Show ik j By I I MARTHA 5 ci Po L LI L ue L V V r-le r ii o PJ J JJ J 0 S O C MARTHA SERVICE it l i CHAPTER VI Continued VI-Continued Continued 10 10 10 Why had she and Bruce come together together together to to- gether again And why had some mischievous alchemy transmuted them from their own independent selves into two beings each incomplete incomplete incomplete without the other That was what she felt now she thought wanly wan wan- ly ly incompleteness That was what she would always feel whenever she thought of Bruce Landor But that would never do dol She must put that one brief unforgettable hour behind her forever that hour she had spent alone with Bruce in the cabin Florian had been talking idly and she made a gallant effort now to listen to him him- She owed him that at least since he was to serve a peculiar purpose now in her struggle struggle struggle gle to forget her love for Bruce Youve made a great hit with the family Autumn he told her Which is all to the merry what What she bantered He frowned at her Are you never going to be serious with me he asked gruffly With an earnestness that surprised even herself she laid her hand on his arm Do you want me to pretend pretend pretend pre pre- tend that Im I'm serious she asked him Id rather have that than nothing nothing nothing noth noth- ing he replied You are more easily satisfied than I J am darling she said lightly He stooped and tossed a stone into the middle of the pool The water rippled outward like a sunburst Is there someone else he asked after a long silence She looked directly at him Lets not be so solemn Florian she pleaded I hear you say something once about contempt about contempt for life You did he said laconically and I meant meant just just that I He seized her suddenly and kissed her then held her close while he smiled down into her eyes She looked at him with cool re re- re- re for a moment then drew away from him and turned to toward toward toward to- to ward the house I think we had better go back she said quietly He followed her and in a moment moment mo mo- moment ment she began humming a little tune Some day he said taking her arm as he came beside her not treat a kiss from me so light you cold little devil i Perhaps she said with a short laugh But in the meantime darling darling darling dar dar- ling lets let's play together if you have nothing else to do Its It's so much more fun CHAPTER VII Bruce Landor drew his car up beside beside beside be be- side a score of others that were parked on the graveled roadway at atthe atthe atthe the rear of the Parr house and stood for a moment listening to the sounds of revelry that issued from that great lighted mansion on the bluff He smiled to himself wondering how Autumn would be getting along with Florians Florian's delightful pack of hoodlums Florian would undoubtedly undoubtedly undoubtedly edly be in fine fettle himself Bruce thought after his teams team's victory in Kelowna that afternoon Bruce was sorry he had missed the game but buthe buthe buthe he had heard about it on his way through town It was of Autumn herself however er as someone entirely apart from the others that he was thinking with witha heart-beat heart he mounted mount mount- a quickened as ed the steps of the Parr portico hat hatin hatin hatin in hand the cool night wind blowing blowing blowing blow blow- ing gently across his hair A half dozen dim figures were hidden among the shadows on the porch as he stepped to the door where he stood for a moment and listened to the babble of voices from within Oh Bruce Oh Bruce a n voice called from froma a corner of the porch Linda came gliding swiftly toward him out of the shadows and slipped a hand within his arm Hello Lin he greeted her Are you passing me up on purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose she reproached him He looked down at her and smiled enigmatically Not likely I didn't see you Hows How's the little girl girlfriend girlfriend girlfriend friend he asked patting the hand that lay on his arm Youre looking looking look look- ing mg lovely as ever She shrugged her shoulders Im topping Bored to death though though- until this minute Ive I've been watching watching watch watch- ing mg for you all evening Come on in m. The crowd is down clown in the billiard bil bil- bil liard hard room playing roulette Who is here he asked as they entered the house I I The same old disgusting crowd she told him him- Everybody trying to work up the usual Saturday night jagA jag A servant took Bruce's hat and topcoat and Linda slipped her h hind hand nd again into the crook of his elbow and drew it close to her It was sweet of you to come she said you been Fine thanks he replied and realized at once that his voice sounded sound sound- ed a bit hurried He straightened his tie with an anticipatory excitement excite excite- excitement ment he had not felt since he was a D boy Somehow quite unreasonably he knew he had hod expected Autumn to be the first to greet him on his arrival Lets have a 0 drink together Linda suggested Ive been waiting waiting wait wait- ing for you to share hare my first one of oftie tie le evening He smiled at Linda in assent and together they went to the butlers butler's pantry which was used by the family family family fam fam- ily as a bar Bruce paused on the threshold