Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-15
BY Mar8ery Land May

wanted MORE" she parted.
AS If sensing rebuff, "Oh," he said fatty,
and during the remainder of the luncheon the
atmosphere between them was so taut that the
highly seasoned French connections which the
waiter fetched and whisked away were as taste
less as sawdust to Jane.
It when the luncheon was done with and
they had emerged from the hotel and were
standing on the pavement in the crisp December
air that Jerry said
Il say, Jane, it's ripping day. Let's charter
a car and take spin around this new lake
boulevard I've heard so much about. I'd like
to see it."
Jane shook her head
II can't, Jerry. I don't care what Mr.. Al
colt told you, I've got to type that petition. It
has to be filed tomorrow. And if don't work
on 1t this afternoon I'll have to go back to the
Office tonight"
Standing, hat in hand, with his dark, well
chiseled head barred to the sun, Jerry looked at
her as if bcwidered.
We'll" he said slowly, when can see you?
I'm only here for a day or two. AS a matter OF
fact may be called East any minute. And
want to talk with you. How about this evening?
Do you still have that peachy little f1at?"
Yes" she said and not trying to hide her
mended glove, she held out her hand in fare
well, Il still have it. Good-by It's been 50 nice
to you. Thanks for the, swanky luncheon.
And if you have another spare moment while
you're here, phone me, Jerry"
THERE! 1t was done. She had turned and
left him. peering after her-the new,
debonair Jerry. gazing after her with puzzled,
questioning eyes.
Click-clack-ping!
Wherefore, petitioner prays that an attorney
at law be appointed I" ."
All that blue-gold afternoon, as she sat at her
desk automatically transcribing the meaningless
words the thought of Jerry was like murky
undercurrent in James mind. She could not get
away from it.
She kept thinking of the way he had looked
the things he had said. She kept thinking too:
I'm mean. I'm scratch-cat. I was rude to
him. AS If he were to blame, poor fellow that
after 10 years he should come back to find me
with mend in my glove +" ="
wave of conjunction swept over her. Sud-
denly she wanted most poignantly to see him
again. His image the quick brown hands, the
gay brown face, was before her. And she knew,
with a sudden, terrible stiffness of the heart
that she had been waiting for him-yearning for
him through these years.
Like mad, magic things her fingers comprised
the keyboard tipping out the stilted, heavy YER
biage OF the law. Breathlessly she finished
eager, desperate to get home in time for Jerry's
phone call should he ring
But when it came, an insistent, many times
repeated clangor that shattered the silence of
her little fiat, she did not answer. It was no use
To answer. 1t was folly even to see him again.
so far had his success removed him from her
LIE belonged now to a new life To the free.
frothy life of the Alcott girl at whose side,
In whose low, streamline speedster she had
glinlpsed him ridng-hiS dark, whimsical face
smiling down on her as she Swooped past the
jolting tramway that was taking Jane home
The phone spoke with a jangng insistence.
Of and on during the early hours of the eve
ming its clamor broke the stiffness of the three
room fiat. Jane let it ring. Heavy with LASH
tude she stretched herself in the worn leather
chair that Jerry had once pre-empted.
For long time she sat there, and though the
phone finally stied, telling her that Jerry had
given up his efforts to reach her she STAYED on
Miserable though she was, there were no tears
to go pouring down her cheeks. Dry eyed de-
termined she shut Jerry from her life And
then she switched of her light to be still further
alone.
1t was good that she had, too, she told herself
later, for after long quiet in which she must
have gone to sleep, she heard footsteps in the
hail. They were Jerry's steps, and it was Jerry
pounding at her door and calling anxicusly.
But she had shut him from her life and would
not answer After time he left. She was
alone again.
Now she could go to bed and rest She had
settled her own fate and Jerrys, too. =" .
THE Alcott girl swept down on the Office the
rcgS afternoon. She was pretty thing-a
EIiar sparkling figure to employees who were
acchiS-cned to her precipitate onslaughts on her
father and very much amused at her way OF
wheedling him out of anything she wished.
Slim dark and as compelling as a red bird in
her crimson Yuetide felt and the loose sports
coat that matched it, she stormed her fathers
ONCE, net troubling to announce herself nor to
close the door as she breezed in.
Now. Puss. Not another cent" Alcotts