Evening star., 1931-06-07

ILDRED'S cheeks made him think
A of rose petals. For q cent he'd
~ ~ reach cut and stroke them. Right
across the restaurant table. 1t
W wouldn't do of course. Even had
they been alone somewhere. Sne
wasn't that sort. The aloofneSS OF her COBALT
eyes darkly fringed eyes, back in there unoer
the c,rying brim of her hat, was diShearten1ng
Did she suspect the state he was in? Girls
were said to be smart about those things But
she didn't give sign. Quite at her ease, Sne
was Always that way He'd never be able 10
put his turbulent feelings into words. And ne
couldn't talk about anything else
That was what made him so gloomy, OF
course Rotten poor company. 1t was wonder
she could stand him at all. They were sup
posed to be pretty thick Together almost
evety day lately. People coupled their names
She couldn't help knowing that.
You're going with that short-story
c0urSe?" she asked
He nodded grimly
She smiled 1T seems odd"
"Odd?"
"I mean with all you've done"
"What have 1 done?"
"Oh come, George! Don't pose"
well ?"
Aut. There goes George wilbur"
That foot ball stuff" He almost snorted It,
Really George after all, it's something
to make the all-America. With simply all the
newspapers raving about you"
thing . lot more important than that"
There he'd almost said it. Surely she'd
catch it
But she didn't "oh we'll" said she in her.
serene way, we won't be 50 silly as to quarrel
about nothing" Then, with quick, fresh turn
of interest "Oh meant to tell you There's
newspaper girl helping on the press work.
(This would be for that Junior League showO
You must have heard of her. Barbara Belts.
IE shifted his big frame in the chair. The
] name was familiar. But what OF 1t? She
had the darndest way of switching topics.
shes O sob sister, you know quite well
known Does murders and all. Airplanes. Prize
fights oh, everything George, shes
pGSon!"
Crudeness came over him. He'd almost got It
out. Couldn't stop now.
You don't think much OF this writing toea7
OF my fighting it out, mean?"
oh didn't mean that. Writing must be
awfully interesting"
"But?"
"oh where people have time for it, But
with all your vigor should think you'd want
to go in for something important"
Selling bonds?"
"George!"
Her father was president of Pierce-Pettijohn,
the biggest investment bankers in town. Her
brothers and all her imposing friends
But he'd broken loose. Couldn't stop.
IT swore when I left college, wouldn't do
that"
"Of course, If a person could be famous
collected editions and receptions in your honor
and big following"
YES money!" Curious he should blurt that
out so roughly. What all this, anyway?
What were they rowing about?
Thoughtfully, gently. she spoke (chin on
hands,: There IS something about the bank
ing business something important. Oh,
you know how We look up to the men that sue
ceed in it they're the big men,"
They handle the money
It was like a quarrel. He'd supposed he was
going to ask hor to marry him. Remotely he
felt that he hc-. actually asked her and that
they'd been discussing it. And had clashed.
@he switched the topic again. Then they
walked out to her roadster.
Can drop you somewhere, George?"
NO thanks"
"See you this EVENING""
He appeared to be thinking painfully. He
gave . start and Strengthened up. He'd hit On
something.
No there's something don't
believe talk about it now. There was
something meant to may not he
. may not be around for while. .
Worf something out
What on earth was he trying to say? Stand
sing there, . big, handsome thing cOnvulsively
swallowing? -. .i
"tt;s~ phony country!" This was an ont-