Show JQSEPH M ORD 7 THE STORY SO FAR larry cutter tea ell in love with jacqueline jack anthony pretty public stenographer at the hotel Ray near while he was wa dictating an imaginary letter she told hins him about her longing lot for travel he casu 0 c at six jacqueline was in a quandary qu andry she decided to give the cafeteria a wide berth and make excuses later but six fiete fifteen n found her with a tin tray in hand staring aimlessly at arrays of food that held no inducement she finally selected chicken croquettes croquet tes with cream gravy a concoction she particularly ticul arly loathed jacqueline selected a table in a far corner where she could watch the door six fort five and no sign of M mr r cutter jacqueline breathed more easily she would give him until seven hello there remarked a cheerful voice there smiling down over a well heaped tray was larrimore H cutter of montreal so sorry im late he deposited the tray on the table ive been busy with our contract jacqueline achieved a faint oh in response to larry cutters breezy reference to their marriage after all that was what lie he meant by that contract in the face of it the bride to bes formal greeting the one she believed she had prepared evaporated there was something very compelling about this man an easy assurance in all that he said and did larry ventured a few commonplace remarks as he proceeded leisurely through his meal jacque lines replies were even more commonplace mon place she felt thoroughly helpless bel pless like a prisoner awaiting sentence she was not kept in suspense long larry summoned a bus boy and had the table cleared then he dragged out his inevitable briar and filled it carefully through a faint haze of smoke she watched mr cutter burrow in an inner pocket here we are he announced gravely spreading a paper on the table and carefully smoothing out its folds instead of proffering the document larry laid his hand on it and removed his pipe from his mouth his dark eyes were fixed intently on elines face he picked up the paper and gave it a final worried glance if I 1 have overlooked anything please dont hesitate to say so he reversed the paper and pushed it across the table rather reluctantly jacqueline stared down at it its surface was covered with blurred lines that gradually proved to be a mans flowing handwriting vigorous script there were paragraphs boldly numbered she forced herself to pick up the sheet and start reading it was like reading something in a dream but there was no mistake in the meaning of those numbered paragraphs they set out plainly that jacqueline anthony would become the wife of larrimore H cutter in consideration of certain agreements by said cutter miss anthony was under no obligation to relinquish her maiden name or mode of living save as she saw fit the same freedom existed with regard to any association with the said cutter during the life of the agreement the marriage seemed rather an incidental thing after six months if she so desired miss anthony might extend the terms or tear up the contract and be free it all was quite as she recalled the earnest oral account all except A sudden color suffused her cheeks she shook her head and looked up with consternation showing in her blue eyes something wrong larrys heart sank what had he done he could not know that the girl was what kept her from tearing the paper to bits tell me he begged in a low tone its all right 1 I do that she faltered do what which paragraph is it four jacqueline managed it with a little gulp oh that one but of course you can I 1 told you this was strictly a business proposition until you were ready to make it something else you will but now im glad you mentioned it I 1 was forgetting he dragged a long envelope from that same inner pocket its only right that you should have security for what youre doing for me I 1 have it any other way its the one sensible thing installment FOUR lly ily suggested she could realize her dreams by marrying him her broker entered before she could reply and informed her that her lifes savings had been wiped out only a month before her father had left her when she refused i 1 1 y N to do see that when you think it over find a few government bonds there yours to use as you like incidentally theres a receipt showing they were purchased by me and in my own name from the guaranty trust so you worry about the source property of the holder of course jacqueline nodded her head helplessly something told him that the first skirmish in his battle was won his smile faded as jacqueline looked at him steadily to ask how many parties must there be in a contract two supposedly why because you have signed this but theres no place for my name anywhere 1 I know that he responded with quick gruffness im not asking you to sign I 1 told you I 1 asking for anything now but you would be willing to let me not be fair I 1 cant do that I 1 gave you my word please make some dotted lines for me in silence larry reached for the paper and produced a fountain pen to e VIA what a good little sport you are jacqueline leaned forward and watched him jab a neat row of inky dots just above his signature when he had finished he held out the pen jacqueline took it and with steady fingers wrote her name in small neat characters there she said larry drew