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engineer and authority on patents who knows something of the country in which our property is located, is returning to the States. I have appointed him my proxy to relieve her of some responsibility. He has a power of attorney, which automatically cancels the one I gave to Mrs. Stewart. He will confer with her and with you. Whatever he advises is my decision. I trust him implicitly.

    As to the annulment, I am all for it. It was a crazy contract. I will sign any papers that will annul it, but, I suggest that it wait until after the property is sold—if it is sold. The marriage was cooked up to protect the holdings, I think it should hold, while we own the property. However, I will leave that to the judgment of you and Colonel Bill Damon—Bill, not William— who has been commissioned by me to decide that matter also.
    Yours truly, Kenniston Stewart
    "I won't delay the annulment." Cindy crushed the letter in her hand. "Who does Ken Stewart think he is? My overlord? Forward the papers he should sign, Mr. Armstrong. If he doesn't reply wouldn't it mean, case uncontested? I've seen an expression like that in accounts of divorce trials. If he thinks I'll let this other man dedde what I am to do, he has another think coming to him. What is this deputy's name?" She smoothed out the crumpled sheet. "Colonel Bill Damon. Ever hear of him?"
    "No, I doubt if we do. A man who has been abroad for years won't bother himself with another chap's troubles, he'll have plans of his own. We'll proceed with the annulment—and the sale of the property. I'm boarding a plane tonight for the oil holdings, be back in a week. You have the power of attorney Stewart sent you. That's good till this other shows up, if it ever does."
    "Ken Stewart advised the sale first. If he isn't sufficiently interested to come home—don't tell me he couldn't get leave after all these years if he wanted it—and attend to the matter himself, I will take over. We'll crack that marriage contract first."
    "I agree with Stewart. The sale first. You have an excellent offer. If you wait you may lose it. Are you sure you want to sell that valuable property?"
    "Yes. I think you should know that Kenniston Stewart loaned his father and mine the capital—he had inherited his mother's fortune—with which to lease the land, develop their patents, buy the needed tools, and drill test-wells. As fast as income came in Father would

    deduct what we needed for living and pay the balance into Ken Stewart's account. Since he died I have done tlie same, until now my share is free and clear of indebtedness to him."
    "You've been very wise for one so young, Mrs. Stewart."
    "I couldn't bear the thought of owing money. This letter has steeled my decision. The annulment of the marriage first. I won't wait a minute for that deputy of Ken Stewart's who may never come. I—What is it, Sary?" she asked of the woman who appeared at the door.
    "There's a man on the phone who wants to speak to you. Says he's a friend of your husband, says his name is Bill Damon."
    Surprise brought Cindy to her feet. She looked inquiringly at Armstrong, before she said crisply:
    "Tell the gentleman that I am too busy to see him now or ever**

    FOUR
    With a 35 mm. camera containing color film hung from her neck, Cindy paused before she entered the Club bathhouse to change her violet and white checked play-suit for swim clothes. She drew a deep breath of the briny air straight off the ocean. What a day. The sandy beach curved in between two low promontories walled by jagged brown boulders. The white frilled tide flowed and ebbed lazily. Far out beyond a stationary float breakers broke whitely against a reef with a rhythmic Boom! Boom! Boom,!
    Life and color everywhere. A balloon man surrounded by near-naked youngsters occupied stage-center, his green and red and yellow spheres bobbing and tugging at their strings against a backdrop of clear blue sky and malachite sea. Children digging. Building. Licking arsenic-green