Show I CHILD OF EVIL EVILO O OCTAVUS ROY COHEN HE OCTAVUS ROY COHEN g SERVICE J By y CHAPTER VIII VIII-Continued VIII Continued 9 Doc Doe Morrison had been startled rather than shocked by the revelation revelation revelation tion of Kay Forrest's photographic nudity He gave ear to gossip for forthe forthe forthe the sole purpose of chiding those who flayed the girl And it was Doc Morrison who sternly advised Miss the the angular owner of Beverly's Beverly's Beverly's Bev Bev- erlys erly's native beauty parlor that parlor that it behooved only those who were without without without with with- out sin to cast stones whereupon whereupon whereupon where where- upon Miss being unmistakably unmistakably unmistakably ably without sin indulged in an orgy of throwing stone-throwing and declared that she was wa doing it with Docs Doc's ap ap- ap- ap At the lavish home of Jonathan Guinn Mrs Guinn was entertaining the Literary Circle The good la ladies ladies ladies la- la dies had abandoned their fervid pursuit pursuit pursuit pur pur- suit of culture in favor of a discussion discussion discussion discus discus- sion of the previous nights night's affair Diana Guinn was an authoritative person and as the wife of the towns town's foremost industrialist a prominent one It was she who propounded propounded propounded pro pro- pounded the question I wonder what that awful Henkel woman is thinking and who then elicited applause applause applause ap ap- ap- ap by declaring the meeting adjourned adjourned adjourned ad ad- and stating that in spite of the lateness of the hour she was wasI wason wason on her way to the White Star Hotel I to get a wave finger-wave from Sonia Henkel Henkel Henkel Hen Hen- kel and at the same time to make makeI sure that the imported beautician I knew all about the on goings-on of Kirk Reynolds' Reynolds bride Diana moved through the gathering gathering gathering gather gather- ing dusk with firm positive strides She persuaded Miss Henkel to remain remain remain re re- re- re main open just a little while longer She delivered herself over to Sonia's deft ministrations and she commenced commenced commenced com com- to talk Her voice was sharp her ideas I definite and her choice of words ex ex- To be sure there be no misunderstanding misunderstanding misunderstanding mis mis- understanding she started at the be be- ginning She authenticated her statements statements statements state state- ments by saying that they must be betrue betrue betrue true because no less a person than Ruth Hamilton herself had spent that morning on the telephone explaining explaining explaining ex ex- to her friends that the whole Hamilton family knew what Kay had been doing that Miss Maynard was an artist not artist not merely a photographer I pher and pher-and and that she considered the gossip unwarranted I Through all of this recital Miss Henkel was silent save for an occasional occasional occasional occa occa- Yes or Is that so But inwardly the tall sleek brunette was smiling She was humming lightly as she left the beauty shop and approached Kirks Kirk's door Somehow this latest development seemed to bring Kirk closer to her She knocked once lightly and responded to his Come Comein Comein Comein in by pushing through the door and closing it behind her He was standing at the window looking down on the Square his back to her She said brightly Deep thinking eh Kirk He turned And then a look of astonishment passed over her face She stared incredulously then found herself overcome by merriment He smiled thinly so funny funny funny fun fun- ny She pointed and said through bursts of laughter Those glasses Gee they make you look goofy you ever seen eyeglasses eyeglasses eyeglasses eye eye- glasses before Yeh But not on you She gazed again on the rimmed horn-rimmed goggles and appeared to find them irresistibly irresistibly irresistibly bly funny She said the matter Cant Can't you read the spots on the dice any more You knew I saw an the theother theother theother other day in the Capital And they just got here by special delivery So why should you be surprised Im not surprised at the glasses Only at how you look in them He glanced at himself in the mir mir- Have your laugh Kid Maybe Maybe May May- be youre you're right at that They do change me a lot Wait Vait til the others see you Im waiting And Im I'm glad youre you're in a good humor Why Because Ive I've got news for fer you So Can you take it Ive done pretty well so far haven't I He nodded Things are getting pretty hot That scrap at Macs Mac's Q Bar-B-Q last night didn't help any What do you mean Its given people something more to talk about and about and they were talking too much to start with His voice became flat fiat Im on the spot I know The laughter was gone from her eyes She took his hand and pressed it Lets get out of this burg I He shook his head No can do Babe But Ive I've decided to do something something some some- thing else some some-I What His cold eyes held hers You aint gonna like it Not a bit He paused for an instant Then Im bringing Kay Forrest into town Youre what Im bringing Kay into town That room yonder yonder- yonder yonder-It he jerked his head toward a door opens into mine She's moving in there Babes Babe's lips were dry I I 1 I dont don't exactly get it Kirk Its simple