THE
FORBIDDEN YEARS
by
WADSWORTH CAMP
33
The argument went on.
Barbara thought Gray was at
the point of defeat. He
laughed fmpatlcntly.
“Isn’t the whole thing fun
damentally your fault, Doc
tor dear?”
Barbara could fancy Dr.
Morris’ denial.
“But it is," Gray insisted,
■‘because you brought me into
the world. So you owe it to me
to put this right.”
After a moment he hung up,
sighing, mopping his face.
“Old brick’s coming, al
though he suggested he did
suggest that Father and
Mother were a trifle more
iundamen tally responsible
than he for bringing this
precous morsel into the world.
Heigh-ho! That’s done, and
you need something to brace
you, Barbara. Any pre-war
hemlock in the house?”
Faintly she said that there
wasn’t. She tried to thank him.
“It was good of you, Gray.
I know how hard it must have
been to ask Dr. Morris.”
Gray slapped his hip fu
tilely.
“Any modified murder in
your overalls, Masters?”
Harvey shook his head.
“She ought to have some
thing.”
Gray stared down at Bar
bara. The dread was In his
eyes again.
“You’re too white Barbara.
Don't look like that. You
frighten me,"
'It’s nothing.”
“1 could shake up a pot of
eoffee or tea.”
“There Isn’t any of either,
Gray.”
He tried to laugh.
"Then fetch her a hooker of
bracing top water, Masters.”
Alarmed he called after
Harvey.
“And hurry It.”
He knelt beside Barbara,
And grasped her shoulders.
There was no resistance, no
response. He snatched the
glass from Harvey, held It to
Barbara’s lips, dabbed his
handkerchief In the water,
awkwardly bathed her tem
ples.
Harvey strained forward.
“Has she fainted?”
Gray went on with his in
efficient ministrations.
“I hope that’s all. Gad!
What a brotherly love I’ve got
for you!”
Harvey grasped Gray’s
shoulder.
“Just the same, Manvel, I
want you to get one thing
clear before she comes to. I
heard enough of what you
said to justify me for trying
to use the knife on you. I’m
sorry for what I did to her;
that can’t ever be undone;
but I’ll stop at nothing to beat
you. At the start I want you
to, understand that I haven’t
the smallest intention of leav
ing you here with her to
night. When you go I go, not
a second before.”
His voice was low and fa
natically earnest, yet Gray
<fldn’t seem to hear him.
“Get more water. Oughtn’t
•he be coming out of it?”
After he had refilled the
glass Harvey persisted in his
deadly serious way.
“I won’t leave you alone
With her. I’ll never leave you
alone with her.”
Barbara stared and opened
ker eyes.
"I’m ashamed.”
Oray soothed her.
“Keep quiet until the doctor
tomes.”
Dr. Morris, when Harvey let
Ifclm In, looked disapprovingly
from one to another.
"Don’t tell me who was re
Loe Angeles Seeks New
Name for Gigolos
hoe Angeles—lUP)—Los Angeles
fencing men—those who kiss and
tell—are up in arms because the
public refines to call them anything
Cut “gigolos."
They want to be called “dancing
iacorts,'’ or “tangoista," or aome
fclng—not gigolos.
“We admit our business 1* wo
Hen—young, middle-aged, old. To
inine tangolst we're aold
sponsible for this—accident. I
haven’t the slightest curio
sity.”
He went to Barbara.
“I thought you’d had
enough experience, Miss Nor
cross, not to play with dyna
mite.”
"Please don’t scold. Doctor.”
Harvey spoke gruffly.
"My fault.”
The doctor shook a finger
at him.
"Quite! I won’t be told how
It happened.”
Competently he went about
his work. When he had fin
ished with the bandage he
patted Barbara’s cheek.
"I dare say you’ll be all
right, but you’ll have to carry
your arm in a sling for a few
days.”
Barbara rebelled.
"You’re forgetting my work.”
"My dear girl, I'm a phy
sician, not a miserly stranger.
You'll have to play with your
arm trussed up, or not at all.”
How would she account for
her injury to Hackey and Ru
lon, and with a sinking heart
she remembered that she
couldn’t put Rulon off again;
to-morrow night Vie meant to
come to an understanding
with her. She grasped Dr.
Morris’s hand.
“It was dear of you to
come.”
Through the doctor’s se
verity she caught the Indul
gent twinkling.
“It’s been twice Miss Nor
cross. Don’t count on me a
third time. If an old man may
offer advice avoid a third
time. You’ve been lucky so
far. Drop in my office towards
evening to-morrow, and I’ll
change the bandage.”
Gray wanted to know if she
ought to be left alone, if she
oughtn’t to have a nurse, but
the doctor humored her plea
that she was perfectly fit to
look after herse'lf.
