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Updated: April 30, 2025
Oh, hardly that. The girl I was to have married, and Bronson Vandeman the man she has married." I had wanted to get a more intimate line on the kid it seemed that here was a chance with a vengeance! "The rest of the bunch?" I suggested. He took a leisurely survey, and gave them three words: "Family and accomplices." "Santa Ysobel people, too, then. Folks you know well?" "Used to."
At the Vandeman place Skeet's truck was out in front, piled with folding chairs, frames, light lumber, and a lot of decorative stuff. The tall Chinaman came from the house with another load. "You Barbie Wallace!" the flapper howled. "Aren't you ashamed to be walking off with Worth and Mr. Boyne both, and good men scarce as hen's teeth in Santa Ysobel to-day!"
I went through the connecting door to fetch a couple. When I came back, Barbara was still standing, but her companion had sunk into the seat the shivering, uncomfortable old man offered, and Cummings was bringing a glass of water for her. She sipped it, still under the shield of her veil. This was never Ina Vandeman. Could it be that Barbara had dragged Mrs. Thornhill from her bed?
Well, Jerry?" Vandeman waited a moment with natural curiosity, then, as I still said nothing, giving my attention to my smoke, moved reluctantly to rise, saying, "That means I'd better chase along and let you two talk business." "No. Sit tight," from Worth. I was mad clear through, and disturbed and apprehensive, too. I managed a brief, dry statement of the outcome in the south.
Even Ina Vandeman's effrontery wouldn't carry her to a finish on that. I completed it for her, explicitly, "Mrs. Vandeman, whether you are detained as an accomplice or merely a material witness, I'm responsible for you. I would have the authority to allow you to go with your sister; but you'll not be permitted to even enter the bungalow." "It's nearly midnight," she protested.
The country club, when I walked up its lawn, was noisy with the hammering and jawing of its decoration committee. Out in the glass belvedere, like superior goods on display, taking it easy while every one else worked, I saw a group of young matrons of the smart set, Ina Vandeman among them, drinking tea. The open play she was making at Worth troubled me a little.
The Chinaman's stiff lips moved for the first time, in his formal, precise English. "Yes, sir. Mr. Vandeman will explain." He crossed his hands and resigned the matter to his employer. And I demanded of Ina Vandeman, "You tell us your husband's present in this room? Now?" and when her answer was drowned in the noise, I roared, "Vandeman! Bronson Vandeman! You're wanted here!" No answer.
"Off take his mask off! Do it yourself!" Barbara's voice was clear and steady. I made three big jumps of the space between us and the leading couple. Vandeman's committee-men obstructed me, the excited yip going amongst them. "Vandeman Bronse Vannie Who let this fool in here? Do we throw him out?"
She gave me an intimate smile; tall as she was, her face was almost on a level with my own, yet I still found her eyes unreadable, none of those quick tremors under the skin that register the emotions of excitable humanity. She remained a handsome, perfectly groomed, and entirely unruffled young woman. "Thank you," was all I said. "Mr. Vandeman and I understand how very, very serious this is.
She got up with an abrupt gesture and started over to our table alone. This, for a girl of her sort, was going some. I glanced doubtfully at Worth. He shrugged a little. "Might as well have it over. Her family lives on one side of us, and Brons Vandeman on the other." And then the bride was with us.
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