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Show TRAILER GIRL By VERA BROWN "But be careful, Lynn. He'i great guy, but women have always spoiled him, including mother. He's pretty Bkeptical about women; doesn't think much of them. Has reason not to." Lynn tried to speak. "Now wait until I'm through. You're a good kid. I hate to see you get your heart broken." Lynn tried to keep her lips from trembling: "You're trying to warn me not to fall In love with Wild?" "Not exactly, only don't take him too seriously." Seeing her eyes, he added quickly: "I don't mean that he doesn't mean what he says when he says it But he never means it for very long at a time." "You needn't worry about me. Chuck. I'll remember. Wild's been very kind to me. That's all." "Just don't be too kind to him," Chuck said shortly. "Now we'll forget all about it. You raise a man's protective instincts. Wild plays the field, Lynn. I think you ought to know it!" Terry and Wild had Just come off the links when they arrived. The three men had cocktails with Lynn at the club and a lot of people were about, but the Austin party hurried back for luncheon, since there were to be a lot of extra guests with a buffet served on the lawn by the swimming pool. Wild if he might come along some night with Wild for dinner. "Please do!" Lynn said as he held her hand. Next morning Lynn was up and dressed on time, found an array of servants running in and out of her room. They wanted tips, of course. She tried to remember what madam had told her. Five dollars to the maid if she'd helped her, and to her chambermaid, at least two dollars. Lynn was struggling with tip money mon-ey when Wild stuck his head in the door. "How you coming?" He came in, took the money and put it back in Lynn's purse. "First, how about a 'good-morning kiss?" The maid was hovering about In the overhall. "Never mind about her. I'll take care of the tips. Come to breakfast. Sweet. We've got to be on our way." On the drive in, they were mostly silent, the silence of happiness. Half of female New York seemed bent on getting their Autumn wardrobes ward-robes on that first September Tuesday. Tues-day. It was after 6 before Lynn finally got free and climbed onto a bus to go down to Rene's apartment. She walked over to a delicatessen and got some food for his supper, for. as she expected, she found him there, working, without a bite of food in the house. "Have a good time?" CHAPTER XVI Continued 11 "Never lie to me. Lynn, that's all the promise I'll ever ask of you," Wild continued. "Never lie to me, for I've had enough of that!" It was only a two-mile trip back, but to Lynn, although they were making knots, it seemed interminable. intermina-ble. They were traveling with the waves, which seemed gigantic. In the roar of the wind Lynn moaned aloud. Why had she not told Wild then and there about that wedding? Why? Why? She could never summon up courage now! That night tney all went off to the club for dinner. Wild danced with her at every opportunity, but there were not many, for the stag line exercised its privileges, but she was too impatient to be back in Wild's arms to be other than annoyed an-noyed at the many who insisted on dancing with her. Terry was there, and cut in early in the evening. "Nicer than Florida, what?" he murmured in her ear. "What about that dinner with me you promised?" Lynn was vague. "See the girls glaring at you. You'll hear about this tomorrow, I fancy. See Heloise Town over there dancing with Wild? She's been on the make for him since he was in knickers, but he no can do. She'd probably like to cut your throat." Then somebody else cut in, and Lynn saw Wild was still dancing "Grand!" Her voice had a happy note which caught at Rene's heart, but his hand did not shake as he slapped on some deep brown paint to the picture he was doing. Rene had done a lot of thinking up in the country and he had talked to Marty. Things were going well. It would be foolish to go abroad just now. In another year, perhaps he turned his head. Lynn would be married to Wild by then. When Lynn finally called him to supper, she was amazed to see tears in his eyes. "What is it. Rene?" she said, running run-ning to his side. But he pulled away from her and answered her brusquely, brusque-ly, trying to keep his voice hard: "When do we eat?" CHAPTER XVIII with Heloise, the blonde, who had come with Terry Saturday night Wild rescued Lynn before midnight mid-night and they escaped to his car, for he had driven her over. "You're gorgeous. We're going for a ride and I wish we didn't ever have to come back." It was hours later when they finally final-ly got home. Everybody but Marie and two of the boys were in bed. It never occurred to Lynn that Marie Ma-rie had deliberately waited up, just to see what time they got in. But it did to Wild, and he was furious when Marie followed Lynn upstairs. "I'U just come in for a moment to say good night," Marie said. "Think I'll have one more night cap." She opened up a little cupboard which Lynn had not investigated and took out a bottle of brandy. She poured herself a stiff drink. Lynn got Rene to the supper table and tried to make him talk to her. He could not say what was in his mind. He did, however, tell her something of what Marty had said during the long week-end. "I talked to Marty a lot when I was away, and he thinks I'm foolish to go off to Europe just now. I have agreed with him. He has some important plans for me." He tilted his chair back. "I guess I'll stay on for the Winter, Win-ter, Lynn, and get the cash while the sun is shining on my side of the fence." Lynn tried to conceal her joy at the announcement, but it did not deceive Rene. He felt ashamed at not telling her the whole truth, and he added with apparent casualness: "Marty wants me to try for the Guggenheim Prize. It carries a year's travel abroad. Thought I'd enter that picture of you. He thinks it might have a chance. "Wild thinks it's good, and he has good judgment, people tell me. His father's been a collector for years." Rene tried to make his voice sound natural as he mentioned Wild's name. Lynn was too excited to notice. Lynn could not conceal her Joy now. She hummed as she did the supper dishes, and Rene, listening, tried to quiet the bitterness in his heart When she left him that night she dropped a light kiss on his forehead. "I'll see about the apartment