Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18

IA girl in a dance hall In Mania!
~ Don't wax sentimental over
pretty blonde, out here, until
YOU know the circumstances which landed the
lodv among the half-breeds. Ill wager that
girl is as tough as they make EN- in even this
off country
This from young Angler.
"I'u take YOU! There's something in her
face that one can tie to. Call her over, at the
end of this dance, and let's settle 1t. Long
wait ahead of us, anyway, until Mayhem SHOWS
up He won't be in hurry, with this deiuge.
Been roughing it sufficiently; he'll be taking 1t
easy while he is in town. Kirwin's older and
somewhat graver face was turned toward the
dancing couples He stared at them from
underneath beetling brows, dispassionately APP
praising the girl whom they were discussing.
Ever find out why Mayhem is in the is
Iands?" asked Angler idly. "Secretive cuSs!
Acts like secret service brd-prowlng around
unlikely places, such as this joint IN wnlch ne
arranged to meet us tonight"
lob brought him. That's straight enough.
But I see what you mean. He does seem 10
be looking for something outside the job. Now,
as to that bet"
Seriously they arranged the terms of the
wager. In the byways of the world, trifies
are serious when big things are not happening.
It was young Angler who plunged the deep
est. He was at the age when man is sure
that he knows the woman game.
"It will be the same old tale" he said. Men!
One man; then two men; then few more
and the streets"
1t rained-as If a gigantic bucket Of water
were being emptied from the clouds that low
cred over the city.
THE tin roof reverberated under the bonn
bardment of the rain The wind hit the
building, which vibrated. breath of damp,
cool air blew in to the crowded dance hail.
The dancers paused, for an instant taken
aback by the fury of the storm.
At a table near the dancing floor sat the two
officers who had made the bet. They waited
for their white uniforms to dry out from the
storm that had caught them unprepared.
Amusement showed in their sunburnt faces as
they watched the many odd variations OF the
great American dance The dancers crcled
past their table, the mestizos throwing out their
feet with waving motions inherited from the
Spanish habanera, the full-blood natives flop
ping carelesSly along in heelleSs chinelas which
necessitated exaggerated glideS, the Cinnamon
shutting. Dancing with these assorted breeds
were girls as unmistakably Caucasian as their
partners were Oriental.
Angler grinned.
Watch your very blonde lady leering up at
that greasy old chino! Young for 1t, too.
Now, you Kirwin-you never believe wrong Of
a pretty woman, though you agree about the
shortcomings of the ugly ones. But you are
wrong old top! Sin overtakes the fair not
the unlovely. Look at that girls dress. Dis
reputable! What decent woman would show
all of her shoulders and most of her back to
this crowd? Do you suppose that the chino
dancing with her thinks she is decent? Not
on your life he doesn't! His decent women
swathe themselves in stiff brocades and padded
coats"
$50 do his indecent ones Stick to facts"
', The music stopped. The dancers separated,
going to the different tables
Pink and shabby, tawdry skirts; very lovely
hair in long and thick curls down her back
and hanging in her eyes; face hard and sophis-
ticated-the dancer Of the wageTi
Easy to induce her to sit down at their table;
impossible to persuade her to take q drink
from the TASKS with which they we're armed
against contingencies. She insisted on soda
Rater-and then more soda water.
Il want something sweet and cold" she tol
Them. How I've missed it! I hate place:
where there's not enough ice for ice cream"
She seized the glass of purplish mixture tina
was being placed before her and plunged the
spoon, and after that her nose into its en-
ticing depths.
Nov, this is real joy!" she announced
Where you living?" Angler was already a.
the business of winning his bet.
The girl turned on him cold and wary look
that as she studied his frank boyish face,
Softened into good fellowship.
lover in the Tondo-a f1ivver sized life 10
D fiVver sized rocm I take my shower under