“Provided you avoid bad
company,” he added dryly.
And he refused to let Gray
thank him. At the door he
placed his hand on Gray’s
shoulder.
“I needn’t point out to you
the simplest way to express
your gratitude.”
He closed the door with Just
the smallest suggestion of
slamming it.
Patently Gray had absorbed
Harvey’s pronouncement.
“We follow like scared rab
bits, Masters. She’s got to have
rest if she’s to carry on to
morrow.”
Barbara looked warily from
ont to the other.
“You’ll both promise to go
straight home? You’ll both
swear there’ll be no more
trduble to-night?”
Gray raised his right hand,
and tried to laugh, but his
voice was sullen.
“You can trust me, Barbara.
I swear.”
Harvey’s head Jerked an
assent, but it was not con
vincing.
“I’ll see how you are to
morrow,” Gray said.
He barely touched her hand.
He, too, was wary of Harvey.
On the sidewalk, indeed, Har
vey threatened again with his
quite, determined manner.
“You’ll not see her to-mor
row.”
Gray managed to keep his
temper.
“Get on to yourself, man.”
Harvey smiled.
“I am. I don’t want you to
go near her until she’s
straightened out her perspec
tive that you’ve twisted out
of all shape.”
Gray’s mouth curled In a
sneer.
. nightly to push and to haul and to
I tow,” they admit.
So to avoid tht disgrace of be
ing a ‘gigolo” the California Ho
tel Men's association has taken up
the dancers’ battle and has offered
a prize for the best ‘‘gigolo'’ substi
J tute offered.
Steady Decline Reported
In Farm Mortgages
Washington — (UP)—A steady,
four year decline 111 farm mort
gage loans ig reported by the Ped
“Maybe you’ll birc a firm of
sleuths to put a cordon around
her.”
“That’s one way,” Harvey
said. “And have you thought,
Manvel, that your left-handed
affection here would seem
pretty queer to Miss fielder?”
Gray turned his back
“For God’s sakp leave her
out of it; or let me sugest
that you carry the glad news
to my father, my mother, the
cook, and the cook’s cat.
They’re all capable of scratch
ing back. Good-night.”
He walked purposefully
away, while Harvey went
thoughtfully in his owm direc
tion.
Gray let himself in quietly,
expecting to find the guests
scattered and the family gone
to bed long since, but from
the hall he became cautiously
aware of a light in the library.
It wasn’t Mr. Manvel’s habit
to sit up in solitude so late;
anyway, after what had hap
pened, Gray wasn’t in a mood
for chatter even with his
father, so he started on tiptoe
for the stairs, but Esther’s flat
tones stopped him.
“That you, Gray darling?
Enter. Here’s food for you,
and drink.”
With his sullen gesture he
thrust his hands into his
pockets and stalked in.
“Thought you’d cleared out.”
Esther beamed.
“Couldn’t bear to sleep with
out a nocturnal salute from
my knight. Steve’s here, too.
We’ve raided the pantry. Par
take of the rare joints we
lifted.”
Gray saw Steve then, draped
in an easy chair among the
shadows beyond the fireplace.
“My dear Gray, we began
to suspect that the town’s
twinkling lights and toes had
permanently entangled you.”
Gray frowned. His sullenness
grew.
“Haven’t seen either, and
it’s by no means sweet dawn
yet. Why do you scorn sleep,
ancient?”
“Hunger,” Steve drawled,
“thirst, and a request from
little Esther to bear her com
pan-ee.”
Esther’s face brightened.
“I’m a shrinkng little prim
rose, dear; always fretting
about appearances.”
“Oh, shut up,” Gray growled.
She went on with her forced
brightness.
“You seemed so upset when
you rushed off I felt I had
to wait and share your
troubles. Was the conference
satisfactory, dear? Nourish
yourself while you tell us.”
Gray turned his back on the
tray of cold food, and walked
to the fireplace. Steve sat up.
“I’m afraid, Esther, the
business went badly.”
Gray, still frowning, still
sullen, looked straight at Es
ther. Did her waiting and
keeping Steve have a signifi
cance?
“I’m not sure it went so
badly. In fact I’ve an idea it
went quite to my liking. At
any rate I agreed to a bargain
which I mean to keep in my
own fashion.”
Esther floated to him, and
put her arms across his shoul
ders.
“Splendid! Tell your help
meet all about it.”
Steve grasped his cane and
started to rise. Gray motioned
him back, then grasped Es
ther’s hands and remorselessly
forced them downward to her
sides.
“Sit down. You wait, Steve.”
lie released Estner, and witn
an assumption of meekness
she retreated and perched
herself on the arm of Steve’s
chair. Steve regarded Gray
worriedly.
