The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-10-18

1>andOr'S name ana a0oreee. &c
my knowledge isn't extensive"
He started to speak. smiled
shrugged off some impulse and,
as they entered the elevator. put
his hand into his pocket.
"Are you in such a hurry to
pay me off and be rid OF me?"
she rallied him.
''I am not!'
Then you might take me
somewhere to tea"
Great! Let's go to Andres"
Seated across the table from
him, she accepted with a bust
nesslike air the four bills he
handed her, returning the accu
rate change. After time she
said musingly:
you cannot imagine how fun
ny this seems"
Don't think about it that way
he advised.
"Oh. not. that. That's over
and done with, and the looks
closed. But sitting opposite to
you this way. I've hardly spoken
to a man except in the way OF
business since / came to New
York. Two long years"
His brows lifted at her. care
you off our well, but not toe
favorably known sex?"
Yes
BITTER experience? Or bore
dom? II I'm too ineuisitivs
jump me-"
Caution. And necessity
Haven't had the time"
Then you don't wholly con
"No. AS playmates you're ali
right" said Desideria thought
fully. "But that's as far az II
goes with me-"
"Ah? That's a pity. rather"
why a Pity"
He leaned across. nearer to
her. 1.-TWO people who know
that they are never going &c
see each other again can at
ford to be pretty frank ant
they? Without offense?" Al
her nod he continued: IF
read correctly. what you want
or intend won't hold you when
Well. 1t won't hold you"
cit has. so far. Why won't
1t always?"
Because you've got" he said
slowly and judiciously. "raore
than almost any other woman
I've ever met. the Immediate
challenge Of sex in you. Wait
You're not to take the word in
its cheap and tainted sense. il
1 said Temperament YOU'D lave
swallowed 1t without a culver
But temperament is just a Quib
BILE. Sex is what ! mean In
you 1t isn't the blatant advertise
ment; it's the challenge Of :,
spring wind delicate and fra
grant and subverSive. I'm glad
I'm not going to see you again
Your name ought to be De
Stree"
ut nearly is. It's Desideria.
Derry for short"
Don't tell me the rest Of II"
he said quickly. I'm going to
have q bad enough time keeping
my promise without the clue and
temptation of knowing who you
are. Good-by. Derry"
"Good.by. And-I hope you
see me sometime in the dress,
just to know how happy / am
THAT'S the prettiest thanks in
the world" he returned graveiy'
Out in the flush Of the May
wind the girl said to herself:
"You may have done craEieE
things in your life. Derry Thomas,
but ! hope you're never going Ia
again He's got the most
changeable eyes I've ever seen.
But I'd trust him in anything
Well, should say so! l have"
Some women have the art OF
making their environment fit
them. Even in the unreasonable
heat Of May. the little apartment
was cool and fresh. Derry
Thomas slipped into the faint
fragrance of the place as a spent
fulness of stream.
"Letitia." she called.
yes, dear" The response, in
a gentle. undertoned voice, came
from the tiny dining room. A
WISQ OF woman enLSF6u. once
she must have been beautiful
with the same beauty that was
Derry's. No one could have failed
to know them for sisters.
She moved like a ghost. a
depreeatory ghost. II there be
such thing in wraithland.
Everything about her was sub
vitaliZed. She seemed to main.
tain her being precariously in a
numbed world Of her own wherein
nothing mattered. Yet 1t was
with some pale effect Of triumph
that she announced:
"Exhalations was miasma, and
message .bearer was colpOrteur."
How clever of your Derry
always loyalty evinced keen in.
terest In Letitia's crossword puz-
Zles.
But line Of troubled thought
creased the gray.fringed fore.
head. wait. There was some.
thing about corporteur to remind
| me. CorpOrteur: MESA Qe- bea reP.