Show OILA TANGLED WIVES by peggy shane copyright by peggy shane CHAPTER I 1 I 1 the world was black then red circles circle poured in they were swallowed by purple rings fines she was wag lost vast hallways opened she was going into si strange world she was riding she was going somewhere you ton fainted dearest wit its been too ranch much for or you she was burning hot she was full foil of something like fear but it was worse than fear it named flamed and crackled up as if she stood to in the midst of a fire she gasped as it if smoke choked her poor darling she kept her eyes closed she felt a motion of something under her carrying her open your eyes dear but she did not she dt did d not want to see the person who spoke to her she knew she was in a vehicle of some kind going somewhere cautiously she clutched at the seat beneath her running her fingers over cool leather she half opened her eyes A tar leab she was riding in a tarl tax cab leab she shivered and closed her eyes again youre all right sweet it was a danli mans voice she hated it it she turned her head away from its presence beneath lifted lids she saw the streets of new york A large firm hand closed over hers im afraid its been a shock she kept her head averted poor sweet 1 I dont dont talk darling she turned and looked at the man beside her dark earnest eyes plumbed hers anxiously his tanned face was flushed brow was damp you dont what sweet ills his thin mouth was twitching she stared at it blankly you dont what 1 I dont know she pave gave a long sigh and closed her eyes waves swept over her she was losing something thin or was it already lost tier her familiar belf was fleeing she opened her eyes she straightened her hat feeling better she searched his face every curve was strange who was he ile de spoke as if he knew her well yet she could not cot remember him all right now who was he nis smile was terrifying she could not remember him itow had she got there where had she been before who was he who was anybody she did not even remember her own name she sat straight and tense her eyes wide open and frig frightened likened lit ened the loss of her identity did not matter it if only she could get away from this horrible man his ells fingers fin gers were on hers again her eyes took him in furtively ile he was young yes young well dressed and in a way good looking you need something to drink no no im all right im going to get you a bromide ill take nothing ile he set his jaw there was wai a drug store in the next nest block she thought I 1 must get away from him she thought it so strongly there was no room for her to wonder even about the loss of memory tie he was rapping on the glass window of the cab feel better as soon boon as youve swallowed something soothing please dont bother the driver turned a roughly shaved face toward them stop at that drug store ahead she shook her head 1 I wont take anything the cab was slowing down dowil yes you will ills his smile was wan and anxious ill get them to mix something to make you feel better its the h 1 of a jam no wonder you tainted fainted she did not ask what the jam was she was filled with dread put her eyes were determined she would take nothing from him the cab was stopped the driver leaned toward them cant get right up in front from of the place this will do the young mans hand was already on the latch come on but no you better wait here ill bring it out to you he was forcing a smile lie he was suffering she saw that but she did not pity him ile he went down the street turned into the drug store As she saw the last of him through the swinging doors athe he was f flooded with relief she sat paralyzed lie ile was gone she leaned forward steadying herself against the glass behind the driver drive on she sald said drive arlve on the man turned his head slowly looked at her stupidly drive on she repeated go on his heavy jaw dropped you want re ine to drive on yes oo go on he bent to his gears where to straight ahead she relaxed trembling with a screeching of the gears the car crawled into truffle le she watched the door of the drug store with terror they nosed it safely ne he might come out tt at any moment he might run after the cab waving and shouting turn at the next corner turn left Ns ho lert left turn miss then turn right only turn and then go on and ill tell you when to stop her fear was receding she was weak with relief and a curious sense of triumph the cab had turned she drew a long breath brent li the air was soft and the avenue was full of brightly painted now new cars she was feeling better A clock in the street told her that it was wag halt half past four tier own watch verified the hour through gb the park bliss yes where was waa she going where was her home perhaps in a few minutes tt it would all come back to her she composed herself sat tensely in the cab trying to be calm trying to be rational trying to remember who was her mother who was her father look here she whispered you must know somebody even it if youre nn an orphan just think of some one person that you know anybody at all will do picture facet thus commanded across her vi vision sion floated the picture of the taxi tail driver then the face of the man she had left in the drug store emerged clearly in her minds eye and that was all she began straining her eyes at every one to in the streets surely someone or something would give her a clue as to who she was where site she ought to go she seemed to know new york she thought with a feeling of gratitude she could go to a hotel at least around the park again the cabman questioned N no L 0 take me to the biltmore she spoke with decision she did not know why she said the biltmore tut but she was glad that her win seemed to be returning but what she would do after she got to the hotel she could not say it dawned on her then that the young man she had left in the drug store was her single link with