“Esther,” Gray said. "I don’t
like your pretending to know
all about people who interest
you; and I’m not certain it’s
all pretense. It wouldn’t knock
me flat if you knew precisely
where I’d been to-night.
“Gray! How could I?”
“I don’t know, but your way
of finding out secrets is un
canny. I’m sorry, but it's more
than that. It’s indecent.”
“Wherever Gray went,”
eral Bureau of Agricultural Eco- i
aomics.
Forty life insurance companies
had outstanding a total of *1.533,
QOO.OOO farm mortgage loans, as
compared to $1,618,000,000 at the
close of 1927. Farm mortgage loans
by federal land banks, outstand
ing at the end of October, aggre
gated $1,171,000,000 as compared to
$1,197,000,000 at the end of 1929.
TE THAT LOVE THE LORI)
Thou, Lord, art high above all
tha earth: thou art exalted far
above all gods. Ye that love the
Lord, hats evil: he preserveth th >
Stove drawled, "he'd much
better have stayed away.”
Gray nodded.
"You’re undoubtedly right,
but just the same, Father
Christmas, I’m damned glad
I did go."
Esther stretched out an ap
pealing hand.
“Instead of being cruel to
little Esther, mightn’t you
give us your news, darling?”
Gray had an air of bracing
himself.
“All right. The first scare
head is that you don’t love
me, Esther.”
She sprang up. One could
tell that she was angry only
from a slight trembling of her
shoulders. Gray rushed on in
exorably:
“If you really loved me you
wouldn’t keep thumbing your
nose at the whole business.”
Steve bent forward.
“You haven’t quite proved
your point, Gray. You’re for
getting that our little Esther
has her—shall we say pecu
liarities of behavior’7”
“I’m forgetting nothing.”
Even the slight shaking ol
Esther’s shoulders had ceased.
She had never more closely
resembled superbly modeled
clay; except for her eyes. In
them lurked reflection and the
capability of action.
“Why else should I care to
marry you, Gray?”
Gray grunted.
“Hanged if I know, but 1
do know that the reason isn’t
love. See here. We’re not wear
ing hoop skirts and pleated
coats. The whole thing’s been
a ghastly mistake, and we
might’s well face it. You don’t
give a hang for me as those
things go.”
Steve rested his chin on his
hands, knotted over the cane.
“I must remind you again,
Gray, of a cloak woven from
colorful threads called man
nerisms; and in justice to all
I must point out that what
you’re really trying to say is
that you don’t give a hang
for Esther as those things go.”
Gray clapped his hands to
gether.
‘‘Put it anyway you please>.
but let’s own up we’ve been
mistaken, and make an end of
it.”
Steve started to speak, but
Esther wouldn’t let him.
‘‘Don't make him angr>,
Steve. Of course he’s quite
mad, but we mustn’t on any
account make him angry.”
Her lips barely moved. In
her rigidity she seemed a per
sonification of unconquer
able will.
“I don’t care to put an end
to it, Gray, and I don’t mean
to.”
Her lips, making apparently
a perfectly straight line,
nevertheless projected an im
pression of a smile.
“You’re just out of sorts,
dear. Your foul humor won’t
last a good sleep. And you’ll
grow accustomed to your little
Esther, who means to be your
handmaiden in all things. I’ll
see to it, my hero.”
Gray spread his hands.
‘ What did I say? Manner
isms? Mockery!”
“Steve’s right,” she said
sweetly, “just peculiarities of
behavior. I’ll change them to
your liking.”
She floated to the table,
prepared a drink, returned,
and offered it to Gray, with
out, however, touching him.
“Always your handmaiden,
dearest.”
He took the glass awkward
ly, and sne turned witn an air
of sham amazement to Steve.
‘ Why do you suppose Gray
got that mad idea just now
of not wanting to marry little
Esther?”
‘•Riots,” Gray growled.
His lips curled.
“Or maybe because I don’t
want your mysterious friend
Essie mussing up my wedding.”
Esther brokn into sudden
laughter.
(To be Continued)
The Bastrop, Tex., high school
footbftll team, in its last three
games clinching the regional title,
used the same lineup without a sin
gle substitution.
souls of his saints: he delivereth
them out of the hand of the wicked
Light is sown for the righteous,
and gladness for the upright in
heart. Rejoice in the Lord, Ye
righteous: and give thanks at the
remembrance of his holiness —
Psalms xcvii, 9 to 12.
Good Business.
“What does your father do when
one of his horses is ill?”
“Do you mean just inwell or very
ill?”
"Verv ill. Why do you ask?”
“When a horse is Just unwell, dad
gives it medicine, but when it is
varv ill. he sell* it"
When You
CAN'T
QUIT
Fatigue is the signal to rest. Obey
it if you can. When you can’t, keep
cool and carry-on in comfort.
