Show T Telegram Legram Fiction Heartbreak Honeymoon 1 By Watkins Wright EWright E. E Beauty CHAPTER 20 May I come up for a few moments moments moments mo mo- ments Tommy asked when he brought the car to a standstill standstill standstill stand stand- still in front of Luella's house No Tommy said Luella Then suddenly Tommy Ive I've got an idea What about About you and Marie said L Luella ella Why dont don't you go away for a while Take that vacation youve you've been planning go go down to Florida to that cottage you told me about Are you by any chance tryIng trying try try- ing to get ri rid of me Luella Tommy asked half joking half serious No but maybe if iI If Marie suddenly realized that you'd gotten out of the picture ture so to so-to to speak she would begin to understand un- un understand understand un un- how much she really needs you you I see There might be something in it but I cant can't get getaway getaway getaway away now That's impossible Tommy grinned Besides I still remember how your other ideas ended you ended you know that proposal on shipboard in the moonlight Yes I know said Luella Well get away when you can I think its it's the thing to do Meanwhile have an honest out- out the open heart talk with Marie Tommy Maybe if we all try real hard we can get things straightened out out out-as as they should be She tried to smile I mean you back with Marie and Henry back with me me Ive tried to talk to Marie several times said Tommy But she's always busy I tried last night I I telephoned on on Friday beca because tse se I knew it was one night she was Vas usually free But she wasn't at home probably week-ending week with some of the radio No said Tommy Her maid maids s said id she had taken a plane for Chicago Chicago said Luella Yes said Tommy He gave Jave Luella a searching look week ending out there Is there anything wrong Luella Luella Fights Back Tears Luella shook her head No Tommy she lied Marie weekending weekending weekending week week- ending in Chicago Thank goodness Tommy didn't know Henry was out there also She managed a feeble smile Thanks Tommy for a grand time I think Ill I'll go straight to bed The salt air makes you sleepy as well as hungry Well have a lot of grand times together Tommy said if 91 you only give the word Good night Tommy Good night Luella Luella dear dear dearest est Tommy said very softly Luella turned away fighting back tears fighting the ache in her heart and hurried inside Out in Chicago Henry Pell was facing Marie Mason in a secluded corner of a hotel mezzanine Its ts t's fun being here together like this isn't it said Marie Exciting sort Exciting sort of devil of-of-devil- of devil devil- ish Yes Marie said Henry but I you I-you you see see see- see 5 Is anything troubling you Henry Marie asked eyeing him closely No only only You Yo mean mean youre you're sorry I flew out here to see you No its it's not that exactly Its It's only that I hope no one sees us together They might not- not well understand well understand And suspect the worst said Marie Think the worst and tell Luella She shrugged Listen Henry darling were we're strictly modern you and I and you mustn't feel guilty as though wed we'd been ca caught down home together After all were we're grown up and andOh andOh and and- Oh Im I'm modern enough said Henry I haVen't any old- old fashioned ideas about people being scared stiff of the thou nots flats What does bother me though is having Luella find out and take it into her head to to-to-do to to do s something ex ex- ex- ex Nonsense laughed Marie not an extremist extremist- anything else but that Besides BesIdes Besides Be Be- sides I did fly out here on busi busi- ness That's true isn't it Yes Marie I know And it was yas swell of you to do it especially when you have to be back in New York Monday for your broad broadcast ast But But oh oh the devil Are you sure Alma Latham's about to land that job with Rector and Everett I certainly am said Marie Good heavens Henry you dont don't think Id I'd fly all the way to Chicago on a mere surmise or suspicion do yo you Malcolm Rectors Rector's in love with Alma Alma as as Ive I've told you before before and and hes he's strong for giving her the job He likes for women to justify their existence and Alma knows this So she's leaving no stone unturned She's even playing up to Mr Everett Marie Went Quickly to Chic Chicago go goShe She leaned toward Henry her eyes big and nd shining The moment I felt that your chances were slipping unless you were on the spot I called up your office And when they told me you'd gone gon for a week I simply went panicky I