Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-26

The cab drew To the curb and he
h.lped her out. A funny sort Of girl.
But she overwhelmingly was the word
and H. noticed that other young men
bestowed env!ous g!anccs upon him. =
Going home she settled back IN the
taxi with the usual little sigh. I'm
iired." she said.
He grinncd and slid his am tcnta-
lively toward her shoulders But In the
cimncss Of the cabs intcrio: she stared
him down.
What would happen to a young man
il he didn't pat his arm around a girl
in taxi?" she demanded. DO they
fine 'cm?"
He was irritatca It wasn't as though
ned wanted to PIT his arm around her
Girls expect II. don't thcy?" he asked
politely.
Maybe they just get hardened TO It!
I'm so sick and tircu of the sam: old
sun! Man meets a Girl and gives her
4 rush. Flowers candy. Dinner--thc
tfeatcr. Just one kiss. Gec!" She was
leaning back languid ana scorniul. III
the hot evening air 1T isn't" she said
! candidly. that don't sometimes like
il. But you can get fed up with any
/ thing"
II you're half as leo up as 1 anl--''
! he began angrily. "Ciris ~-glrls!"
We'll. you can call it truce with
me- she told him. 'Mcnl tin 50 sick
Of EN-. But what can you do? You
have to have some one 10 play With"
! "0cc!" He grinned II you Knew
how sick | waS-but. as you say. you
have to associate with some one" He
! stared at her. She was pretty: undoubt-
edly. she was popular. And yet
I tab, xf&t t.A f,snv lie
! he said Il like you"
Il like you!" AT her door. she held
out strong young hand. Good might,
| Mr.. Collier. I've had a nice time
This girl. he reflected. as he dismissed
the cab and walked home through the
! warm evening air. was peach! She
was different from other girls. somehow.
LIE would never have believed 1t pos
a. sible. yet here it was happening
Neal Collier was having friendship
a beautiful friendship-with a girl!
! They dined together: occasionally, even.
| they lunched they went TO the theater
and they danced--and never did the
remotest suspicion of sentiment creep
into their friedship Ruthlessly they
discussed their mutual failings.
We'll. how are all the little eirls?"
Ann would ask him when they met
after several days separation
How are all the little boys?" he
would retort. Hasn't your kind heart
got the better OF you? What! No en-
gasement ring?"
| He told her about Peggy-and Dor
othy-and Susanna. And she told him
about Larry and the mad Irishman. Joe
Kelly. who. in spite of herself. thrilled
her-and Sanford Harrison. who was
so absurdly polite and formal and
| rather dcar--and Dickic Webster. who
was the best dancer that she knew
| He didn't think of Ann as-well as
belonging TO the generic class of little
girls. She was his friend. his very best
| friend. She was-oh. Ann was great!
And 1t was that feeling which made
the scene with Larry Hunt all the more
| appalling
/ Larry was AIMS Peggy just as
| the Irishman was her Dorothy He
was dear and sweet. and gentle and
very much in love with her. and Ann
vas forced 10 admit that she had en-
couraged him. He was so--well. SO
earnest-that she'd never had Dle
hesrt to tell him definitely no"
Oh. yes, Neal understood that well
He had never asked Peggy Tillinghast