The Coolidge examiner., 1932-07-01
Her Technique
BY EDGAR T. MONFORT

Clarlce Mackay burst into the
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"
Clarice merely gave her friend a
withering glance. flung her hat on
the table and herself into the deep
chair by the window.
But it's the third time this
week." she said after a moment.
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. Holcombe?" Clarice went on.
well, she was at the dance Hal
loween night and |, 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
Im-too-little-and-frightened-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 heI
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 ii. If 1t 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 her! And when she sees
me she's so sweet to me | could kill
her; draGs me into the drug store
ana 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 go 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 IL before long"
"Get over IT." 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"
Il wouldn't be too sure" said
Alice, "and I'd let him see me with
other men every chance l got. I'd
go to dances and movies and any
where | could"
"What heart have / to do any
thing?" said Clarice with exaspera-
ton. IL only want to die''
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 Clar-
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 ~
Jack flushed and looked silly.
Somehow he felt that she had made
a fool Of him in the presence of his
prcfuyhiIo cuaa+baart
isn't he naughty, naughty, Miss
Mackay?' she asked. looking mis-
chlevously at Clarice.
81 don't think So" the girl
answered in her most cheerful man
ner. Il think he's nice"
Thanks, Clarice, you always
were a trumpr 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
gentle hand on Jacks arm.
You'd better go back to her.
dear" she said kindly. after all.
you are her escort tonight !"
"Yes, but darned if I'll ever be