Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-16

manded Peter, I've got something
that'll put an edge on the evening.
Jim followed him awkwardly across
the floor and up the stairs to the
flask of nameless yellow liquid.
whisky. Good old corn"
Ginger ale arrived on tray. Such
potent nectar needed some disguise
beyond settler.
"say. boy" exclaimed Peter breath
lessly. doesn't Nancy Lamar look
Jim nodded.
Mighty beautiful" he agreed.
shes all dolled up to fare-you-
we'll tonight" continued Peter. tasting
his concoction with the appreciative
pride of ownership. Notice that TEL
low she's with"
"Rig fella? White pants?'
Yeah. Well. that's Ogden Merritt
from Savannah. Old man Merritt
makes the Merritt safety razors. This
fella's crazy about her. Been chasing
after her all year.
she's a wild baby" continued Peter
"but / like her. So does everybody.
But she sure does do crazy stunts.
She usually gets out alive, but shes
got scars all over her reputation from
one thing or another she's done"
That 500" Jim passed over his
glass. That's good corn
Not bad. Oh. she's wild one
Shoots craps, say, boy! And she do
like her high-balls. Promised Id give
her one later on"
"She in love with his-Merritt?"
the best girls around here marry
fellas and go of somewhere"
He poured himself one more drink
and carefully corked the bottle.
Listen. Jim. I got to go dance and
I'd be much obliged If you just stick
t~rht hi g q
as you're not dancing. If a man no.
tees I've had a drink he'll come UP
and ask me and before ! know 1t it's
all gone and somebody else is having
my good time"
So Nancy Lamar was going to mar
ry. This toast Of a town was to be-
come the private property of an in
dividual in white trousers. to bear his
children and humor his Withstand
all because white trousers father had
made a better razor than his neighbor
AS they descended the stairs jim
found that the idea was depressing
him fnexplicably. For the first time
in his life he felt a vague and roman
tic yearning. A picture OF her began
to form in his Observation-Disclosures
walking boylike and debonnaire alone
the street, taking an orange as 1.-THE
from a worshipful fruit dealer, charg.
ing a dope on a mythical account al
Soda Sans, assembling q convoy OF
beaux and then driving OF in trium.
phal state for a gorgeous afternoon OF
splashing and singing.
The Jelly-bean walked out on the
tween the moon on the lawn and the
single lighted door Of the ballroom
phere he found a chair and. lighting
! a cigarette, drifted into the thought
less reverie that was his usual mood
Yet now it was a reverie made sensu-
Nv, he
damp powder puffs, tucked in the
fronts Of low dresses. distilling a
/ thousand rich scents to float out
through the open door. The music IT.
self, blurred by loud trombone. be-
came hot and shadowy. dangerous
shoes and slippers.
. Suddenly the square Of yellow light
that fell through the door was OBJ.
F! scured by dark figure. A girl had
! come out Of the dressing room and
was standing on the porch not more
than ten feet away. Jim heard low
| breathed "doggone" and then she
! turned and saw him. 1t was Nancy
Lamar.
Jim rose to his feet
"Howdy."
! Hello" she paused. hesitated and
| Powell"
He bowed slightly and tried to think
| of a casual remark.
| do you suppose" she began quick.
| Iy. II mean-do you know anything
about gum?"
! "What?'
| 1--WE got gum on my shoe. Some
utter ass left his or her gum on the
floor and of course I stepped in it."
| Jim blushed quite appropriately
do you know how to get it Off?
she demanded petulantly. 1--WE tried
| a knife I've tried every darn thing