Show I i u I Ar P f Frances S Shelley he 11 e tj We Wees e 1 y 6 C CHAPTER VIM VIII VIII-Continued Continued 9 9 And reason It was a ward awkward Tubby said evenly was because fhe ElJe wasn't Just one of or the gang and you jou oU knew perfectly well that she ghe expected to marry you In the end Didn't you 1 I J didn't ask her to Dont quibble I J ne never er told her I was In love wIth I wasn't In lo love e with herIve herI herIve her I Ive I've e never kissed PIlar In my life Ilfe lIe He looked down at the note Its a n very kind hInd note under the circumstances cir dr he said She might perfectly well have written It to me I dont don't see why she That Tha t note Tubby said sald deliberately Is about as Innocent andr and r- r kind as a stick sUck of ot d dynamite with a fuse burning Oh dont don't be a fool Tubby What's Whal's got Into you anyway You used to like her You said she was wasa a good sport and a lot of other things s. s You and she were great grent pals Tubby agreed So we were So we were But why That's what I found Cound out when you pulled puller your sour little stunt She didn't care two pins about me The only reason reason rea son SOD she ever er spread herself about me inc was because she thought It might make It easier for her to get you See And that night when I went to tell her that you were married mar mar- ned ried I caught her off orr her guard Never Neer again I 1 wouldn't g go near her with n a suit of boilerplate on Bryn folded folde the note and put It back on the table And now Tubby said watching him she knows where you ar are arc And what of It Nothing Nothing at nil all Go Goon Goon Goon on mooning old Bryn took out his case and lit nI a n aSay I cI Say Bryn ryn Tubby said at last did you hea hear r what Madeline said to me tonight t What did she say Well nothing much Tubby answered an embarrassed It was the tile way she said It You know Madeline's Madeline's Madeline's Made Made- lines line's a darn nice girl I never ne really thought about It before before before be be- fore sort of f took her for granted y you u know But she's a peach Bryn got up leisurely y and went to the door lie rio opened It Bryn moved across the hall hail and tapped nt at Madeline's door Tubby sat up stiff with horror Madeline Bryn called through I the keyhole I Mum I h m 7 Madeline Tubby says he be likes you Oh Madeline said and obvIously obviously sat up In bed How much she Inquired after atter a n moment Bryn turned How Hilow much Tubby Bryn If It you arent aren't the damnedest damned damned- est fool JIt I How much Bryn said ably Tubby's dimple wavered In and out wildly I said Bald I thought she was a darn nice girl he lie muttered You crazy Idiot Madeline he sn says s 's he thinks you are a darn nice girl Well Madeline said with n a bounce of the springs that Isn't anything to get up and get dressed over Feeling better Bryn pulled Tubby's Tubby's Tub Tub- bys by's door shut with Ith a lust lost pleasant smile mlle and sauntered down the hall Deborah he be said softly without without without with with- out knocking She was awake Tier Her er voice came low Jow anti clear on the Instant Yes Tes Das nas anything happened 7 Nothing I Just wanted to say pleasant dreams dream and good night For or an Instant she lIe did not anSwer an an- Then night Good Bryn night Good darling he replied and went ent quickly across the room to his own door CHAPTER IX TIU PUB breakfast table was spread J- J Jon 1 on the small terrace at the side OT o or I the e house where Bryn and Deborah Debo rah rali had bad eaten their first breakfast together There were six places laid but Sally was still upstairs sleeping Bleeping as Simon explained like a dormouse and Bryn h had d not yet returned from tram his early errand to the farm down the road Deborah In freshly starched blue gingham wt sat erect on her chair behind the er coffee pot and poured out a n third cup for Tubby Beside her Madeline sat quiet gazing dreamily dream dream- ily lIy out through the trunks of the tall pines Well eli Simon sighed I wonder If It today will be the big day Oh Oll probably not Tubby said comfortably I give him until about Thursday a noon It doesn't make any difference When hen he comes conies does It r Madeline The sooner 1 K I comes I c the sooner It will be settled I 1 wish hed he'd come now and get It over o with As she spoke poke Bryn pushed open the dining room door and came out outto outto outto to the terrace He put a hand on Simons Simon's shoulder tweaked Tubby's hair let his e eyes es rest on Deborah's lowered e eyelashes and spoke to Madeline Who me iO Graham Hell come Bryn said cheerfully cheerful cheerful- ly Iy and pulled up his chair And theres there's one sure thing he wont won't get past Joe I left leet Joe on a box high up on the seat scat of a n wagon box where he can see the road coming up the mountain for Cor about two miles Hes He's got the wagon pulled under a shady tree and hes he's got gotan gotan gotan an old pair of spy spy glasses lasses and the I horn Bryn finIshed his breakfast and he lie and Tubby Tabby and Simon left the tile table They were going Tubby Informed Informed In In- ia- ia formed i the two girls to Inspect the dungeons s and see that the chains were In good or order er When they were gone Madeline put out her hand and patted