Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-06-21

] VIC Sesh w O oVop Will O iufCu diiO
helped Verna out. The moon was
hopelessly buried in bank of clouds
now. and the night was very dark.
The girl started uneasily when Don's
steely grip closed around her wrist.
She could feel the intensity Of his
gaze upon her and her heart beat
quickened. Was she to have another
adventure this evening? Was she to
escape one man only to be annoyed
by another? She shrank protesting
ly. Don was quick to notice it and
loosened his grip. For moment he
had forgotten himself.
Don't be frightened. Verna." he
said in simulated hurt tone. I'm
not a roughneck. you know"
| I'm not frightened" she laughed.
He seemed SO in earnest that she
wanted to kiss him. but. of course.
she didn't dare. "See you tomorrow.
then" she said. and ran into the
house.
He looked after her hungrily. Then
he caught himself and smiled What
fool he was. losing his head over
pretty little country girl who prob
ably didn't have sense enough to
come in out of the rain. And vet. it
was so hard to resist her. What
gem she was How jealous his friends
in Kalesburg would be if he brought
back such beauty to add to his
string! He lit cigarette. leisurely
settled himself behind the steering
wheel. and drove slowly down the
highway.
Trembling with excitement. Verna
lay in bed thinking of the evenings
happenings. To have knight come
to ones rescue: to speed over the
boulevards in powerful motor car;
to be in the company of gentleman
of wealth and culture who did not try
to force a girl to kiss him but was
willing to respect, her by biding his
time-what an adventure!
The next night Don called for
Verna at the Richards back door
Just when she was about to leave for
home. She was surprised and pleas
urably so. especially since she noticed
Miss Anne Richland looking out of
the back bedroom window. Verna
tossed her head proudly and stepped
into the roadster. 1t was every whit
as expensive as the Richards car,
and she was glad to let them see that
some Negroes had lust as good things
as some white folk.
After that first evening. Don was
a persistent sutton. Every night his
car was at the Richards back door.
Every night he took her driving. to
dance, or to moving picture. He
spent money like water. according to
| the small town standards OF Norris
burg. and that impressed the colored
| girls Of the town more than anything
else. They marvelled how Verna had
captured him; and tried hard to fiirt
with him themselves. They soon
found it was useless, however. because
Don couldn't see anyone but Verna.
He often laughed softly to himself
when he was alone and thought of
the nnocent-appearing part he was
playing. He. Donald Baxter. the man
with score of SweetheartS. playing
the part of the lovesick youth! 1t
was indeed laughable.
True. he liked Verna. and was will
ms to go to great lengths to win her
affection, but he was not thinking
of giving her his name. His atten-
tons were not very honorable. He
was willing to be good pal. but not
"a husband. Why should he marry.
he often asked his friends. and tie
himself down to one woman. when
there were so many he could have,
just for the asking?
Verna Is Cynical
He was Just here in NorriSburg un-
til things uuieted down in KaleSburg.
Prohibition officers and the uplift
folk had forced him to suspend his
operations for a while and he had
come to this little town as a safe
haven. With plenty of money. plenty
of clothes. an expensive car. q lively
imagination and a capacity for a
good time at all times. he could think
of nothinI' better than utilizing his
vacation to play at love.
But rs the days grew into weeks.
weeks of heavenly pleasure in the
charming Vcrna's company. he be-
gan to really fall IN love with her.
"Verna. YOU know I'm getting wild
fNo,sf~osx ~. -. ST..