and looked over the small group of young people who were inthe in inthe inthe the pantry Hello Landor r called one of Florians Florian's friends and three or four others set up a chorus of greet greet- ings Well if it isn't the big wool and mutton man all the way from Cherry Cher Cher- ry Creek Hello everybody B Bruce r u c e grinned Step up Landor and get close to the source of supply another invited invited invited in in- and Linda drew him beside her and waited while two glasses were filled A red-faced red youth and a corn col ored blonde girl were perched side sideby sideby sideby by side on the bar swaying to and fro fro and and singing a hilarious and not quite proper song that was a legacy legacy legacy leg leg- acy from the war to all such gath gath- Lets get out of here Linda said as soon as they had received their glasses She drew him away and started for the porch Dont you think wed we'd better join the crowd in the billiard room he ventured And lose you for the rest of the evening she retorted Not much Im I'm going to hang on till Im I'm help help- less Are you go going ng to put up with us for the night Impossible Im I'm afraid he re re- re- re plied Mother is much better and andI I have a good nurse for her anyway anyway anyway any any- way but Ive I've got to be on the job Linda shrugged impatiently as they stepped out upon the shadowy porch The uThe gods are a stingy crew she said They sat together on the porch swing and sipped their drinks Bruce did his utmost to contain his impatience impatience impatience im im- im- im patience and contribute a civil share of conversation but in spite of himself himself himself him him- self he found his eyes roving anxiously anxiously anxiously toward the lighted hallway He paid no heed to the two or three couples who were near them on the porch or to their confused talk and laughter Linda moved close to him and pressed her shoulder under his arm Her naive boldness was familiar to him now and he was scarcely aware of her nearness in his own pation Anyhow it was sweet of you to come all the way down so that I could have an hour with you she murmured Im sorry I didn't get down for forthe forthe forthe the game Bruce returned in a mat mat- ter fact tone I uI hear Florian gave a good account of himself He played the game of his l life e Linda said I think it was because because because be be- cause Autumn laid a bet on him against Timothy Poor Florian has taken an awful tumble for Autumn Bruce smiled to himself Serious Serious Se IISe rious he asked I I The most serious thing in his young life Hes He's potty Florian has been potty before Bruce observed I UI believe its it's the real thing this time though When the Parrs fall they fall hard darling She paused but Bruce did not offer afTer a reply I UI think she likes him too too- They hit it off ofT together beautifully ully Ill never believe Florian is inlove in inlove inlove love until I see it with my own eyes he said He harbored a warm feeling almost of pity for Florian as he thought of him see it tonight then Linda Linda Linda Lin Lin- da assured him though you wont won't believe it even then Youre You're blind my dear quite blind I I think I know the signs he de de- Soft dance music began drifting out to them now from the radio in inthe inthe inthe the drawing room and presently the couples seated about the portico disappeared disappeared disappeared dis dis- dis- dis appeared within doors Linda and Bruce were left alone She turned her face impulsively up to him and he was shaken out of his abstraction by the imploring look in her eyes You dont don't know the signs she whispered or you couldn't be so cruel to me Cruel he asked Cruel Cruel because because you are so kind she said and her voice seemed to him to be almost a stifled sob Bruce flushed Good Lord Lin he protested You cant can't blame me for being kind to you Im I'm awfully fond of you girl I Fond fond fond- she said wistfully it damned it-damned damned fond I He laughed awkwardly and stood up lifting her to her feet Yes I Iam am damned nm-damned damned fond of you Lin Come on lets on-let's lets let's go in and pick up Florian Id rather have another drink she told him 0 Nothing more for me Bruce answered answered answered an an- as he took her arm and started into the house In the doorway to the billiard room Bruce stood for a n moment and looked eagerly over the crowd In the middle of the room a roulette wheel had been set out upon the billiard table and Timothy Parr was acting as croupier for the evening The crowd about the table was closely closely close close- ly knit their eyes intent upon the little ivory ball Above the hum of voices could be heard the snapping of chips and the staccato clink of 0 0 r the ball as it struck the fins A thin blue cloud of smoke filled the room Autumn in a diaphanous silver dress was perched on the edge of the table with Florian standing beside beside be be- side her In a moment she lifted her eyes and looked at Bruce He waved to her but her response was wasa a fleeting smile that was bland and expressionless Then she withdrew her eyes and turned tg watch the game as Timothy set the ball spinning spinning spinning spin spin- ning once more Bruce was suddenly possessed of an impulse to lay hold of her and carry her bodily out of the room But at that