The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-11-26
CHAPTER vi

It was half past five when Richard
Taussig got out of the Army car in
front of the Escambron Beach Club.
He went through the cool lobby and
turned left past the bar and out onto
the boardwalk above the smooth
saucer curve of the beach. 1t was
pleasantly crowded and gay with
laughing people sitting in white
chairs under the long fringe of palm
trees, with tall frosted glasses In
front of them. A few people were
swimming in the protected surf, and
children were building forts and cas-
ties in the clean white sand.
Mr.. Taussig walked along under
the palms until he came to a curve
where the boardwalk followed the
beach. A girl in white satin bath
ing suit and a red cap was coming
up the sand toward a man sitting
alone, reading, at the end OF the
terrace. Two young men lying on
the beach watching her with inter-
est turned their heads the other
way as she joined her father.
''Perhaps Gongaro is smart to
keep an eagle eye on her." Mr..
Taussig thought, advancing, toward
them. They tacitly assumed she'd
marry young Valera, apparently. If
he had Graciela around, he wouldn't
be wasting his time on the Haywood
girl himself, he thought, if he were
Miguel, but apparently the cold
northern lights were attractive if
you were born under the Southern
Cross. And there was no accounting
for tastes, anywhere in the world.
Mr.. Taussig had been around long
enough to know that. He smiled at
Graciela and shook hands with Di-
ego Gongaro.
s'Have you seen your picture?"
Don Diego held out the paper,
smiling broadly.
Mr.. Taussig looked at it and nod
ded. Omitted States papers please
copy" he said. He tore the photo
graph out and put it in his pocket.
''How is Miguel getting along with
the American girl?" he inquired cas-
ually, lighting the cigar Diego Con-
CARO- held out to him across the ia
BILE.
"She's extraordinarily beautiful,
of course" Mr.. Taussig said placid
ly. "And very rich. Or her father
is, and she's the, only child. She'd
ho av1a11ovf watch -
Graciela moved suddenly, catlike.
tsIf you don't care what kind of
girl you marry" she said. There
was an unmistakable malice in her
voice. Mr.. Taussig smiled secretly.
He could see her sharpening one
of woman's oldest weapons.
'She's one of Americas best fam
lilies, and very nice girl, ! under
stand" he said.
eff nice girls 60 in other peoples
rooms in hotels when they
aren't there, then I'm sure she must
be very NICE" Graciela said calmly.
Mr.. Taussig almost started, in
spite of the rigid control that was
one of his chief characteristics. He
blew long ribbon of fragrant smoke
between his soft lips.
'sWhose room? And how do you
known" he asked easily.
3. "Yours," Graciela said. II know
because I went up to my cousin
Luisa's room to borrow some pow
der, and saw her come out of her
room and 60 to yours"
"-Mr. Porter is waiting, Miss
Haywood"
''Thank you." Anne put down the
phone. Through the open transom
she heard Mr.. Taussig's bell ring
almost at once. That meant that
Russell Porter was picking them up
together. She went quickly over to
the dressing table and looked at
herself in the mirror. Her face was
too pale. She shouldn't have worn
a white dress-a red one would have
been better. But it was too late
now. She knew Mr.. Taussig was
waiting until he heard her door
open. Her hands were cold, her
Knees were shaking little.
They drew up in the drive in front
Of brightly lighted house perched
up on stills in tropical jungle of
flowers and trees. Concrete steps
led up to a wide veranda that ran
around three sides of it. Anne
thought she'd never seen anything
more charming. 1t was gay with
brightly Powered chintz and bam-
boo furniture as cool and airy as it
was comfortable.
sOh, Sue, this is lovely!" Anne
cried.
Sue Porter came eagerly forward.
She kissed Anne on the cheek and
held out her hand to Mr.. Taussig.
.'This is Terry, Anne"
She introduced a slightly pudgy
young man in a crumpled white
dinner coat, his black tie slightly
asI<ew. He scrambled to his feet.
Then his eyes popped with pleasure.
ssBy Jove, Sue--you didn't tell me
abe was Knockout" he exclaimed.