impossible. don't know
much about the old boy, but I've al
ways heard that he was confirmed
misogynist. Look here" he said
tersely, why didn't you tell me
this before?"
Because I was afraid you'd can
eel the trip If you knew" Mia an
swered. There was a little -ipple OF
was more enigmatic than ever.
You're darn right, would" Lee
said furiously. ITO have to meet
Jarvis after all these years, end on
his own terms, is awkward enough.
But to have a new wife thrown in,
too-well, the situation is just about
impossible. Besides" he glanced
swiftly at Mia, "how did you flnd
out about it?"
A Surprise For Lee.
Mia continued to look demure.
"Just bit Of discreet feminine
sleuthing," she said in a voice that
was just shade too nonchalant.
We'll, for heavens sake, who Is
she?"
She" said Mia, pausing dra-
matically to create just the prprer
amount OF suspense before shsl con-
tinued, is Pauline Pry, the news
paper columnist."
Good heavens. not that awful
woman!" Lee groaned. wasn't she
sued for slander, In that sensational
Wickline case, just about year
ago?"
She was" admitted Mia, "but,
II you remember, she won the case.
IN my opinion. she's a very clever
woman. And a fortune hunter to
boot. Why' else should a woman
like that marry a rich old recluse
like Uncle Jarvis? Though OF course
he isn't much Of hermit any more
Not since DR.. Sherwood took him
in hand"