moment Linda placed herself directly before him and began began began be be- gan to tug at his lapels Snap out of it Bruce Landor she said wrong with you He looked distractedly down at the subtle smile of Lindas Linda's crimson lips Nothings wrong Lin he replied re re- plied Lets go into the other room and dance she invited How about taking a crack at the wheel now that were we're here he said equably Dance later With a little moue of disappointment disappoint disappoint- ment which he chose to ignore Linda Linda Linda Lin Lin- da pressed forward to the side of the table and looked on while Bruce bought a pile of chips and waited Q nos w n I t tIm t I e Im topping Bored to death though until though until this minute for the next flip of the ivory ball When Timothy reached for the spindles spindles spindles spin spin- again Bruce placed three chips r L 3 1 i 1 on squares and ana offered a handful 10 to Linda Im not lucky she demurred He turned again to the table and waited for the ball to drop into the slot While he waited he noticed a short plump man who had had too much to drink pushing his way to the edge of the table beside Autumn He could not help seeing that Autumns Autumn's Autumns Autumn's Autumns Autumn's Au Au- hands were clenched on the I table edge Florian stepped between her and ond the boisterous guest and the game went on Autumn stood on a gilt chair beside beside beside be be- side the crowded table and tossed chips on thirteen and black She knew that she swayed occasionally Florian standing below her supported supported supported sup sup- ported her with an arm about her slender hips Now and then she ran her fingers through his hair and Florian turned his face up to hers with an intense and meaningful look She lost again on thirteen and black and as her laughter pealed out she looked up to see Bruce Landor Landor Landor Lan Lan- dor standing beside the table his arms folded his eyes toward the broad French windows that stood open on the other side of the room Within her a dull voice repeated over and over again I III must not see him him I I must not see him He turned his head slowly toward her now his mouth drawn up in a quizzical quizzical quizzical quiz quiz- smile so that the deep furrow appeared in his cheek That furrow in his lean brown cheek which must have been a dimple when he was a achild child she child she had kissed his cheek check just there in an infinite tenderness only two nights ago She felt a terrible vertigo all through her being a sudden sudden sudden sud sud- den collapse of all her defenses The feeling lasted for only a moment however When he looked at her again she was able to smile with witha a hard vivid carelessness And then the short plump man lurched toward her lost his balance and fell heavily against the chair on which she was standing clutching Florian in a desperate attempt to right himself It seemed that before before before be be- fore she had reached the floor Bruce was there had bad caught her up and was carrying her out of the confusion confusion confusion con con- fusion through the open French doors and into the sunken garden She beat against his breast and sobbed frantically for release When he put her down at last behind a hedge of honeysuckle he was breathing heavily She backed away from him as though to turn and run but he snatched her hand and pulled her back roughly to him placing her against the hedge so that she was forced to face him What sort of game arc are you playing playing playing play play- ing Autumn he demanded The silver sheath of her dress seemed to quiver in the starlight But she stood erect before him her head flung back her eyes blazing into his Im playing no game she panted Let me go back He eyed her coldly Either you are playing a game tonight tonight tonight-or or you were playing one night before last he told her Her lips quivered over her clenched teeth You can judge for yourself she replied He stepped toward her and seized her wrist Do uDo you you mean mean that he asked She released her wrist with a violent violent violent vio vio- lent jerk Dont touch me me-don't me don't dont touch me mel she cried and shrank from him Her voice was a shrill whimper not loud not the voice of one utterly beyond control An incomprehensible ble pang smote Bruce a pang of pity of complete bewilderment Autumn he said behind behind behind be be- hind all this I have a right to know Right Her laughter was al almost almost almost al- al most a sob She crossed her arms over the shimmering bodice of her gown and her hands clutched spasmodically spasmodically spasmodically spas spas- at her smooth quailing shoulders Beneath her arms he could see the vehement rise and fall of her breast Her russet hair fell back from her forehead and her eyes were so dilated as they I flared into his face that she had the look of a person blind He drew back from her You are not yourself Autumn I he said calmly I was not myself the other night if that's what you mean she re re- re- re plied You see me tonight as I really am as am-as as I intend to be from now on Ask your mother what I Iam am she am-she she knows what's in the blood She made to pass him and he stepped slowly aside As you will will he said quietly He stood in the darkness and watched her as she walked toward the house When she had gone |