tonight!" to-night!" Downstairs Lynn looked for Wild. ! He was not there. But even that disappointment could not dampen her spirits. She hurried on over to the little apartment house which had just been done over. They were one-room apartments with a little electric stove and a fireplace which burned real wood. It was a walk-up walk-up place, but to Lynn it seemed-the last word in luxury. The second morning, with its bright September sunshine, found Lynn frantic. She put on a new black Fall frock and went off to work. Mrae. Reanoud remarked the dark circles under her eyes, thought she must remember to warn Lynn to keep better hours. Wild was taking tak-ing her out too much. That was the trouble with these young girls. Madam sighed. Later, when the shop had closed, Lynn took a long time to dress, hoping hop-ing that Wild might be waiting. She looked stunning as she left the shop in her well-cut black frock and small, ofT-the-face hat, which showed her blonde hair. Wild wasn't there, but Terry was. He waved to Lynn, and she nod-ded. nod-ded. forcing back the tears of disappointment. dis-appointment. "You look as though you were expecting ex-pecting a date." "I'm not. Just a date to get home and let Rene work for an hour." "Let me drive ycu?" Lynn hesitated. hesi-tated. "Come. I've got a little time to kill if you really won't eat with me." Terry was amusing, and he kept Lynn laughing as he recounted a party he'd attended the previous night out on Long Island. 'TO BE COMIM EUJ Lynn slept little that night. "He doesn't love me." had little chance to talk with Lynn until they had reached his home. "Come," he told her. "We'll duck this mob as long as we can." They went down to the beach and found a shady spot "What's wrong, Lynn?" Wild asked, but first he kissed her. "Nothing." "You're a bad liar. It was Marie, wasn't it?" Lynn did not answer. "I got myself engaged to her once, she's a bit sharp about things, so just forget anything unpleasant she said." "She was all right, Wild." "Just as harmless as a king cobra!" He put his arms about her and drew her to him. "Kiss me, Lynn." Helpless there in his arms, Lynn raised her lips like a little girl. It was thus Chuck found them. "I'm sorry to break in on such a charming love scene but mother wanted you, and I thought I'd better come myself." Lynn's cheeks were crimson, and she tried to move away from Wild but he held her close. "Isn't she wonderful, Chuck?" Wild kissed the tip of Lynn's tilted nose. "Pay no attention to his disapproval. disap-proval. Lynn. He hates to see anybody any-body happy! And he'll try and turn you against me! I can see it in his eye! But just ignore him. He's a villainous character." k Feeling like a culprit, Lynn, walked meekly between the two brothers back to the house. The rest of the day was a turmoil. Everybody swam in the pool before be-fore teatirne, and Wild spent his time trying to persuade Lynn to dive off the edge of the pool. There was little more time that day for romance. Lynn was ready for an early start Tuesday morning. morn-ing. The week-end was over. That last evening Mrs. Austin said good-by good-by to her before she retired. "I won't be up in the morning, my denr. It has been charming to have you. Wild must bring you out here often." Lyr.n thanked her sincerely. But Wi'd was waiting for her on the terrnce, to say good-night. "Hnpoy?" he asked as he took her in his arms. "Yes." "This is only the beginning, sweet! The world's really a great place! Kiss me good-night." Lyr.n later managed to say her good-bys to other of the house party guests. Marie was kind to her, really real-ly liked Lynn. "And I loathe most pretty women!" she added. Wild announced he was driving Lynn to town. "Oh. it is too early. Wild." "Of course it isn't! I'll be up before be-fore you are." Mr. and Mrs. Austin exchanged glances. This clinched the matter. When Wild got up at 7 o'clock to drive into Manhattan, that was m-fu'uation. m-fu'uation. There was no time to lose. Chuck was cordial to Lynn, asked "Want one?" Lynn shook her head. "Well, here's how? And by the way, how does it feel to be a Southampton South-ampton sensation?" "I don't know what you mean." "I believe you're in earnest I mean tonight. The boys are nuts about you. And Wild's spinning like a top. Nice work, sister. It's more than any of us could do." Marie downed the brandy, poured herself another. Lynn flushed, too embarrassed embar-rassed to answer. . "Last time Wild brought home one of the great unwashed, it was a Spanish dancer!" Marie laughed. "She made terrific passes at the old man!" Something in Lynn's clear eyes . sobered Marie for a moment "Wejl, good luck. The boys must be amused, and there's nothing like a new sensation!" And Marie waved an uncertain good night as she went out the door. CHAPTER XVII Lynn slept little that nigftt, tired as she was. She lay there in her hot room in the Village. "He doesn't love me. I'm just a fool! Marie is right. Just a 'new sensation?' Why must I behave like this?" Then persistently would come memories of that morning on the windswept reef. Wild had been sincere sin-cere then. "And I couldn't be honest with him " It was all such a muddle that Lynn dissolved into tears. She slept late the next morning and awoke heavy lidded and listless. When she came down for breakfast nobody was about except Chuck, who was having his solitary breakfast. "Late hours don't agree with you," he said as he poured her a cup of coffee. "I'm not used to them, I guess," she admitted, refusing anything to eat "Everybody's .gone golfing, you might just as well let me amuse you." Lynn managed a wistful little smile. "Wild's playing golf with Terry. He wants me to bring you over to the clubhouse at 11. We've got an hour." Chuck and Lynn walked in the garden after breakfast, and the girl could see he had something on his mind. But he seemed more cheerful cheer-ful than he had last night. "You did me a good turn last night, letting me blow off steam!" he said suddenly. "I'm going to say something. Tell me it's none ol my business. That's all right, but I'm going to say it anyhow." "Of course. Mr. Austin, I was pretty hard cn you." 'C;iIl me Chuck." 'All right. Chuck." "Now. here goes!" Chuck took a deep breath. "It is hard to begin. I don't want you to misunderstand. You knou I am fond of Wild" Lynn suddenly became frightenec and wished Chuck would step. |