Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1944-03-10
CHAPTER VI

II was half past five when Richard
Taussig got out Of the Army ear in
front of the Eseambron 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 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 ar eagle eye on her." Mr..
Taussig thought. advancing. toward
them. They Geitly assumed she'd
marry young Valera, apparently. If
he had Graeiela 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 we're 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
Graeiela and shook hands with Di-
ego Gongaro.
Have you seen your picture?"
Don Diego held out the paper,
smiling broadly.
Mr.. Taussig looked at it and nod
ded. UNITED 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
be an excellent match :"
Graciela moved suddenly, catlike.
III you dom 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.
If nice girls go in other peoples
rooms in hotels when they
aren't there, then I'm sure she mus.
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.
"Whose room? And how do you
know" he asked easily
yours" Graciela said. u know
because | went up to my cousin
Luisas room to borrow some pow
der, and saw her come out of her
room and go 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
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 a brightly lighted house perched
up on stills in a 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 lowered chintz and bam-
boo furniture as cool and airy as it
was comfortable
"Oh, Sue, this is lovely" Anne
cried.
Sue Porter came eagerly forward.
She kissed Anne on the check and
held out her hand to Mr.. Taussig,
ITS so nice to have you here, "
she said. She turned back to Anne
and gave her arm a tight little
squeeze. Remember to be awful
ly nice, won't your" she whispered.
She looked about twelve, Anne
thought. She had scarlet hibiscus
tucked in her fuzzy, tatfy-colored
hair, and her blue eyes we're like
china sauccrs, Her white cotton
evening dress had a whole garden
OF scnrlnt chin1z hihiscns annlinlnc