Show 1 1 BEGIN HERE ien Margie Garver on her way for a vacation steps e C observation platform she IsI is isy ty y I excited shouts from a group o ot of n ri the Chicago station platform he e embrace of a strange young oung No No explanation is forthcoming ii h the gentleman apologizes to tole le and introduces himself as ts Killian an im electrical engineer ug g in Detroit her home town ramie mamie W Wyo o Mr Killian gets ith th Margie to mail mall a letter and andAre andare andare are left behind After Atter an ito fUto to trip they catch the train alo at al ata o a Utah much better acquainted le te e incident The diner is closed I ants invited Margie to his state state- for dinner He lIe tells her then his bride changed her mind the if the wedding and he decided to the wedding trip they had ud alone rather than stay slay In it and face his friends Former bess associates in Chicago had 1 II ahead about his wedding and bear to tell that he had jilted When Margie appeared Q g a corsage and a wedding ring ils lb pressed her into the role of I CHAPTER FIVE was 1 o'clock when the train trained cd ed d at Elko and Margie Garver sot lot ot been to sleep Tired as she was she could not relax sufficiently to forget the exciting events of that at the small smaIl Wyoming day The stop I town her dismay when she looked up to see the train puffing purling away without without with with- out them the mad ride which had ended with their triumphant clambering clam claim bering aboard and nd the hilarious dinner din ner ncr for two served in Dennis Killians Killian's drawing room Strangest of all the confession which explained so clearly his lack of personal interest his irritation and that hint of cynicism which did not match his alert attractive fea lea tures Hes worse than a husband Margic Margie Mar gie gic tho thought ht disconsolately Hes just justas as much married to her as if it the ceremony ceremony cere cere- mony had been performed She recalled that not once in th their lr conversation had he mentioned his hii fiancees fiancee's name Even in his rIghteous righteous right rIght- indignation he had been a gen sen tieman He had cried vehemently Shell never have another chance at me but had given Margie no clue to her identity She was just the girl who ho had jilted him WAGGING TONGUES Ho hum yawned the exhausted Margie No UNo doubt Ive I've met men just justas as fascinating but at the moment I 1 cant can't seem to remember any of ot them He said hed he'd see me tomorrow but after aUer that Ill I'll probably never see him again In spite of or the fact tact that it was after 2 before belore she slept Margie arose be be- fore ore 9 She was brushing her teeth In n the dressing room when another woman entered with a heavy bag which ape pared to contain nothing but jar after jar of ot cosmetics One after one she drew these out arranging arrange ing ng them In a row across the narrow shelf shel wrapped a towel about her deeply waved blond hair and proceeded pro to the most elaborate making up process Margie had ever seen Her face was old and tired with a weariness which could not be concealed con but she smiled with a would would- be youthful spirit as she said Good morning dear Youre You're up early earl I Isec Isec Isee sec see in spite of your our excitement yes- yes I didn't sleep very well con con- lessed Margie Youre lucky the other said archly patting the crowfeet about I her eyes ejes I OIl told some of ot them last night that I didn't blame you one bit An Interesting man on the train Is worth two husbands in San Fran cisco Margie blushed the deep scarlet of conscious shame Why had she told old that story Vera and she had concocted con con- It wasn't half halt so funny as asit asit ast it t had seemed the night they thought of it She hadn't cared what Bob Dyer thought and c considered it rather a joke to make him think she was married but he had evidently repeated it to some of or the other pas pas- How tongues must have wa wagged ged over the sudden friendship between the bride of or three months and the dark handsome man who was travel travel- ing ng alone II HAVE A VE YOUR FUN When Mrs l Peyton said you had dinner with him last night I said Well why not I 1 hate th these se prudish old women dont don't you dear I ale al- alewa wa ways s feel that the trouble with them themIs Is s they'd like to have a man or so soon soon soon on the string themselves Now you ou take some girls they just naturally appeal to the other sex Ive I've always been een a mans man's girl myself dear I haven't much use for the majority of worn women en Margie crammed powder and lipstick lipstick lip lip- stick into her bag fished out a clean handkerchIef and prepared for a hasty exit Dont you mind what the old hens henson on this train think dear the jaded one comforted You go right ahead and have your fun We Ve arent aren't young very long Some of us are evidently young forever Margie thought with a stab of pity for the poor tired old thing It had been disconcerting to learn that hat she was the subject b of critical conversation among the other gers jers Not very