Smyrna times., 1932-08-03


room and dug her little fingers
into the palms of her hands to keep
! from screaming.
Have you lost your mind?''
asked Alice Dalmain, calmly looking
at her roommate. "For a bachelor
girl you certainly lack the poise that
is part of our creed"
Clarfce merely gave her friend q
whitening glance. flung her hat on
the table and herself into the deep
chair by the window.
"But it's the third time this
weeki" she said after a moments
pause.
whats the third time this
week?" asked Alice, glancing across
at the slender little figure. Clarice
was a lovely girl, Alice reflected.
but terribly lacking in poise and
so utterably dependent upon Jack
Withers for her happiness. Alice
amended more fairly.
You know that little widow,
Mrs. HolcombeT" Clarice went on.
We'll. she was at the dance Hal
loweeD night and l, like an idiot, in
troduced Jack TO her, and the min
ute she spoke TO him | knew it was
all up with me. ] could see him
falling for her right on the spot.
She has that pitiful little girl oh-oh-
rm-toO-little-and-frig rightened-to-cross-
the-street-alOne manner about every
thing she does. oh, her technique
is perfect. Don't fret, she's got him
bound and gagged. I've seen her
with him three times this week,
and I'll bet he's spent more money
on her already than he has on me
in all the two years he's known me-
She's deadly. That's the dreadful
part of it. If it were some little
lonely girl ! could almost resign
myself thinking about how happy
Jack was making her, but that
thing goes after every man in sight.
! know herI And when she sees
me she's so sweet TO me | could kill
her; drags me into the drug store
and treats me and gushes over me
and simply ignores my icy manner.
It's impossible to squelch her. oh,
Alice, I'm so wretched / could die
And the worst is she's so attractive
and vampish she could marry any
body. and then to 60 and take Jack
away from me, and after I'd intro
duced him to her"
"Never mind. honey" soothed
Alice. Don't you pay any attention
to her. and when Jack comes
around be just as nice to him as
ever. He'll get over it. A girl of
that type can't hold a man-that is.
not a sensible man-long. They'll
all fall for her at first. but they
soon find out there's nothing to
her. He'll get over It before very
long"
"Get over itp sneered Clarice.
'You ought to see the adoring way
he looks at her. He's head over
heels in love with her, and she's
just pulling him along for all she's
worth"
i wouldn't be too sure" said
Alice, land I'd let him see me with
other men every chance ] got. I'd
60 to dances and movies and any.
where I could"
"What heart have ! to do any,
thing?" said Clarice with exaspera-
tion. II only want to der
But all the same she did take
Alice's advice and a few weeks
later found herself one evening at
party, one of a dozen guests,
among them Jack and Mrs Hol-
combe. Jacks manner was strained
and he seemed embarrassed In Car-
ices presence. but the little widow
was her usual gay. playful self.
When she saw Jack talking to
Clarice she went over to him and
tugged at his arm.
Naughty boy" she teased. Come
away. You brought little Evelyn to
this party and not Miss Mackay. | |
won't love 90 any more. ever. ever
again IL
Jack flushed and looked silly. |
Somehow be felt that she had made
a fool of him In the presence of his
erstwhile sweetheart
isn't he naughty. naughty. Miss
Mackay7" she asked. looking mis- |
chievously at Clarice.
II don't think So" the girl
answered in her most cheerful man.
ner. ~ think he's nice"
Thanks, Clarice, you always
were a TRIUMPH said Jack warmly.
For the first time In Mrs. Hol-
combe's shallow little life she felt
defeated. With a toss of her golden
head she turned away from the two
and Joined another group across the
room. Clarice was happier than
she had been In weeks. She put a
gentle hand on Jacks arm.
you'd better go back to her,
DEAR" she said kindly. "After all,
you are her escort tonightp'
"Yes, but darned IL I'll ever be
again. That is. II you'll take me
back-for keeps this time" he said,