jumped a plane and came out I couldn't write all I wanted to say and yet I felt you should know exactly how things stood Henry laid his hand over one of Maries You were sweet to todo todo todo do that he said I appreciate it but but but- There are no buts Henry Marie interrupted Youve gotto got gotto gotto to get back to New York and sell yourself to Rector and Everett Im interested in that radio job Marie really I am Henry said but I cant can't possibly get back to New York before next Wednesday I have no earthly excuse for leaving here before the week is up Besides theres there's plenty here for me to do do But you will be back Wednesday W wont won't you said Marie You must promise me Henry It means so much to me more more than I can say Ill do my I couldn't bear having you not get that job Marie went wenton on There are so many things we can do together and as you said yourself radio is the coming coming coming com com- ing thing Then theres there's television tele tele- vision Henry smiled And what a lovely thing you'll be in television television television tele tele- vision he said Then more seriously Maybe I could handle handle handle han han- dle the radio as a sort of avo avo- cation You know hold on to the job I have now and write songs as a sideline You couldn't possibly do that said Marie Wed never be able to get things done You'd be pulled this way and that if not by the realty job then by Luella Oh yes Luella said Henry quietly He stiffened Say that that looked like a man I know knowin in New York For Petes Pete's sake Henry stop being so jittery said Marie One would think you'd eloped with me that me-that that you'd run off with a woman who'd brok broken n up your your- happy home just it said Henry Luella may get just such an idea She She She-she-m She might she might even name you as Marie laughed Luella naming naming naming nam nam- ing a she said Dont ont be absurd Henry If anyone ever names a ent it will have to be you Luella Luella Luella Lu Lu- ella will certainly never never do it Im not so sure said Henry Sometimes those who seem to tobe tobe tobe be the meekest or the most long suffering are the very ones who raise the dickens when they're good and mad He lit lita a blew a smoke ring With this new new job hanging in inthe inthe inthe the fire and me just trying to get somewhere in radio I couldn't afford to risk a scandal Nor could you Marie Henry Avoids Direct Answer Im not afraid said Marie I know Luella better than you do Yes I wonder about that Marie Shell slip quietly away and weep Marie went on but she will never have the courage to sue you or name me or anyone else Now lets let's forget Luella and go back to business That suits me all right said Henry I dont don't relish the idea of Luella slipping off somewhere somewhere somewhere some some- where to weep You still love her I married her didn't I Henry fenced Anyway I hate to think of her being hurt Cautious man Marie teased Come on lets let's forget business also for the time being and go dancing She got up I hear some marvelous music coming from the grill Henry took her arm They went down the stairs to the main floor A few moments later they were moving as one over the shining space in the grill room that was reserved for dancers Marie flew back to New York the next afternoon Henry stood on the edge of the air field and watched the plane that was takI taking taking tak- tak I ing her away He He- closed his eyes a moment felt a great wave of worry and uncertainty en engulfing engulfing engulfing en- en gulfing him He fought it off with effort and went to find acab a acab acab cab that would take him back to the city There he hoped he would be able to stretch out upon his bed and do some clear and constructive thinking Luella s silently weeping Marie Marie going places And Henry Pell Well what about Henry Pell Work piled up On Monday there were endless details to be attended to Tuesday there were more Wednesday there were complications Getting back to New York on Wednesday was out of the question He couldn't make it on Thursday either It was Friday before Henry could manage it Now at last he was wason wason wason on his way home The train would be pulling into Grand Central station in a short time He thought about Luella He hoped she wouldn't feel too bad about his not having written to her Now the station Now a taxi- taxi cab Now getting out in ir front of the house paying the driver Up two flights down a hall And then the apartment living room neat arid and tidy arid tidy as usual and very very quiet Luella Im I'm back he cal called ed No answer E To be c continued |