Evening star., 1928-12-08

lace, and she was then at an age when
she mourned the loss Of o good tennis
partner more than anything else. Rich
ard remembered his last sight Of her,
dancing about the courts at her parents
country home, hair flying, eyes spar
king, her whole figure 1.-THE, youthful,
full Of grace and the Joy Of living.
Such a good, sweet kid" he thought
new, standing on the deck, aloof from
his fellow passengers: or course. since
then she had made her debut. Grown
up Become woman. But Richard
dared to hope she had not forgotten
him. would be glad to see him.
He was half ashamed of the thrill
that ran over him when the towers and
spires of New York finally came in view.
Been alone too long," he muttered
at his half-ashamed attempt to swallow
lump in his throat when the Goddess
Of Liberty swan into sight
He landed, called himself fool for
not having cabled some old friend to
meet him, and went to a hotel, where
he sat a long minute before reaching
for the telephone book. He decided to
try to get hold of his old friend, Bob
West, and finally reached him at the
club where Bob had lived since leaving
college.
A Sleepy and irritable voice respond
ed. What the devil do you want?" 1t
growled.
This is Dick Ross, home from South
America and needing friend" Rich
ard answered.
There was a pause at the other end
Of the wire, then, Dick Ross, Don't
know any-Dick Ross! Well, Dick Ross.
Sure remember Dick Ross. Thought
you we're dead, old man. Hadn't heard
from you in years. Fact is right now
I'm half dead after party I went to
all last night. How are you, anyway"
Richard laughed. You don't sound
very jubilant," he said Shall I call
around or do you want to come down
here?"
say, I'll tell you what. Let's meet
somewhere the last of the afternoon
for dinner. I've got to sleep another
couple of hours and then I've got some
things to debut I'll see you at dinner
time sure. Where are you staying?"
Richard told him.
Right I'll be there quarter to s. So
long, old man; mighty glad to have you
back"
And with this Richard had to, be con-
tent, though he felt vaguely chilled by
the conversation. He spent the day
getting his specimens landed and into
storage and wandering around New
York.
OF the city, he decided it had grown
far too big and too fast. OF the women
he decided they were new species to
him. And by night he. was so homesick
for the sight of a familiar face that he
took up his stand in the lobby at S 80 to
be sure of seeing his old friend the
moment he stepped in the door.
Bob was late. but his greeting and his
handclasp were warm and full of fervor.
Let's get out Of this to some place
Vuhara ran oct rMa1 arpnaI hrnilnd
steak and see most of New York at the
same time-the crowd that counts, any,
way"
Richard followed him to q taxi and
presently they were seated at q quiet
table in a huge restaurant with a
dancing floor in the center. Several
parties had already begun and there
was discreet doctoring OF ginger ale on
all sides for the preliminary highball.
There was an awkward pause after
the waiter had taken their order. Rich
ard told himself he could not expect to
renew ties dead six years In a moment
Bob played with his water glass, and
then leaning forward and making an
obvious effort, he. said, well, you want
to hear all about the old crowd, sup
pose"
IAN married now?" Dick asked.
Bob grinned oh, two or three
times. most of them. Divorce is the
popular indoor and outdoor sport in
our crowd right now. I've hung on to
my single blessedness though, along
with one or two Of the girls who wanted
more than the fellows In our set could
give them. Came back looking for o
wife yourself, suppoSe?"
Richard flushed. II got pretty lonely
out there" he admitted.
"Yep, get married, settle down fol
as long as you can, and then dash OF
somewhere again to forget the mess"
That's not the kind Of settling dowr
I'm going to do. When / get marriec
It will be for keeps-honne, kids, all tina
sort Of thing"
You'll have to marry your cook