enough I made a dumb play at the beginning marry beginning marry marrying ing the girl and letting her go back to the Gardens That invited talk und and the people in this town I aint l as sappy as I thought they were They doped it out plenty quick And so So Im I'm going out to the Gardens tonight and fetch Kay That's all Babe walked to the window She didn't want Kirk to see sec her face at that moment A few minutes since she had been so gay gay so so confident that her jealousy of Kay was groundless Now everything was dif dif- ferent She was afraid to speak speak- fearful that she might say too much Her hands were behind her back when she turned and Kirk could not see the long pointed crimson nails biting into the flesh She said I figure you better look lookout lookout lookout out for trouble He reached for his hat His eyes eyes were the color of ice He said Remember this Babe Im I'm always ready for trouble They sat on the veranda Barney and Margaret and Mrs Hamilton and Jim Owenby forcing conversation conversation conversation conversa conversa- tion because th they y wished to be quite sure that Kay would not think they were listening This was difficult of course because Kay had been called to the telephone several min min- I iC c a t 1 He De gave ear car to gossip for the sole purpose of chiding those who flayed the girl utes since and her voice voice low low and insistent insistent came came down to them from the landing and try as they might they could not avoid hearing occasIonal occasional occasional occa occa- remarks But why 1 Yes I know but I cant can't Fragments of conversation bits of protest in a voice which was freighted freight freight- ed with worry They heard Kay say Well Vell if I must and they heard her descending descending descending de de- de- de the stairway Slowly Only Barney looked at her directly and he saw that she was nervous and worried But before he could make up his mind whether to question question question ques ques- tion her she spoke L Lets ts t's take a little walk Barney He rose with alacrity Surest thing you know Need a wrap Never mind What now Princess She traced hieroglyphics on the lawn with the toe of one tiny foot She said I want you to promise me something Barney Consider it promised I This is serious Ill put it in writing She placed her hand over his Youre pretty fine fine fine-do do you realize that Of course I do Ive I've spent my entire life lile being noble virtuous and dependable In fact I might state that Im I'm a perfect example of what the well-dressed well young man should be She shook her head I wish things were as simple as that It As HAs me Simple My dear young lady Listen Barney Her voice was tight I want you to give me your word word word-If So you said And I assured you you I know But this Its different Its It's serious I remember re re- member Now lets let's have it What's eating on you Before I explain I want you to promise that you wont won't do anything I about it He grinned ruefully Im becoming becoming becoming becom becom- ing expert at doing nothing about things She looked thoughtfully at the black waters of the lagoon That telephone call was from Kirk Reynolds I You dont don't seem surprised Should I be She was silent for a moment Then Youre not going to like this Barney If by this you mean Kirk youre you're right You must promise Listen honey lie Ie dropped his arm from her shoulder and imprisoned imprisoned imprisoned im im- im- im one of her infinitesimal hands Youre talking in circles Ive I've promised everything I can promise Youre You're worried about something Suppose YOU vou tell Papa all I about it d. I All right She groped for words which would not cut too deeply Kirk Reynolds is coming here to to- to night I want you to promise that you wont won't be at the house when he comes So Why Because Im I'm afraid there might be trouble Not in my own home Even here Nix honey honey nix I dont don't play the hero and host at the same time much as I dislike this Reynolds gent She said You might Tonight How come Because She moistened dry lips Because hes he's coming to take me back to Beverly with him She couldn't see Barneys Barney's face for which fact the young man was grateful It was dark under the trees dark and still Barney tried to speak lightly Am I supposed supposed supposed sup sup- posed to ask questions It doesn't matter You see hes he's reserved a room at the White Star I Hotel for me A room next to his I She felt Barneys Barney's fingers tighten over hers He said I dont don't get it honey Kirk didn't do much explaining He said hed he'd be out within an hour and told me to get ready But this hotel business Cant you understand He thinks that folks have been talking And that this will stop their gossip gossip gossip gos gos- sip Im I'm afraid your friend Mr Reynolds Reynolds Reynolds Rey Rey- isn't quite bright He He he wants the town to believe I really am his wife I see and Im I'm to sit back and let you go with him Yes I There was no mirth in Barneys Barney's laugh It was short and harsh He said Ill have to ask a few ques ques- First must you do whatever Kirk orders Yes Why Weve Veve talked about that so many times You know I cant can't explain I see Second question do doI I you want to go with him Her answer came sharply No Then he said quietly youre not