Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05

Tord suff1ceS Either a girl has "It''
or she hasn't. And. if she hasn't,
he best she can hope for is to achieve
philosophy of sorts. AS Ann Ran
Colph, with absolutely no 1T" had
achieved her philosophy; this being,
>asically, that life was not going to
and her anything, even on a pewter
platter, and that what she got from
life she'd have to work for.
In brief, where other girls-such as
AIMS youngest sister, Marge, for in
Stance-uSed their eyes or their dim
ples to subjugate the male, Ann used
whatever substitute suggested itself to
!er as most productive of results. Even
her elbows, if necessary The way she
used them this night in late December
as she worked her way through the
crowded street car as it neared her
stop.
"Pardon!" she suggested to the bulky
Fpeclmen who stood blocking her
progress.
Her voice was not the voice of a
siren. It was crisp, efficient Ann was
crisp, efficient. But it failed to pene-
trate aS-well, as Marge's murmured
COO would have.
Ann" was the way her mother put
1t, lis so sensible. Men just don't in
terest her She's not that sort"
To which Ann retorted-but only to
herself: And that's what call kind
way of putting it, Anybody else would
cay I'm not the sort that interests
men,"
A fame for masculine moths, Marge.
But not Ann.
Ann had her health, a sense of humor
and good job. She was private secre-
larry to Samuel Benton. a patent lawyer
rho spent half his time in Boston and
the rest in Washington. He had two
sets of grandchildren.
IT." he had told Ann testify, when
she applied for the position, cant be
forever breaking in new secretaries. If
you're just taking the position as a
stop-gap until you get married."
Ann had disciplined an impulse to
grin. She had wanted the position
awfully.
There was reason. Andrew Ran
dolph, her father, gray and nearing so,
received $1,000 year. A pathetic. al
most tragic figure.
He wouldn't say a word-but he'd
feel like more of total loss than ever,
if he knew was getting more than he
is" Ann thought.
The only thing to do, of course, was
to pretend that $50 a week could con-
trive all the miracles $40 can be
stretched to.
Marge worked, too, but: Goodness
gracious" she had protested, answering
her mothers suggestion that she might
contribute something for household ex-
penSes. I've got to have clothes and
lunches and some spending money,
haven't I? OF course, I want to help,
and. the minute I get a decent
salary"
But then Marge was younger. Ex-
actly 18 months younger than Ann.
Not so much in time, but it had made
big difference in AIMS life, even il
she never had realized that.
The first person ever to think about
that was, curiously enough, Tommy
Adams. Curiously, because, at first
glance, he was pretty much the sort of
youngster that Marge might be expect
ed to bring home. A lean, 1.-the male
Of %, perhaps, with swift grin and
q car.
THE car was at the curb as Ann
approached home, this night when
she had used her elbows to get out of
a street car: "Marge," she thought. as
she glimpSed it, must have new man
on the string"
Which was why she didn't pause to
give the roadster even second glance.
Instead. she ran up the steps toward the
front door. A moment with her latch
key and she was in the hall, where
Marge had seized her.
wait minute, she COMMANDED
and, cooking AIMS hat on at differ
ent angle, she added, why don't you
learn to wear your hat at the right
Ann stared her amazement
And" added Marge, you might
powder your nose, now and then. Hold
still. dearest" She produced her
compact and powdered AIMS nose
We'll. for heavens sake!" exploded
Az hat II ut
This Marge ignored. Now" she
Prince of Wales"
OF course, 1t wasn't the Prince of
Wales. 1t was just Tommy.
This" announced Marge to him, sis
my sister. I'm sorry she has wool stock
ings on-but she's the sort that would,
you know. Bullock for yourself"
To Ann this was all as unintelligible
as Greek.
How do you do?" said she, very
colby, to Tommy Adams.
Ann disliked him. Just why she
could not have said.
At dinner Marge was explaining, as
Ann slipped into her place, Hes some
thing or other with big shoe company
and he's on for the shoe show that
opens next week. He was just telling
what an awful time he was having to
get manikins to display new line of
shoes he's interested in"
Did he think" interrupted Ann
coldly. that you'd be interested in be-
coming manikin?"
After he saw you" said Marge imp
ishly, he didn't think anything about
me-"
PUT Ann was, nevertheless, surprised
- by Tommys appearance at her
office the next morning At the mo-
Inent Samuel Benton was in Washing
ton. He would return the following
Tuesday-January 3D..
And then" he had told her when,
at Christmas, he had given her gift
of 500, II want you to go away, for a
week. A real spree-Atlantic City or
something like that"
Ann had no intention of going away.
For various reasons, mostly financial.
This. however, was yet to be divulged
to him In the meantime, there was
the Office routine to occupy her. 1t
was not heavy.
Entering, Tommy Adams discovered
her with a man on his knees before her.
A swarthy male who, however romantic
his position, was engaged in commerce
none the less.
When the door opened, Ann glanced
around smiling. She thought it was
the postman.
But it wasn't the postman. 1t was
Tommy Adams!
Il hope I'm not being nuisance, "
he began directly. Il looked up your
business address in the directory.
wonder if you could help me out OF
hole"
Instantly her face settled into what
Marge called her Office expression.
Before, however, she could answer
Tommy, Pascale with final flourish
of his polishing cloth had replaced the
liffln bra G.