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left Ross's eyes. "You don't beUeve me?" His voice was flat and cold.
    "I beUeve yuh," she said, looking right at him. "But I ain't takin' any chances. I know a girl on the block who also beUeved a guy and she's up in Bedford now."
    A flush of anger surged into his dark face. "Then blow,"

    he said tensely. "I can get a thousand cheap chips hke you to come with me."
    She turned and began to walk back up the street. She was almost to the corner when his voice stopped her. She waited for him to catch up to her.
    "Wait a minute, Marja," he said, his hand fishing in his pocket. "It's my car. I'll show you."
    He took out a wallet and handed it to her. She looked down at it. There was more green folding money in there than she had ever seen in her life. She looked at him questioningly.
    She opened the wallet. On one side was a driver's license, on the other was an owner's regi^ tration. Both were made out to Ross Drfego, 987 Park Avenue, N.Y.C. She glanced at his age quickly. He was eighteen, Silendy she closed it and gave it back to him.
    "Now will you come?" he asked.
    "Why couldn't you do that in the first place?" she countered.
    "I was sore," he said quickly. A smile came to his lips. "I'm sorry. Forgive me?"
    She stared at him for a moment. He was a strange guy. She had never met anyone Hke him. He spoke so well, and yet there was a wildness and meanness in him that she could feel. But it disappeared when he smiled An answering smile parted her lips.
    She reached out and took his arm "Cmon, hurry," she said. "It's so damn hot, I can't wait to get into the water."

    Chapter 3
    ^'WHAT PART of Concy Island is this?" Marja asked as Ross stopped the car at a gate and tooted the horn.
    He looked at her, a smile in his eyes, "Sea Gate. We have a house here."
    "What d'yuh mean, house? A locker?" she said.
    The smile slipped to his lips. "No. A regular house. This is a private section."
    A gateman peered through the grating at them.
    "Open up, Joe," Ross called.
    "Oh, it's you, Mr. Drego," the gateman said. Slowly the big iron gate began to swing open.
    "It's a summer house," Ross explained as he drove through the entrance. "We stay here when Dad is. too busy to get away from the office."
    Marja looked around On either side of the road were beautiful houses set on rolling lawns and shaded by towering trees. "Christ!" she exclaimed.* "It's like Uvin' in a park."

    Ross didn't answer. She turned around to Francie in the back seat. "Ain't it, Francie?" she asked.
    Francie and Jimmy were impressed, too. Both of them were goggling at the homes along the road. Francie nodded, *'I bet onv millionaires live here," she said.
    Marja turned back to Ross. "Did yuh hear that?" she asked.
    Ross nodded without speaking, his eyes watching the road.
    "Is that true?" she asked.
    Ross shook his head. "No."
    "Your old man must be rich," she said.
    He turned the car into a driveway and stopped. He reached forward and cut the ignition. Then he looked at her, his eyes bleak and cold. "Does it make any difference to you what my father is?" he asked. "/ brought you here."
    Marja stared at him, wondering what she had said to make him angry. After a moment she answered: "No.'*
    Quickly as it had appeared, the coldness left his eyes and he smiled. "Then, come on in and get a suit. The water looks great from here."
    She followed his pointing finger past the house. The beach and the rolling ocean were right behind it. He jumped out of the car and held the door for her. She got out and looked at the house.
    It was a big house. Two stories. Wood and shingles, painted a cool dark green. She didn't care what Ross said, his old man had to have plenty of cabbage to keep a joint like this.
    He led them up the front porch and, taking out a key, opened the door. "Follow me," he said, starting up a flight of stairs.
    She caught a glimpse of an elaborately furnished parlor

    and dining-room as she went up. She looked down at the steps. Her shoes didn't make a sound on the