Evening star., 1929-11-15

ture stories. Sometimes the city editor
sent him out on assignments, but mostly
they let him alone to pick things up
for himself He hadn't known whether
or not Babe had anything special in
mind In suggesting that he drop around
at the Alhambra tonight, but he didn't
much care. He had hunch that he
was going to pick up some sort of story.
At the moment, however, he wasn't
thinking about his stery, He was won-
dering whether he hadn't discovered a
new law Of physics. Was your repulsinn
to the man with whom you saw a pretty
girl dancing directly proportionate to
your attraction to the girl?
He had liked the girl from his first
glimpse of her curly red hair. Pending
an opportunity to see her face, lie
glanced up at her partner, and instantly
diSl1ked him. But was it. he wondered.
really intrinsic dislike, or merely a
function, so to speak, of the attraction
he felt to the girl?
There was nothing glaringly wrong
about the bird. He might be something
less than 10. He had a meaty-looking
face and complacent smile, and his
dress was a bit foppish. He danced
well, but you could see he felt he was
fvtng the little girl treat No, there
was no law about it. Martin would
have hated him anywhere.
Just as the music stopped they turn
ed so that he could see the girls face
ana, IN pleased surprise, he smiled at
heF--involuntarily as has been men,
toned. But it was like head-on coll
lision, for her look met mis-, absolutely
true. There was a substratum of smile
about it, but above that there was a sort
Of half-serious desperation that had
reference, Martin was sure, to the man
she'd been dancing with
Want to be reScued?" Martin asked
safely enough, since she stood 20 PAGES
on, and ne didn't, Of course, speak the
words aloud.
But, exactly as if she'd heard him,
she perceptibly nodded her head and
then looked up at her partner. who had
spoken to her.
Leap the instant you've looked" was
one OF Martins notices. and he walked
te where she stood without pausing to
wonder whether he hadn't imagined
that nod, or what the consequences
weuld be If he had. The queerest thing
about 1t was the apparently idiotie
thing he found he was saying to himself
as he approached: But dlon't know
up from somewhere in the back OF his
mind q picture of her in one of those
little round Basque caps that artists
sometimes wear-a beret, that was The
name of it. Had he ever seen her be-
foreq Was that why he had smiled at
her. Well, he was in for it now.
He touched her companion on the
arm, and said, May cut in?"
From the way they both flashed
around, you'd have said he'd surprised
them equally. But in her face there
dawped a delighted recognition that
would have convinced anybody.
u thought I saw you just a minute
ago. she said. Then. to the man sht
was abandoning, you'll excuse us
won't you? It's literally forever since
we've had dance together"
FaFheS felt himself wearing a broad
grin rs he danced away with her. Nei.
ther spoke again until the long dance
was finally over.
tested then. ITO him, mean"
TO Mr. Lewis? No."
He was thrown out of his Stride fer 9
second by a pleasant perception shG
knew. how to pronounce the name
Lewis"
We'll, then, why !" he began
Just because you were kind enough
to ask me If didn't want to be res
cued," she explained. 1T doesn't follow
that you've taken me on Indefinitely
Haven't you anybody to 60 back to?"
MOT a SOUL" he told her. Lets z,
get soda or something"
Her wants in the way of Iafreshmen
were modest. A glass of root beer wa
the only thing she'd have.
Shed given him enough surprises an,
enigmaS to keep him guessing for hours
but there was one queer thing that h
could speak to her about
1T was funny" he remarked 'you
saying, as you did Just now, that hat