The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-18
T.. .. H!::!A!!YEGg|Y[0 Keep
:"-:s"~'- ". H%JAAz ABBOTT

Lle wars! linen his tone altered.
There's a lot l can't say on the
telephone, you knoW!"
The baby. She answered quick
ly: Consider 1t all said, Rufus,
and let it 60 at that"
She hung up the receiver. Sac
More Moore Moore MMoooreMo
covered her face, felt 1t burning
against The palms of her hands.
No. no, Sre would not risk seeing
him, meeting his straight glance,
feeling it strip her
She began IL dress, to meet
Jimmie Mason Not too long be
fore your mirror, Diane
But two Gays later, coming back
to the apartment, rushing in, for
she must change in a hurry into
a dinner dress, a new, clamorous
dress of yellow fishnet, end get
back to the Hunt Club tor the
cocktail hour, tearing at the but
tons of her riding blouse as she
went through the door, sae found
rufus in the living room.
He was getting up from the
wll'ged-back chair; tall, lanky, his
hair a little on end, his clothes
slightly Wrlnkled, he looked as he
always had. His face wore the
smile OF friendly greeting 1t in
variably had for her.
But Diane had only the sensa-
ton of a trap closing down on her;
every instinct rose to fight it.
"Rufus!" Her voice was airy,
very cool.
Il came, you see, without your
permission!"
She barely touched his hand.
Too bad, for l must send You
straight off! I've only a few min
tues to battle and dress before
someone comes for me-
The smile left Rufus lips. He
can wait, whoever he is, if you
are not ready"
mo, no." cried Diane. For Ru-
fus had put his hands on her
shoulders and was turning her to-
ward the window, his eyes, keen
and troubled, searching her face.
What is all this, DIP" He ask
ed it sternly.
All what? It's a formal, to-
night, at the Hunt Club, and l
can't go in these riding things
He released his hold of her,
abruptly. And you must go?"
"Oh, yes! It's very special!'
She had herself under control
again. Sadie Poole will tell you
all about it,"
When she saw him flush with
anger she suspected that Sadie
Poole already had. She laughed
lightly. "Don't be too-odd. Ru-
fus!"
He said slowly: "When l went
away, l left you straight shooting
for something you cared a great
deal for. I'd have staked every
thing on your winning through.
thought ycu had the honesty and
the courage"
Diane put in quickly: But if l
found l didn't care?"
She did not meet his lcok, she
could not and maintain any show
of cool composure. But in the little
silence which followed sae felt
his eyes boring through her.
.Di, we had a sort of unwritten
pact, you and l, to neip each
other"
She threw out her hands impa-
tiently. managed a sound OF de-
d%reciation. Rufus, weren't we fun
ny. the serious way we took ev-
erything? It isn't polite Of you to
remind me of it! And now. really.
you must go! Nice to see you
again and all that and good
luck"
But Rufus was swinging on his
heel, without waiting for her to
finish, out of the living room,
slamming the outer door behind
him. Diane sank down on the dav-
EXPORT, drained of strength, numb
to any feeling.
Carrie came from the kitchen.
Il took your dress out of the box,
Mis- Arden, like you told me to,
and it's hanging in your closet.
N Mr.. Arden telephoned he'd be
going to some meeting. N what
do you want done with that pack
age the gentleman left?"
DANES glance went to a bulky
package on the floor beside the
chair in which Rufus had been
waiting.
"Oh, put it on a shelf some
where. Carrie" She sprang, then,
to ner feet. DRAW a hot bath for
me, will you? Now I've only a
minute to change!"
Following Diane, the woman
said: IF you'll excuse my for
wardness, Mis- Arden, I'd like to
tell you you look 'sif you needed
to 20 straight to bed!"
DANES laugh rippled back to
her. Carrie! When l feel on top
of the world! l said it-that I'd
found 1 didn't care!"
Ito Be Continued)