going But you still dont don't understand Ive I've got to go Like hell you do Now you listen t Iff to r me a few minutes young lady i Ive I've been playing the sap plenty long enough I dont don't like it And most particularly I dont don't like the idea of you living with Kirk Reynolds Reynolds' and what's more Im I'm not going to stand for it Please You promised I dont don't care what I promised That bird has been pushing you around long enough But theres there's nothing you can do No Well We'll damn soon find out about that His eyes were hot Im going to have a talk with this lad A nice pleasant chat Im I'm going to ask a few questions and tell him a afew afew afew few things You mustn't Why not Because you promised And because because because be be- cause cause 4 Im I'm asking you Two lousy reasons And And also because Im I'm afraid Hes He's e's es dangerous Barney made an impatient gesture gesture ture Bad bold guy isn't he Murdered Murdered Murdered Mur Mur- dered Harvey Jackson without giving giving giving ing him a chance Runs around playing big by frightening girls Oh hes he's tough all right but somehow honey I dont don't seem to be so terribly scar scared d of him Barney listen Believe me when I say that anything you do will only make things worse Oh yeah And how could they be worse If anything happened to you Im able to take care of myself my my- self She smiled bravely Barney wont won't you do what I ask Just this once He kissed her Id better stay away from the house until after youve you've gone He turned and walked away She gazed after his tall slender figure with tear-dimmed tear eyes Then she moved oved toward the house trembling and frightened Barney walked along the edge of the lagoon He was more disturbed than he cared to confess even to himself He kicked viciously at a small stone and heard it plop into the black water He stood staring at nothing at all He lighted a cig cigarette cigarette cig- cig arette with fingers which trembled and then he heard a voice at athis athis athis his shoulder a pleasant genial voice Jim Owenby said Saw your face facein in the Barney Who busted up your playhouse Barney inhaled deeply then spun his cigarette out over the water It struck the ebon surface spluttered hopelessly and went out He asked sharply Will you kindly put into plain English Jim your opinion of what sort of a prime sap I really am arn Sure If it'll help Owenby had moved closer He was as tall as Barney but broader and heavier He said Want to talk Hell Hell yes V Shoot i That telephone telephone telephone tel tel- Its this Beverly mess ephone call Kay got was from Kirk Reynolds Hes He's on his way out here hereto to take her back to town with him Jim whistled expressively And so 2 Hes taking her to the the- hotel Wants the town to believe she's really really really real real- ly his w wife e. e And she's willing to go Barney tried to be fair Not willing But she says she must His voice was edgy She wants me meto meto meto to play the innocent bystander Jim Made me promise blind that Id I'd stay away from the house while Kirk was here Will you I dont don't know Gosh Id I'd like to toi i have it out with that bird just once Jim said grimly So would I. I The man he killed was the best friend I had He paused briefly Suppose I have a little talk with him Barney Nope If somebody's got to meet that guy it'll be me Kay got against it Hes got her scared pink She seems to think hes he's dynamite Jim shook his head No matter what else that guy can do hes he's a cat bear-cat on scaring women Margaret Margaret Mar Mar- garet has talked my ear off for the past two weeks begging me to keep out of it I know And look what Im I'm up tip p against Good Lord Jim suppose suppose suppose sup sup- pose it was Margaret instead of Kay and that she was going into town tonight with Kirk Kirk against against her wishes what would you do I dont don't know I Yes you do You'd meet him I when he got here Man A fellows fellow's got to do something I know how you feel But suppose suppose suppose sup sup- pose Kays Kay's right Suppose there really is something behind all this that we haven't thought of I Well suppose there is I Then for all we know wed we'd be throwing a nice big wrench monkey-wrench I into the machinery So youre you're asking me to take it sitting down Jim put a kindly hand on his I friends friend's arm Im not asking anything anything anything any any- thing Barney Im I'm not advising any any- thing I dont don't know what the devil Id I'd do if I were in your place The eyes of the larger man were grim grimand grimand grimand and steady Meanwhile l Im I'm getting getting getting get get- ting busy Doing what Got to paddle through the Gar Gar- dens Two or three of these night r rr r r rj j E S F f nl i r II 1 t If IU anything happened to you vistas Im I'm not entirely satisfied with Promised myself Id I'd give em the over once-over tonight He selected a bateau and untied it Why not come along Barney shook his head No thanks Any particular reason No Just figure Id I'd le lr to be alone CHAPTER IX I There said Mrs Hamilton I youre all packed Kay nodded The packing had been simple enough a few things thrown into her suit-case suit thrown in gaily as though she were go going ng ngon on a pleasant trip She had tried to smile it off Mrs Hamilton |