cheering to discover that hat this jaded woman with the dyed hair lair and the wrinkles had been the only one to come to her defense De- De tense lense ense from such a source was In it itself itself it it- self sel a condemnation Gossips Margie shrugged What do I care Let them talk For a bride of three months my interest in Dennis Killian would be rather hectic DOESN'T DENNIS CARE Mrs Peytons Peyton's morning salutation seemed more frigid than usual but buthe she he invited the girl to another game of bridge Margie refused PIa Play brIdge while Dennis Killian wanted to o talk with her herl Never The time was so brief bricf Margie wouldn't dream of wasting any of it She was utterly nonplussed to discover that Dennis intended to play Mrs Peyton had hIm lim in her clutches and Margie knew he ic would not be free for at least two hours Another man from their car was playing also Margie listened to their conversation and laughter lauchter whenever the he train stopped with an odd little stab tab at her heart Dennis had given her every reason to think he wished to o see her this morning yet his greeting greet greet- ing ng had been perfunctory He sat at the card table until almost noon and nd lunched later with the other man manas manas mans as s absorbed in cheerful masculine discussion as i if Margie Garver did not exist When the train reached Sacramento Margie was sitting in her own sec sec- Ion tion Were in California she was thinking Three more hours and well we'll be in Oakland She looked up to see Dennis stand stand- lag ing ng beside herMay herMay herMay her May I sit down Her manner was brightly formal to o match his She had supposed the confession of the night before would have lave made things a little different between them but evidently she had been mistaken Why did you tell me you were not married asked Dennis abruptly when everyone else on the train knows you are Curses upon Bob Dyer thought Margie Hargle and upon myself for telling that story Im not married she insisted I cant can't help what anyone thinks Not that it matters one way or the theother theother other he said unkindly only it isn't very pleasant to think Ive I've confided in n someone who has deliberately misled misled mis mise led me But I haven't misled you Margie said quietly What about the husband who is waiting for you in San Francisco She replied earnestly I haven't a husband anywhere The man who was on the train that first day asked me rue if I was married and I told him the story m my roommate and I ha hamade had 3 made up About my having a husband hus band in San Francisco I mean You see see Vera Vcra wanted me to wear her herring herring herring ring because she said so many more exciting things happened to a married mar mar- ried ned woman and I only had two weeks I wanted to have things hap hap- pen The corners of his mouth had hac twisted into a smile NO DOUBTING Well you haven't missed having at least a few things happen The ring seems to have served its purpose all right She was relieved He was accept accept- ing lag her explanation without a word of doubt I r suppose Mr Dyer told Mrs Peyton Pey ton continued Margie I dont don't care what any of the rest of ot them think but I dont don't want you to think Ive I've lied It was a crazy idea anyway Im I'm going to take the ring oC off jusas just jus justas as soon as I get to San Francisco How long will you OU be there Until 4 o'clock tomorrow Not very long but I have so little time and so many places I want to go Im I'm taking the boat to Los Angeles funny tunny So SOam am I II But I had planned to spend at least a week in San Francisco I His eyes darkened again as he remembered re reo re- re his reason for staying was to show his beloved city to the bride who hadn't cared to take the trip he had planned Silly fool thought Margie meaning meaning mean mean- ing nit the reluctant bride How thrilling it would be to have Dennis Killian take lake one to the places he remembered To see San FranCisco Francisco Fran Fran- Cisco from his eyes She hoped he would suggest taking her to luncheon or dinner in one of the colorful cafes so difficult for a tourist to find But although he hc inquired the name of her hotel he did not mention seeing her again They arrived in Oakland and took the ferry to San Francisco Margie stood in front of Dennis on the upper deck crossing the foggy bay with tears of or appreciation in her hel eyes as the mist swept skyline came into view Gulls circled mournfully about the slow moving boat It was like sailing in a dream to an enchanted city Oh its it's beautiful she cried But the man at her side was silent He seemed lost in a fog of depression so 50 thick he could not find his wa way It was not thus he had pictured his return They pushed into the slip rushed through the ferr ferry building and waited to recover their bags With the brusqueness In his voice he could not control Dennis bade Margie Marde farewell and saw her enter a awaiting awaiting awaiting waiting taxi Ill never see sec him again thought Margie desperately To be continued Copyright Register and Tribune Syndicate |