Deborah's Deborah's Debo Debo- rah's lI Deborah id after n a a- a moment moment iw would ll i you u ud d do something for me Of Ot course Its about Tubby I dont don't know what hat to think She looked up With any other man In the world Id I'd Just exercise my feminine charm and wait walt But that Isn't safe with Tubby Tubby Isn't exactly shy but he doesn't have any Idea Ide that hes he's so attractive that an anybody body might want to to marry him Its It's one thing I like about him his bis absolute lute lack Inck of conceit Deborah considered Tubby wouldn't marr marry Just nn anybody body she said I I dont don't mean Just anybody But ButI I can think of half a n dozen girls In our our- own crowd crowll who could make quite a dent In him Deborah It If they set about doln doing It And nd of course theres there's one In p particular Pilar Pu a r she like Deborah asked curiously I never knew new any girls but you and Sally and I understand you ou two pretty well Isn't she like us this Pilar Not In a hundred years Inno inno- cence Not In a thousand years She's one of these hot headed stamping beauties Pilar has those huge flashing black eyes and smooth black hair she slicks It back and pins a red rose In it you know and she makes her mouth very red and doesn't use rouge rouse on her cheeks And she's tall taU talland talland and graceful and buys wonderful clothes the kind other people cant can't get by with Is she very beautiful Madeline Very Almost as ns beautiful as you honey only quite quite different dif dlf dif dif- ferent Have she and Tubby known each other long Years and years Then surely you needn't worry Madeline He would have e married her long ago If it hed he'd been going to wouldn't he be Madeline no hesi hesitated ta ted No she said finally Something new has Just occurred In Pilar's life lite She wouldn't ha have e married him until now A cold linger touched Deborah's heart but the touch was uns so light that It was gone Jone In an Instant and she had hind forgotten It What can cnn I do Madeline Madeline her raze craze hack back u from the distant eastern horizon Tubby likes me she said I know he likes me We get along beautifully together It If I were sure he be didn't love lilar Id I'd Just simply set about making him love me But could I 1 find out about Pilar Is that what you want me to do I thou thought ht you OU might ask Bryn ryn Bryn knows kno Bryn knows everything everything every every- thing thins about Tubby justas Just as Tubby knows everything e about Bryn And ADd then you could tell teU me Deb Deborah rah looked up Do you yon really love lo him Madeline she asked Madeline smiled a slow smile Her fler eyes were tender Yes honey Really Well Veli then Deborah said with witha a sigh Ill see what I can cnn do Madeline It was only an hour or two later Inter when wilen she saw her chance Tubby was sitting alone on a stump down by the brook whittling Industriously Industrious Industrious- Iy ly at nt a willow stick trying to make himself a n whistle Deborah went down the path and perched herself on a mossy log In front of him Do you like It up here Tubby I 1 think Its It's great Im I'm crazy about it 11 It Dont you miss all the excitement excite ment meat In the city and all the rest of your friends Not a twinge Q of missing do I get c i I All AU the things you do sound very ery exciting I mean menn all of you of oC course Madeline nn antI and Sally have Vt been telling me a little about places and people Yesterday the they told me about I 1 think she sounds fascinating Tubby looked up Pilar he said Incredulously She sounds marvelous So tall talland talland and beautiful Even h her r name Is lovely lonely Isn't It PIlar Illar Do you mean to say those women wom worn en told you about PIlar Yes Why not I was awfully Interested Well he lie said with a heavy henvy sigh women are the funniest things In captivity I 1 should think that lint would have been the last name they would have mentioned And If It somehow you had heard about Pilar I 1 should have thought shed she'd be the last person person per per- son you'd you'll be happy about I 1 never ne would have dared open my mouth month about her but then who am I Just Justa a mere man I dont don't see why you feel that way Deborah said but her er smile began now to feel a little stiff and queer There Isn't any reason why I shouldn't want to hear about PIlar PI PI- lar Is there or wouldn't like her Tubby was silent for a moment I Then I suppose not he said slow ly Not under the circumstances After nil all eYer everything went spang right by the board for you didn't It And you know It So why should you worry about Pilar or anybody else 1 Deborah tore a little piece of green velvet moss off the log and spread It on the back of her hand So Tubby lubby didn't know v either Tub Tub- by ay thou thought ht that Bryn ryn had fallen Inlo inlove In Inlove lo love e with her In Mr Holworthy's office Tubby didn't know v everything everything every every- thing about Bryn after aCter all Suddenly Suddenly Sud Sud- denly Deborah thought she under understood understood stood why Bryn had told all aU these I J I 4 Hor Her Eyes Were Black and nd Sleepy Like a Cats people the same story the story about falling In love with her It was to save saye his own self respect He didn't want any of them that