Bayer Aspirin was meant for
just such times, for it insures your
comfort. Freedom from those pains
that nag at nerves and wear you
down. One tablet will block that
threatening headache while it is
still just a threat. Take two or
three tablets when you’ve caught a
cold, and that’s usually the end
of it.
Carry Bayer Aspirin when you
travel. Have some at home and
keep some at the office. Like an
efficient secretary, it will often
“save the day” and spare you many
uncomfortable, u nproductive hours.
Perfectly harmless, so keep it
handy, keep it in mind, and use it.
No man of affairs can afford to
ignore the score and more of uses
explained in the proven directions.
From a grumbling tooth to those
rheumatic pains which seem almost
to bend the bones, Bayer Aspirin
is ready with its quick relief—and
always works. Neuralgia. Neuritis.
Any nagging, needless pain.
Get the genuine tablets, stamped
with the Bayer cross. They are of
perfect purity, absolute uniformity,
and have the same action ever,' tiuia..
Why experiment with imitatiocui
costing a few cents less? The saving
is too little. There is too much at
stake. But there is economy in tha
purchase of genuine Bayer Aspirut
tablets in the large bottles.
Double Purpose Served
in Odd Statue Designs
On a nobleman’s estate In Silesia
there is a collection of some of the
most curious statues In the world.
The statues nre carved in linden
wood and are slightly more than life
size. They comprise a considerable
number of figures, which include the
12 Apostles, a few saints, peasant
women and even a figure represent
ing the former lord of the manor,
who is seen with his arm linked
through that of a soldier comrade.
All of the statues are hollow and
each one of them is a beehive, open
ings in the backs of the figures pro
viding for the entrance ami exits of
the honey-gathering insects.
The records of the manor show that
the first of the wooden statues waa
put in place in the year 1CC0.—Phila
delphia Record Sunday Magazine.
Sister Only Died
Lady—Was it you or your sister
who was so ill?
Child—It was my sister who died,
but it was I who was ill.
The old seadogs we read so much
about are probably mast-stiffs.
Protect Your Children
Protect your children from those nasty colds that always
'come when winter is breaking up. Doctors recommend Scott'*
Emulsion of Cod Liver Oil as an effective resistance-builder.
Its Vitamin A helps protect children from recurrent colds.
And its Vitamin D helps build strong bones and teeth.Young
sters—and grown-ups, too—find this emulsion an easy, pleasant
way of taking cod liver oil. Scott & Bowne, Bloomfield, N. J.
Sales Representative, Harold F. Ritchie & Co., Inc., New York.
LlflTSN TO the Scott cf Bourne radio program ”Adventuring with Gmm*
von Luckner,” on Sunday night at 8 30 p. m. over the
Columbia Cocut-to-Coast Network
Plays His Bride In
Bridegroom was only one of the ,
roles taken by C. H. S. Parsons, son
of Rev. Dawson Parsons of St.
James’, Sheilield, England, at his
own wedding. Acting as organist, he
played the bridal march as his bride,
Miss Nellie Howarts, entered his fa
ther’s church. Then he joined her
and marched with her to the altar.
Had t* Know
Mother was growing tired of an
swering Junior’s numerous question*.
“Now be quiet and don’t ask -so
many questions.”
“Well, I wouldn’t, mother if I
Unowed.”
Arrow-root might be appropriate!
food for little Cupid.
Stronger than He Was at Twenty
FIFTY-FIVE years old, and still
going strong!
Do you want the secret of such
vitality? It isn’t what you eat. or
any tonic you take. It’s something
anyone can do—something you ran
start today and see results in a
week! All you do is give your vital
organs the right stimulant.
A famous doctor discovered the
way to stimulate a sluggish system
to new energy. It brings fresh vigor
to ei'ery organ. Being a physician's
prescription, it’s quite harmless.
Tell your druggist you want a bottle
of Dr. Caldwell's syrup pepsin. Get
the benefit of its fresh laxative
herbs, active senna, and that pure
pepsin. Get that lazy liver to work,
those stagnant bowels into action.
Get rid of waste matter that is slow
poison so long as it is permitted to
remain in the system.
The new energy wen anti women
feel before one. bottle of Dr. Caldwell's
syrup pepsin has bern used up is
proof of how much the system needs
this help.
Get a bottle of this delicious
syrup and let it end that constant
worry about the condition of the
bowels. Spare the children those
bilious days that make them miser
able. Save your household from the
use of cathartics which lead to
chronic constipation. And guard
against auto-intoxication as you
grow older.
Or. Caldwell's syrup pepsin ia
such a well known preparation you
can get it wherever drugs are sold
and it isn't expensive.
