The Wilmington morning star., 1947-03-19
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Copyright TX BY mdoyA ~SN Z
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and they made their way upstairs
quietly. Lex was yawning as they
whispered good night in the hall
way. But she lay awake for al
long time. thinking.
Val Kent dressed as though
driven by demons. Finally she
surveyed herself in the long
mirror on h er closet door and
found the result satisfactory. The
pale gilt of her hair was brushed
into a soft chignon low on her
white neck. Her hat was little
more than a dramatic swirl o
cocque feathers against one
cheek. Her plain black dress, in
f~initely smart with its brief
sleeves and peplum, was equally
right for cocktails now and dinner
with Wade later. Hose almost in
visibly sheer, very high heeled
pumps. This was the way Wade
liked her-it was a Val Rick
Colby had never known. Perhaps
that was why she was so fond of
Wade, SO intrigued with him. She
dressed a part for her dates with
him. she made herself clever and
amusing, somewhat shocking,
~submerging the personality Rick
had loved in someone altogether
different, someone very gay, very
outrageous, a little mad.
With Wade she escaped from
herself, which was what she
wanted to do.
Val didn't bother to phone
Susan Pyle. There would be a
crowd swarming in Susan's apart
m e t downstairs. shrieking with
laughter, talking like mad, drink
ing and smoking and making love.
Val caught up long suede gloves,
her great squashy purse with the
heavy gold clasp that matched
her bracelets, h platinum fox
jacket. She escaped from the
emptiness of the apartment that
seemed to reach out after her
like clutching hands. rang for an
elevator in the outer hall. A few
minutes later Susan's m | a t t o
maid was admitting her and the
sound of voices and laughter
came out 10 meet her in a tide
of welcome.
Hello, d%arlings," Val called.
seeing a half dozen familiar faces
as she stood in the doorway.
Room for one more?"
There was always room for one
more at Susan's The gay ROSY
group absorbed Val. Susan Pyle,
SO perfectly groomed, as always,
that dark smartness passed
for beauty, was wearing a garnet
velvet housegown and exotic gold
bracelets. Her blue-black hair,
straight and shining. crowned her
head in q thick braid. Standing
within the ardent circle of a
masculine arm, she lifted a
languid hand at Val in greeting,
said in her odd, hoarse voice,
Hello, pet you look divine. Get
her a drink, someone" and con
sidered her duties as hostess &C.
complished, too. She and Susan
understood e a C h other too we'll,
were too good friends, to stand
on formallty. S e took the tall
glass someone proffered her, sat
on a divan between two amiable
cronies and proceeded to forget,
in trivial talk and laughter, her
filters Of a little while before. A
drink had been what she needed
and people around, always
people
Beyond the windows, hidden by
Venetian blinds a n d heavy gold
toned d%raperies, t. e dusk deep
ened from gray to black and pale
winter stars came out. But with
in the warmth and light were
constant, although the crowd
shifted a good deal. People left
and others, equally convivial.
arrived to take their places. Val
took time out to phone Wade Car.
rington's apartment a n d suggest
he call for her at Susan's place
Instead Of her own. At a few
minutes before seven he arrived.
And Val set aside her drink and
smiled, her heart quickening with
excitement a n d p a S e, as
Wade's dark glance swept the
crowded, smoky oom in obvious
and eager search of her.
Wade Darlington was forty, OF
average height and compactly
built, with a look of muscular
power in his broad shoulders and
tapering hips. He was possessed
of a strong physical magnetism,
compounded of vital good health
and high spirits, that was very
attractive. particularly to women.
He was dark of complexion, dark
ewes and hair, with a tiny brush
of gray at the temples that only
increased his mature good looks.
He had enough assurance to gel
away with al1nOSt dily Souiae VI
conduct, however outrageous a
great deal of inherited money and
very little moral sense. He had
been married three tunes n
three times divorced and all his
wives were very beautiful women.
Beauty drew him like a magnet.
And he had told Val, more times
Than she could remember curing
the three months since they had
met, that she was the MAST
beautiful girl he had ever kno"n
ana that he was mad about her.
When their glances met. Wade
smiled. too. and came quickly TO-
ward Val. He spoke to Susan to
several others, without let
ting himself be delayed or de-
lHected from his course. Reaching
"'.Ff -