he had Just found a new and InterestIng way to earn money Oh that hat wasn't fair That wasn't like Bryn ryn And last night From the sound of she said at last I couldn't blame anybody anybody anybody any any- body for thinking she was wonder wonder- ful I suppose she sho does sound all aU allrIght allright right Tubby said dubiously But she's no good Deborah Im I'm warn warn- lag Ins ng you In case she sho ever comes near you But what's been handed to her Is hard to take and It Isn't agreeing with her very well Did hear henr you somebody calling Deborah said suddenly It sounded sound sound- ed like Grandmother E Excuse cuse me Tubby and she got up and ran swiftly up the path to the house Grandmother was not calling But Deborah knew she couldn't bear to stay with Tubby another second Her heart felt as If It was breaking She went up the stairs to her own room and shut the door behind her The girl be he loved lo she would be 36 Pilar Beautiful Pilar with her black alack eyes eJes and her black hair and her red mouth They nil aU thought Bryn had given her up forgotten her for Deb Deborah That was what they had bad to think They couf couldn't possibly understand when they didn't know the truth when they ther didn't know why Bryn n had married And his tenderness toward her Ills IUs hand over o hers sitting there In Inthe Inthe Inthe the twilight What was that then Deborah got up and went Into her bedroom She stood before her mirror mirror mir mir- I and lifted her eyes to the girl girlIn girlIn girlin In the glass The faded gingham dress the braided hair she looked like some forlorn little orphan orphan or phan youngster who who- needed someone someone some some- one to love her nr Bryn n was kind Tic fl was sorry for Cor or her The feeling I he had for her was pity She pressed her lips together firmly to stop their trembling She went Into her bathroom and bathed her eyes In cold water And Just at that moment she heard the sound of Joes Joe's horn far fardown fardown fardown down the mountain Three long Ions blasts and two short ones a 8 pause three long Ions notes and two short ones Deborah's heart sprang up Into he her throat She tore open her door and raced down the stairs to Grandmother and Madeline Madeline Made Made- line out on the veranda At the lie foot Coot of at the stairs she caught the sound of at Madeline's voice olce going gaIn steadily on with itS Shadows hallows on the Rock flock Deborah stopped nt lit the sound of that calm vr f t und and r steadied herself Then chin up she walked out Oft serenely and smiled at Grandmother She dropped down on the step and sat there waiting A low humming sound made itself itself It Itself it- it self felt on the air It rose to a whine the shining top of a motor car appeared sliding aion along outside the wall It slowed abruptly abrupt abrupt- ly 11 and swung In toward the gates Gary started down the drive It looks hooks as J If we had guests Grandmother said Interrupting Madeline I wonder who It can be ber Its probably another plumber Madeline said lan languidly Gary had bad reached the gates He opened them and passed through But then after oCter a moments moment's colloquy with the driver of at the car whom Deborah could not see he came back to the tine gates again agath and swung them wide and the long hong blue car Jolted a n little and came on through Deborah put a slow V hand band to her I throat thront But It was not Stuart Graham driving It was a woman a n girl In a bright red silk beret and a n red Jacket Gary plodded alon along behind the car after he hail had shut the gates and locked ed them The car came slowly up the drive and stopped opposite the end of the veranda The girl got out and Deborah knew her She was talland talland tall talland and very ery slim with a long oval o face tace and a very red mouth Her eyes I were black and anel sleepy like a cats eats with slow black lashes drooping over them Deborah rose and found Madeline at nt her side They went down the steps Its Pilar Madeline Madeine said under her breath and Deborah nodded Ah Madeline I Pilar said In a n voice that made a tune She moved mo forward and let her hand rest lightly on Madeline's elbow holdIng hold hold- Ing lag her as she looked down at Deb Deb- orah And this she went on caressingly ca en- this will be he little Deb Deb- orah My child you are adorable Thank you Deborah said sweetly sweet sweet- ly and put out her hand in wel wel- come I nm am so glad you have come I am sure you must be Pilar I I. I h have ve heard beard so much about you Pilar looked a n little startled but ut she lost not a n whit of her poise She looked at Madeline And arent arent aren't you glad to see me too Madeline Oh rather Madeline said coolly coolly coolly cool cool- ly and turned back toward the ve ye- randa We must take e you ou to Grandmother Grandmother Grand Grand- mother Deborah explained as Pl lars lar's eyes lifted to the delicate old fa face e turned toward her Lovely Pilar said In an audio audi ble bhe whisper Oh lovely ely Grandmother Deborah murmured mur this Is Miss lIss DA DAvillo villo She Is another friend of ot Sall Sallys Sally's s and Ma dehines Im so happy to welcome you my dear Grandmother said warm warmly I Oh Ob thank you murmured anti and held Grandmothers Grandmother's hand quit unnecessarily long She |