Evening star., 1921-11-27

IS Sn0 watches me Sel-
ting ready.
''Well. why not?" says l.. HE has
perfectly good car, hasn't he? That is,
il you say it quick and don't mind
few weird noises from the motor. And
you know, Inez, while Barry may not be
gifted with the romantic type of beauty
which you admire in your he-vamps OF
the screen, he isn't exactly poisonous
Huh" says Inez, struggling her
magnificent shoulders.
Meaning what. for instance?" l asks.
rIf 1 was alk-actress." says she. I'D
have more than one Teller comm
around"
Naturally you would" says !. But
then. I'm no home wrecker. There are
very few males Of the species who are
apt to go crazy over my gooseberry
green eyes and my near-henna hair NO.
But Barry doesn't seem to mind my
color scheme. Besides, he's rather a
pally sort Of person. Says some awfuliy
clever things. at times. and appears to
appreciate my little stabs at humor. SO
We get on rather we'll together. That
helps a lot, you know"
lnez blinks twice, indicating sudden
spasm Of thought.
"You-you marry him some time.
eh2" she asks.
Say, you don't mind asking personal
and pertinent, questions. do you: lnez e;I
set?''
inez mods that she is.
"Then I'll tell you." says I. "ro be
quite frank. don't know"
Inez simply stares at me. She can't
conceive a state of mind like that.
When it comes to men, she's a prompt
decidcr. She either likes 'em a lot. or
she don't like 'em at all. And II one of
the favored ones should ask her to be
his'n she'd probably hand him his hat
and lead him down to the license bu-
reau before she shifted her gum again.
"a glass has always given me the
hunch that Of course I was due to
be an old maid. so it's going to take
a lot of arguing to get me switched
on the matrimonial main line. And
l don't expect to run across many
entries as persistent as Barry Platt.
About once a week he manages to
state his case in one way or another.
one knee and pouring forth tender
sentiments. 1 understand that's old
stun. 1t isn't done any more.
No. Barry isn't the mushy kind.
And he's clever about it. AS a gen.
eral thing his line is to throw on
ture of domestic bliss and then edge
in with a wistful look or perhaps a
gentle hint. Like steering me up
TO show window where they're dem
telling me about some new four
room studio apartment he's discov-
cred, Or saying how tired he's getting
Of life in prunery. And every time
the arrow points to one thing. You
know. "A little home of our own"
It's a trick you can't hate him for
exactly. In fact it's almost soothing.
when things are breaking bad and
the weather's rotten and your female
friends turn catty. to feel that some-
man who thinks you're better than
your best press notices and stands
ready to come to you on the run any
time you give him a ring. like a
fireman jumping for the brass pole
when night alarm gets turned in.
in stringing him along. I've tried to
make it plain to Barry just where
I stand on this to-have-and-to-ho
proposition. We've threshed all that
out more than once. and he knows
well enough. or ought to..that before
tie up to any party of the second
part I mean to have a go at seeing
what Trilby May Dodge can do for
herself all by her lonesome.
It's an idea I've always had, even
when 1 was just kid back in the
dreary old home near Tamarack
Junction. where my chances Of ever
getting out of Minnesota looked about
as slim as that Lake Superior would
one day turn around and empty into
Hudson bay. 1 used to watch the
the range, especially with all the
coaches lighted up. and whisper to
myself. Never mind. old girl. some
time or other you'll climb aboard one
OF those cars and it will take you
whar~ you really belong"
Well I've got this far. Whether New
York is the chosen spot or not I'm not
sure as yet. I've got no mortgage on
the town so far. But i must say I'm
further along than 1 ever dreamed l
making good. OF course. I don't kid
myself that | have a strangle hold on
fame and fortune now. Hardly. Play
ing the lead in little Greenwich VII
lage theater and in piece that's liable
to be taken off any time if the houses
get simmer fsn't putting me in class
with Ethel Barrymore or Maud Adams.
And it was too recently that | climbed
onto the stage through a trapdoor. as
you might say, for me to forget all the
lucky chances which landed me there.
But it's place to jump from. and I'm
not quite ready to hop down and into
kitchenette. even if Barry Platt has
got nice eyes and winning smile.
4 y X y
0CORRY. Barry" l told him. "but
- let's hang that matrimonial stuff
on the hook and be just good pals
Anything you say, old DEAR" says
he, 80 long as l can keep sticking
around"
And then the next thing I know he'll
be wanting me to look over the plans
Of . little house an architect friend of
~