The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-02-05
CHAPTER THREE

WITHOUT even glancing toward
Rusty Carnes, Paige swung past
him and swiftly headed for the
street exit. But the man was di-
rectly back of her.
What's the matter with you ?"
he demanded, still using the Of
fensively clear voice. No longer
was 1t muddled, thick and impene-
trable as the San Francisco fog.
Leave me alone" the girl said
In tense whisper. She was shrink
ing as much from the too brazen
voice as from the man himself.
Il certainly will not" He pinned
her against a window of one Of the
lobby shops, blocking her escape
with an arm on each side Of her.
Doggedly Paige kept her gaze
from his. She stared down into the
shop at painting propped low in
the glass window. Peaches, grapes,
pears, apples, all piled against a
sliced, bright red, black-seeded wa
termelon. The irrelevance of the
old-fashioned painting, in that town
of frighteningly modern trends,
fascinated Paige. And saved her
from having to look at her strange
red-haired companion.
Were you by any chance trying
to make a fool of me?"
The mans question brought the
color up into Paige's unrouged
cheeks. Il was trying to keep from
making a fool of myself" she re-
piled.
But you were walking out On
me-" Disappointment was notice
able in the tone of his voice. And in
his face when Paige turned to look
at him.
YES"
But why? Why. after you've
come this far?"
Because I can't go through with
it"
And who Is making an anti
quated statement now?" From
their planted positions on the shop
window Restwick Carnes' hands
dropped to Paiges fur-clad shoul-
ders. He shook her harshly. Don't
lose your spunk. Don't be a piker
We've both been Tilted. Now we're
going to make them pay for 1t.
We're going to make them suffer
as much as We"
The girls gray eyes filled with
golden flakes and then with the
brightness of tears. "Of. please"
she recommended.
The red-haired man took her
hand and gave 1t a rough, persua-
sive yank. Come on" His manner
was disguised and impatient as he
led her out into the crisp sunshine.
Where are you taking me?"
'To the City Hall to get the Il
cense, of course"
mo" She made an abrupt stop.
"I won't go. I don't have to. You
can take care of it. Go on. My name
is Paige Shelton. I'm % years old.
I like caramel nut sundaes and
wear size IL dress" She made a
move toward the left. "I'll wait for
you"
"Oh, no you DON'T" The mans
fingers frightened about her arm.
you're going to stick right with
me"
Surely you don't think I'm go
ing to run away?"
He pointed out, You were when
I caught you"
But I'm promising not to now
That makes a difference" Again
she made a slight move. "I'll be
waiting for you there on the bridge
when you come back"
And she was. Leaning upon her
elbows on the railing. watching the
agitated Truckee river. How many
wedding rings do you suppose are
down there ?" she asked when he
leaned on the railing beside her.
1T probably depends on the
rings. / doubt II many babes, no
matter how disillusioned, toss their
rings over as easily as their hus-
bands. Not II the rings are set with
diamonds or emeralds or such
They probably use a double from
the 10-cent store for that big dra-
matte scene. That reminds me"
He poked into a vest pocket and
pulled out a wide platinum circle,
filled with baguette diamonds; a
buckle OF rubies gave an effect Of
holding the ring together. Il hope