a long breath as he accepted his hiis pen you always would be terribly square about things he told her in a low earnest voice 1 I knew that from the very first you cant understand what this means to me it will take years he caught himself theres one other thing we really should settle tonight what do you want wani me to do now jacqueline spoke in that small flat fiat tone again for the first time the dark blue eyes were suddenly bewildered tired nothing very bad this is thursday I 1 want you to marry me saturday morning jacqueline received this latest request from larry cutter with something bordering upon apathy if he said this was thursday he probably was right he had a disconcerting way of being right or seeming to be the past twelve hours had been an age tomorrow would be friday then saturday why not it fitted well enough into this mad scheme of things mr cutter was explaining 1 I dont wish to seem to arrange everything but heres the plan I 1 had in mind we can take my car and run over across the state line very liberal in their ideas of weddings we can get a license and have it over with in an hour you dont work saturday afternoons do you not often how about taking the morning off 1 I suppose I 1 might seeing that its a sort of special occasion larry smiled 1 I think it would be a good idea to get an early start if tell me where you live IU ill drop around and pick you up nine hundred and seven courtland street jacqueline watched him scrawl him additional money for or work on his inventions in a fit of 0 despair jack accepted larrys proposal she agreed to meet him at dinner to make arrangements tor for their marriage now continue with the story the address on the back of an envelope would eight be too early ill be ready there surely be much left to discuss now but mr cutter still seemed preoccupied as he slowly rapped the bowl of his pipe on the ash tray he looked up with a quick jerk of his head im afraid au all this has been pretty one sided I 1 dont want it to be that way Is there anything you want to ask me nothing 11 what a good little sport you are he said it warmly half to himself 1 I dont want to seem mysterious but id rather like to have you well trust me for a little time there are some things that please jacqueline ehne interrupted in a low voice you have asked me for nothing and I 1 I 1 signed too if you mean all that youve said and I 1 do absolutely then there is nothing to talk about now if you dont mind id like to go home wheres your check larry demanded abruptly 1 I have it elines hand closed over it 1 I prefer to pay it myself she added firmly just as you say the little stenographer pushed back her chair walked quickly to the cashiers booth and paid for her dinner she took the occasion to slip the folded contract into her bag 1 I am going out the lower entrance she told him 1 I see I 1 wish take a cab home please I 1 will not see you tomorrow until saturday at eight you can get word to me here of course but I 1 hope you wont want to goodnight good night and thank you i jacqueline acqueline did take a cab to courtland street the gloomy privacy of the lurching taxi tax was a haven the reaction to the days strain possessed her was that what she had become A chattel safe within her little apartment the door closed and locked she felt secure the soft lights the familiar furnishings brought a sudden sense of peace for the first time since she had established herself there she had a longing for companionship if only there were someone to whom she could talk sleep was quite out of the question activity of some sort imperative jacqueline opened the door of her wardrobe and stood looking at the neat rows of dresses and gowns s suspended on their hangers at the small shoes in orderly array hat boxes on a shelf and a smart little weekend week end bag no she going anywhere just for a brief auto ride and that brown ensemble was her going away costume her wedding dress she was standing here staring at her trousseau A strange little sound broke the silence of the room a stifled hysterical laugh it was years before morning came mr cutter kept his word about friday there was no sign of him around the lobby jacqueline was grateful for that not that she really wanted to see him but a glimpse of those broad shoulders would have been reassuring in a way fortunately friday proved to be a rather busy day in the small office that was a help although quite to elines own surprise she found herself looking forward to saturdays adventure with an unexpected feeling of calm her only item of preparation for the event was a call upon mr archibald potter in his office on the mezzanine she wondered if there would be an objection to her closing the office for the forenoon 1 I should think you might do it ill leave word at the desk and arrange to have one of the girls up here take care of any emergency cases go ahead have a good time that strange feeling of loneliness assailed her when she covered her typewriter and lowered it into the desk for the night no until monday the sensation persisted as she put the office in order it was almost as if she never were coming back to the familiar little room after all jacqueline anthony coming back when she came in here again she would be a married woman a bride coming to work TO BE CONTINUED |