her past she drew her fox neckpiece closely about her chin where had she got the fur tier her clothes were very new she racked her brains in order to think where she had put them on she could not remember where she had dressed that morning 1 I wonder what my face Is like she thought suddenly perhaps rm im an old woman 1 with anxious fingers she opened her bag and found a little mirror her eyes young and frightened looked 4 rl wa U 4 if only she could get avay from this horrible man back at her there was not a wrinkle to be seen in the soft contours of her white face she was glad the was still young she felt old she could not tell much about her face though she spent some line lime in it it then she turned her attention ten tion to her hand bag she drew 0 out ut a handkerchief it was of sheer beer alte white linen with the initial D embroidered in one corner D she thought stands for dorothy or daisy I 1 wonder it if one of those names could be mine or delia or druscila Urus Dru llla it was bewildering to be able to think of so many names it was exasperating aspe rating she did not believe that any of those names belonged 0 i tier her she returned to the exploration of her bag and drew out a mack enameled compact this seemed to have her monogram on keln raised eold cold letters but so elaborate was waa the design that she could not puzzle out what the letters were the 0 1 was wa clear enough but whether the other oilier two letters were N and M or V and W she could not decide there was no card nothing else but a billfold bill IIII fold and a coin purse she S saw with relief that the bhe had plenty of money with tier her at least she thought 1 I 1 wont starve until I 1 find out who I 1 am and where im supposed to go on her hands bands were some chamois chamous skin gloves now she striped them off and looked down at her slin I 1 fingers on the third finger of her left hand was a platinum band set with tiny diamonds im married this was unreal it was unexpected as a blow between the eyes she stared at I 1 the he ring wonderingly and whispered to herself unbelievingly im mar married riedl the cab stopped with a jerk she looked up she was at the entrance to the biltmore the urd formed hotel doorman ilo orman was opening the door she took hold of her purse firmly and prepared to get out how touch much dollar sixty dont forget your bags tier her baesl she was waa startled the driver indicated the seat beside himself it was wag loaded down with very smart looking luggage do to 0 go off and leave these commented the doorman good natu no of course not nol she was waa confused by the sense of many people the sounds of cabs honking the cabman waiting for his money and the helpful attendant both bothered her because she wanted to look at her bags take them somewhere and examine them carefully surely when she rend read her own initials they would remind her of her name and her past she pulled out two bills and handed them to the driver As AB he let his car move into the traffic she turned and looked at the bags piled on the sidewalk before the hotel they bore two large prominent letters D V at last she had some definite clue that would lead her back to herself or the person site she had been A bellboy popped out of the quietly pretentious doorway dooray and seized them eagerly she tipped the doorman generously and followed the bellboy As she mounted the stairs she felt sure that she would remember everything in a moment tier her name was D V miss drusilla Drus llla vance or miss bliss dorothy vane say or or miss bliss deborah valentine it was absurd and annoying that just the right name didat come she drew on her glove half nervously and her finger struck against her wedding ring instantly all her bravery fled miss drusalla Drus Drust llla lia vancel miss bliss dorothy vanel why she was married she was mrs somebody mrs D V and then her imagination traveled straight back to the man she had left to in the drug store sweet he had called her and darling I 1 so that was her husband her husband was a man she feared and tinted hated she shivered no wonder I 1 lost my mind site she said to herself half cheer tully fully perhaps hes saved the mortgage on my dear old home and ive had to marry him out of gratitude and on account of my conscience ive been living with him so now some kind fate has made me lose my mem ory so I 1 wont have hare any conscience about leasing leading hino him then perhaps after all he be my husband the slow minor strains of the string orchestra came from the tea room something gripped her heart perhaps Ier hapa she was going to remember she knew the sons the words said to her in a ions on sinister drawl on oh give me something to rO remember member you by when you are far away from me she was as walking slowly it in rhythm to its tedious beat as she repeated the words but they brought no n further recollections strange that 1 11 song slin should tild remain when nothing pl lf k did she moed along obscurely but nath an inner de defiance flance she was not a phantom and the silly dream would have to end she showed that she was no phantom by leaving her husband some girls have been as darlng daring she hoped she meet him register asked the clerk the b bellboy e I 1 aboy carrying her luggage had led tier her to the desk she flushed what should she put down mrs drusilla llla vance but she could nL she hesitated not not yet yel she turned to the bellboy take care of my bags for a few moments bolents bo ments she said handing him a dollar ill be right hack back she had thought of the long mirror in the ladles ladies room surely one good look at her face and figure would bring back something important she walked rapidly now feeling mure more hopeful there something unconsciously ly directing her even if she had no positive recollections she coming here at the bidding 0 of f some hidden memory she te fervently hoped so TO BE CONTINUED |