New Britain herald., 1927-02-14

Maybe you think I'm fashioned,
 hut I don't believe in it. l think
 it's wicked thing to do."
 Gus made move to pull her in
 with him. Then something in her
 eyes, so dark and deep, stopped
 him. v.
 All right, saint! We won't go
 in" he said with a short laugh. T
 forgot that I was out with Purity,
 herself. Won't drink any more,
 won't pet any more. might ha ;e
 known she wouldn't gamble"
 I'm not going to Laguna Beach,
 either"
 50 you said five minutes ago." Gus answered. But why not?
 thought you were crazy to break I into the movies-and I offer you
 one slick chance to do it, and you
 throw me down."
 Robbie had nothing to say to
 that. She knew that Gus under
 stood perfectly why she didn't want to go. He knew, just as she
 did, that there was danger for them | in days and days of loneliness on i the beach at Laguna. In the moon-
 silvered nights.
 She put her head down against his shoulder suddenly, and held his | arm tight with both of her hands. Gus. You know I don't want to be down there. practically alone i with you." she half-whispered. her lips against his sleeve. You know l don't want to-"
 l She didn't know how to say 1t,
 but finally she got it out Gus, I
 want to be just a good friend of
 yours until your wife gets her di-
 vorce. I don't want you to kiss me | until then. It's not right" She felt him move away from her ! ever so little. But she felt as if , he'd slapped her across the face.
 "All right" he said, have it
 your own way"
 His voice was cold, sulky brute that he was. And as she looked at
 him, the thought struck her that 1 he wasn't the kind of man who'd
 live like Q monk. He liked women
 more than most men cared for 1 them. He couldn't do without them
 and their companionship.
 'I'll go to Laguna," she said. | That night she washed out her
 silk stockings, and her silk under l, things. She ironed them, and /, sprayed perfume all over them-a 1 seductive scent made from white
 gardenias
 i It was midnight when she stood ] in Mrs. Mangan's bathroom wash 1 ing her hair, rubbing it to dryness, brushing it until it was like little
 tipped feathers all over her i shapely head.
 It was one o'clock when she got into bed and pulled the covers up around a face that was shiny with ] cold cream and scented with a .pe- Cial astringent that was supposed to give beauty it's last touch. AS matter of fact. she needed ent. But she felt that she did and she went to bed. sure that they would make her pretty as she never had been pretty before! All women always feel that way about all beauty treatments. Their faith in them is pathetic thing. The next morning. Robbie woke up feeling vaguely that something wonderful was going to happen that , day. Then, as she reused herself, she remembered She was going to Laguna Beach that day with Gus.
 Across the room, her handbag stood already packed, on the l dresser. Pale pink, sky blue and delicate mauve underthings gleamed lack from the backs of chairs where they had been hung the l night before. Stockings were rolled neatly on the writing desk. And Boobies face. under 'As astringent and cold cream, looked { just as it had looked the night be- fore No better and no worse.
 Well, I suppose I've got to call up Lottie Schultz" Robbie thought. She hated to do it. Shell have to find somebody else to teach her , wild child her ABCs. Thank for tune, I'm through with herb Lottie herself answered the tele- phone.
 "Laguna Beach?" she repeated when Robbie told her where she | was going. Well. that's funny. Roy isn't going up until Thursday" And this was Tuesday. You'd better come up here and let me talk to you, Bob," Lottie's gentle voice came over the wire not so gentle as usual, "before you make up your mind to go down there with Gus. Hop into cab and come along
 She hung up.
 Gro Be Continued) What did LOttic have to say about the trip to Laguna Beach: Read the next installmcnt of the